The kitchen sink handles more grease and food waste than any other drain in the house. A few simple habits prevent most clogs.
1. Never pour grease down the drain
Bacon fat, cooking oil and pan drippings may pour as liquid, but they cool and harden in the pipe. Pour cooled grease into a can or jar and throw it away. Wipe greasy pans with a paper towel before washing.
2. Scrape plates into the trash
Even with a garbage disposal, the less food that goes down the drain, the better.
3. Use a sink strainer
A basket strainer catches food particles in a second sink basin without a disposal.
4. Keep coffee grounds and starchy foods out
Grounds, rice, pasta and potato peels pack into dense clogs.
5. Run hot water after washing dishes
A minute of hot water helps carry soap and small particles through the line.
6. Skip chemical drain cleaners
Harsh chemicals can damage pipes, especially older metal drains, and often just push the clog farther down.
7. Clean the drain periodically
An occasional flush with hot water helps. For recurring slow drains, a professional cleaning removes buildup the plunger can't reach.
When a clog keeps coming back
Repeated kitchen clogs usually mean buildup deep in the line, or a problem where the kitchen drain joins the main. A plumber can clear the line with a drain machine or hydro jetting and use a camera to check for grease accumulation or pipe damage.
Need help?
Our drain cleaning team serves Davie and all of Broward County. Call (954) 870-5492.