Ever hear the expression “everything except the kitchen sink”? Have you ever wondered why the kitchen sink is so important? If you find yourself in a kitchen with a blocked drain, you will quickly see how important it is.
Everything in your home will be more difficult if there is no working kitchen sink. Cooking can become a tedious task when dishes are washed. Even simple tasks like filling your water filter or personal bottle can become a major hassle. This blog will show you how to stop a kitchen sink from clogging and explain why.
How to unclog your kitchen sink
Even if you try to avoid items that could get stuck, sometimes a clog can still form. You need to find solutions if you have reached the end of prevention.
Here are some ways to clear your sink of clogs:
- Soap & plunger: This method is the most popular to clear a kitchen sink blockage. Run your hot water for a few minutes to soften the obstruction. Next, pour a little dish soap into the drain opening. Turn the water back on. Grab your plunger, and push the drain opening up and down until the sink is half full. It will push the clog out of your drain, if it succeeds, you’ll be able to pull it (or push it) clear.
- Reset garbage disposal. In some cases, the clog may not be the problem. It may be necessary to reset your disposal if it is making unusual sounds or not working properly. Find the reset switch on your garbage disposal. After a short rest, it will return to its factory default settings.
- Baking soda and vinegar . If none of these methods work, you can try a science fair throwback. One cup baking soda and one cup of distilled vinegar should be poured down the drain. Cover the drain quickly with a stopper, plug or plate as soon as the vinegar has been poured. Cover the drain for at least 30 minutes to allow the vinegar to react. To check if the clog has cleared, run hot water to the drain.
- Drain snaking – If all else fails you may try snaking your drain. You will need a snake that fits in the drain of your kitchen sink. Once you have the snake, insert it into the drain. Twist the snake a few times until you reach the obstruction. This will make the hook stick to the clog. Then, take the snake and the clog out from the sink. This may require you to do this several times until the entire blockage is gone. You should also ensure that your kitchen sink drain is safe and does not damage your garbage disposal.
These DIY solutions should work most times. If all of these solutions fail to solve the problem, you should call a professional Long Beach Plumber.
Common Causes of Kitchen Sink Blockages
A handful of people believe that their garbage disposal will save them from having to deal with drainage issues in the kitchen. While garbage disposals can help to prevent clogs from occurring, they cannot prevent all of them.
Here are some common causes of kitchen sink clogs.
- Coffee grounds and beans: While standard coffeemakers are easy to dispose of, those using French presses might find themselves putting their grounds down the drain. If you prefer to make coffee with a French press, it is important that the grounds are disposed of in the trash container and not the sink. Over time, fine coffee grains can build up in your pipes and cause clogs.
- Starchy food: Starchy vegetables like potatoes, beans, and pasta are a problem. These foods can get stuck in your drain and eventually become a sticky, gooey mess that will clog your kitchen sink.
- Use grease or oil in your kitchen. If you’ve ever rented an apartment you probably were told to not pour grease and oil down the sink. The reason is that grease can turn into solid fat, clogging your drain. This is because fat is hydrophobic and will not dissolve in hot water.
- Eggshells Your garbage disposal might be able to pulverize eggshells into small pieces, but your kitchen sink won’t appreciate that. Over time, small pieces of eggshell can build up in your pipes.
- Soap Scum: Although it is less likely to cause problems in the kitchen sink, soap suds can build up and cause clogs in your pipes. This is especially true if you use lots of soap. Bar soaps are more susceptible to this because they contain fats and/or fatty components. This problem is generally not caused by detergents like dishwashing liquid and pump hand soap.
How to prevent kitchen sink clogs
There are two ways to avoid clogging your kitchen sink. First, take a look at what your garbage disposal cannot handle and make sure that they don’t go down the sink. The second option is to buy a food catcher. These wire mesh covers, which look like the name suggests, allow water and dirt to flow freely through your drain. However, they keep larger food scraps from it. You can empty the catcher into your trash can when it is full.