You are just home from work, and you’re starting dinner prep. Then the stink of the sink wafts your way. The drain is clogged. What should you do?
Well, of course, we recommend calling Frank Gay Services for professional drain clearing. But in the meantime, you can keep the drain in good condition and avoid such situations.
Here are some of Frank Gay Services’s top tips on how to prevent common kitchen clogs!
Why Kitchen Sinks Clog
Your kitchen sink clogs likely because of what flows into the drain. Some items should never be disposed of down the drain — even with a garbage disposal.
From eggshells and coffee grounds to bacon fat, many things should be thrown in the garbage rather than dumped down the drain. Grease and coffee grounds can cause extensive clogs, and that means costly repairs!
If you have a clogged pipe in your kitchen, call Frank Gay Services. Our drain clearing team is available 24/7 to ensure that clogs don’t become a bigger problem. Reach our local plumbers at (407) 329-5145. You can trust us to be right there!
Grease, fat, and cooking oil account for nearly 50%
of clogs and sewer overflows.
Preventing Kitchen Clogs
Here are some of the best ways to prevent kitchen sink clogs.
- Toss bulkier food scraps, eggshells, and grease in the garbage. Always.
- Save cooking grease in a disposable container and pitch it in the trash.
- Many homeowners are surprised to hear that used coffee grounds shouldn’t be rinsed down the drain. Throw coffee grounds in the garbage or add them to your compost or mulch pile in the backyard.
- Use a drain strainer to catch food debris to keep it out of the pipes.
Drain-Cleaning Tips
After using your sink, run hot water down the drain. This practice won’t prevent a clog, but hot water helps food debris slide through the pipes.
Next, throw a handful of baking soda down the drain, followed by hot water. Baking soda is a fantastic odor absorber and cleaning agent.
Finally, pour a cup of vinegar into the drain and let it sit for about 30 minutes. Follow that with boiling water. You don’t need to do this every day, but aiming for once a week or even twice a month can help remove organic buildup in your pipes.
Avoid Caustic Chemical Cleaners
Avoid using harsh chemical drain cleaners. Most de-clogging products contain chemicals that are acidic and can corrode your pipes. Put the cleaner away and pick up the phone to call a plumbing pro.
When pipes corrode, flecks of piping material can dislodge and travel along the pipe, forming a clog. Corroded pipes may easily leak because the pipe’s walls won’t be thick enough to handle water pressure.
Clogs are annoying, but pipe corrosion can be a more significant and costly problem. Don’t take a shortcut with chemical cleaners all too often you’re doing more harm than good.
Put Bacteria to Work
Instead of using harsh chemicals, add a bacterial drain cleaner to your home maintenance regimen. These bacteria will consume organic matter like food, grease, or hair before it causes a clog.
The best part? Bacterial drain cleaner is non-corrosive and won’t harm your pipers or interfere with your septic system if you have one.
Difficult Clog? Call Our Drain Clearing Experts
If you are experiencing clogged drains in any area of your Orlando home, call Frank Gay Services for a drain cleaning service. We will ensure that your drains are clear and clog-free so you can get back to cooking and enjoying your kitchen. Just remember: Never put grease, eggshells, or coffee grounds down the drain!
Clear that clogged drain with Frank Gay Services! Schedule an appointment today.
