Tips To Prevent Clogged Sinks
A clogged sink can be a big nuisance. In the kitchen, the sink is an essential part of daily cooking food preparation. In bathrooms, sinks are used every single day. A clogged drain doesn't necessarily mean that the faucet shouldn't be used, but stagnant greywater is the last thing anyone wants sitting in their home for extended periods. Read on to discover simple tips on how to avoid a clogged sink at home.
Cooking Grease in the Kitchen Sink
The number one culprit when it comes to clogged kitchen sinks is cooking grease. Many people think that if they have a garbage disposal, they can throw all cooking materials down the drain. This is not the case, as cooking grease can do more than clog up the sink. It can damage the disposal, too.
When cooking grease is hot, it is liquid and looks like it should wash down the drain easily. But when it cools, it becomes semi-solid. Grease is also heavy and tends to separate from water, making it harder to wash down the drain even in liquid form. To properly dispose of cooking grease, homeowners should pour it into a heat resistant container while still warm, let it sit until it hardens, and then scoop it into the trash. Some people fill up a container with old cooking grease and throw it away when it gets full. Either way, it saves the sink from nasty clogs.
Garbage Disposal Tips
Grease isn't the only thing that people tend to throw into their garbage disposal. There are several items that people should avoid putting down their garbage disposal, as it can't take everything.
- Bones - Bones are a little too tough for garbage disposals to handle. They'll just keep spinning around down there, making terrible noises and possibly damaging the disposal's blades.
- Coffee Grounds - Garbage disposals can handle coffee grounds, but the plumbing cant. It's like dumping soil down the sink. There will have plumbing problems eventually if done every day.
- Celery - Like other fibrous fruits and vegetables, celery should go into the trash. Otherwise, the little fibers will wrap around the garbage disposal's blades and cause problems.
- Seeds and Pits - Like bones, seeds and pits don't do well in garbage disposals. If they do make it, they have a hard time getting washed down the drain.
Clean Your Drain Stoppers
Drain stoppers tend to build up gunk around them over time. It's a good idea to clean them every six months to avoid nasty sink clogs. There are several different kinds of drain stoppers, and some are easier to clean than others. Most of them are fairly easy to remove, and can simply be cleaned with a toothbrush or a sponge. Others require some know-how and tools to remove properly.
When having draining problems, homeowners should call their local plumber to schedule a maintenance visit. The plumbing tech can assess the overall health of the plumbing system and show how to remove and clean stoppers.
About Force Plumbing and Heating
For over a decade, the experts at Force Plumbing and Heating LLC have been serving Holmdel, New Jersey and surrounding areas. Their quality techs always deliver excellent customer service and stellar workmanship. They are fully licensed, bonded and insured. They also offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all their work.
