As plumbers in NYC, one of the questions we hear a lot is “What can I do to keep my kitchen sink from clogging up?” Nobody wants to deal with a kitchen sink that won’t drain – it’s stinky, gross, and inconvenient. On the grounds that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, we offer the following tips for keeping your household plumbing working perfectly.
Foods that Cause Kitchen Sink Clogs
Kitchen sink clogs happen often because there’s accumulated food waste in the drains. Food is heavier than water, so after passing through the drain opening, it can settle in low places, such as the sink trap. This is why you don’t want to put uncooked rice down your kitchen sink – not only does it accumulate and cause problems, but it will, with prolonged exposure to water, swell up and could completely clog your kitchen sink pipes.
Some foods have adhesive qualities that make them stick to the side of drain pipes – squash and pumpkin are prime culprits here. Another concern – grease. Whether it’s vegetable oils or the fat you drained from a pan full of yummy, yummy bacon, you don’t want to put it down the drain. Bacon grease and other fats that become solid at room temperature are especially problematic.
But I Have a Garbage Disposal
People have a lot of faith in their garbage disposal, but the truth is that garbage disposals have their limitations. Hopefully you already know not to put bones, seafood shells, and other similarly hard items into your garbage disposal – these items can actually damage a garbage disposal to the point where it needs to be replaced.
Other things your garbage disposal can’t fix? The sticky nature of pumpkins and squash. Salads and greens can be problematic too. The best way to avoid issues is to scrape food waste into your trash, and keep the amount you’re counting on your garbage disposal to do to a minimum.
Have a Clogged Sink in NYC?
If your kitchen sink is clogged and you need it working right away, give your favorite plumbers in NYC right away. 24/7 emergency service is available!
