The 7 Biggest Kitchen Sink Drain Mistakes, According to Plumbers | The kitchen

We select these products independently . If you purchase through one of our links, we may receive a commission. All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Image credit: Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock

Nothing stops your kitchen from running like a clogged sink drain. Dishes pile up when standing water makes the sink unusable, and you're left to decide when your plumber can fix the problem. But what if you could prevent these problems from occurring in the first place? To help you save time and money, I asked two plumbers about the most common kitchen sink drain mistakes.

These are the seven biggest mistakes to avoid when it comes to your kitchen sink drain.

1. Pour cooking oil or fat down a drain.

According to Dave Jones, master plumber at Roto-Rooter, one of the most common mistakes is pouring oil down the drain. "Whether it comes from a frying pan or a grill, hot grease coats the inside of the drain and trash can and solidifies like candle wax as it cools. "A sufficient amount would completely block the sewer system," he says. When that happens, Jones says only professional cleaning can solve the problem.  

However, you can avoid costly repairs by keeping oil and grease out of your drains. "Homeowners can allow these substances to solidify and then throw them in the trash," says Tony Perez, owner of Mr. Rooter Plumbing of the Twin Cities.

2. Excessive use of chemical drain cleaners

"While these cleaners can be a temporary solution, in the long term they can damage the pipes and lead to corrosion and wear," says Pérez. Patience is required when treating a clogged drain with a chemical cleaner. "More is not better," says Roto-Rooter spokesman Paul Abrams. "Follow the instructions on the bottle. Give it time to take effect," he says.

Abrams warns that the heat created by the chemical reactions in powerful drain cleaners could soften or even melt old pipes or very light plastic pipes.

He suggests replacing harsh cleaners with "a bio-based drain care product." "It brings "good" bacteria into the pipes. He says you can use it monthly to remove grease and food particles and prevent clogs from forming. Abrams recommends Roto-Rooter Pipe Shield (from his own company) or the enzyme-based Green Gobbler .

Photo credit: Joe Lingeman/Apartment Therapy

3. No pipe collector available

"Another common mistake is the lack of a pipe collector," says Pérez . "Without a catchment container, food particles, grease and dirt easily find their way down the drain and cause blockages," he says. Perez suggests "installing a mesh or perforated drain pan" to prevent even more damaging clogs.

Jones adds that the lack of a drain strainer is "particularly bad if the sink doesn't have a garbage disposal." Since food can only go into the pipes, the strainer is your best protection.

4. Throw starchy foods down the drain

Although many believe trash cans can do it all, Jones warns against throwing starchy foods like pasta, rice and potatoes down the drain, especially in large quantities. "Don't peel potatoes in the sink or pour the peels down the drain," he says. "When disposed of, it is pulverized into a sticky, starchy paste that eventually clogs the drain," says Jones.

If you have a large clog, Abrams recommends using a plunger. However, if that doesn't work, you need a professional. "The goo can penetrate quite deeply into pipes, which is beyond the reach of liquid pipe cleaners," he says.

5. Throw fibrous foods down the drain

"Fiber foods like celery, rhubarb, peanut shells, pumpkin pulp, and onion peels can block a garbage disposal and add solid building blocks to blockages that are already forming in the garbage disposal. drain or sewer," says Jones.

Once your trash can becomes clogged, you need an expert to clean it safely.

Photo credit: Manu Vega/Getty Images

6. Discard the eggshells and coffee grounds.

The urban myth that eggshells and coffee grounds "sharpen trash can leaves" is just that: a complete lie. "Coffee and eggshells are bad for waste disposal," says Abrams. "The fragments can jam the moving parts in a trash can and the particles get stuck in the grease, causing a super-clog," he says.

Abrams adds that drain cleaners may not do much for these more severe clogs, although you can use a plunger before needing to call a professional.

7. Do not use a plunger

Jones recommends keeping a plunger in the kitchen. "These are different from a toilet plunger and can solve most minor clogs if addressed early," he says. A flush plunger has a shorter handle and a flatter bowl than a toilet plunger.

For double sinks, close the opposite drain [with a drain plug] before submerging. "Otherwise, the energy from the immersion force will escape directly through the other drain rather than through the plug underneath," says Jones.

Adblock test (Why?)