Most kitchen drain clogs occur gradually over time as grease and food waste slowly accumulates. As the pipe narrows you may notice that sinks take longer to empty or that there are gurgling sounds. There are the early signs of a clogged drain that you should not ignore. Thankfully, you can keep your kitchen drains flowing and prevent problems by following a few simple rules.
1. Keep grease out of drains. Grease, oil and fat are among the most common causes of clogged drains. You may get away with pouring grease down the drain for a while without noticing any problems, but over time grease accumulates inside the pipe and slows the drain down. Grease creates a sticky surface for food waste to cling to the inside of the drain.
The safest way to dispose of oil and grease is to pour it into an empty container like a used soup can and put it in the freezer. The frozen grease can then be thrown into the trash. Thicker grease can be wiped off with a paper towel and thrown into the garbage.
2. Don’t overload the disposal. While garbage disposals are a great convenience, it’s important to realize there are limits to what they can find and not rely too heavily on the disposals to get rid of all kinds of food waste. Scrape food waste into the garbage prior to rinsing dishes into the sink.
3. Starchy foods and drains. Food that become sticky and expands when wet, such as pasta, potatoes, rice, etc, can cling like glue to the inside of pipes, create very stubborn clogs. Other food waste you should avoid putting down drains include eggshells and banana peels.
4. Maintain your drains
A little bit of preventative maintenance can make a big difference. When using your disposal always run plenty of water, and let the water run for 30 seconds after turning off the disposal. You can also keep your drains in good condition by pouring half a cup of baking soda down the drain followed by a cup of vinegar. After the solution stops fizzing, pour a few cups of boiling water. The chemical reaction will cut through the lighter layers of gunk that accumulate over time.
We recommend avoiding store-bough chemical drain cleaning products. Many of them contain hazardous chemical such as lye that can be harmful to your plumbing fixtures and your safety.
If you notice that your drains are emptying slowly, give the drain cleaning pros at Superior Plumbing and Heating a call, we can help clear the toughest clogs quickly and safely.