Avoiding Clogs in Your Kitchen Sink

Avoiding Clogs in Your Kitchen Sink

If you’re like most homeowners, you use your kitchen sink many times over the course of the day, using it to dispose of all manner of liquid and food particles. Over time, of course, this refuse can build up in your drain and cause it to clog—which could leave you without a working kitchen sink, at least until you get a plumber to the house to unclog it.

This is obviously an inconvenience, and the good news is that it is largely avoidable. There are some basic steps you can follow to minimize the risk of a clogged kitchen sink—including:

• Don’t put cooking grease or oils down the sink. They congeal and harden inside your pipes, leading to the accumulation of debris. Save them in something like an old coffee can, then empty the can into the trashcan once it gets full.
• After using the sink, run some hot water. Spend about 20 seconds or so just letting the water run, which will help keep hot oils and other liquids moving down the drain rather than congealing in the pipes.
• Every now and then, take a moment to clean out your drain with some baking soda. Baking soda is a tremendous cleaning agent, and if you throw some down the sink and follow it with hot water, it will work wonders in cleaning out some accumulated debris.
• Vinegar is another wonderful, easy-to-come-by cleaner. Again, use it and then follow with some hot water.
• Avoid using chemical cleaners any more than is necessary. While using them sporadically can be helpful, these cleaners are often corrosive, and can do long-term damage to your pipes! In other words, they may be more trouble than they are worth.
• Avoid putting coffee grounds down into your drain. Toss them into the trashcan, instead. You would be amazed at how quickly they can cause problems in your pipes!
• Actually, the best bet is to avoid putting anything down the sink other than water; a stray piece of food that falls down the drain likely won’t cause a problem, but if it’s a habitual thing then you may be setting yourself up for a nasty clog.

If you do get a clog, of course, you’ll want to call a plumber—and we’re always available if you need us. In the meantime, following these tips can help minimize the chance of a clog ever forming!