Bundle & Save Up to 25% + Free Shipping Over $35!

5 Causes of a Clogged Kitchen Sink - A Prevention Guide

Solyman Najimi | 2022-09-12 22:56:40 -0400

If your kitchen sink tends to clog even after you plunge or snake it, there is likely something in the pipes beneath it. Unfortunately, many of the things that people flush down their kitchen drains can amass on pipe walls over time, causing stubborn, persistent clogs.

Obviously, the first step is to quit worsening the clogs! To do so, you must first determine what you are flushing and how to deal with it differently. Here are the five most common reasons why your kitchen sink continues clogging, as well as why they are an issue in the first place:

1. Pouring Fat, Oil, and Grease Down the Drain

The most common clog-causing material is, in fact, grease.

After you cook with grease, try not to pour it down the drain. If you have a stainless steel sink (or a cast iron one, for that matter), the oil will start to build up on the bottom of the sink. This is a breeding ground for bacteria, and what’s worse, the grease may start to set. Not only will this be difficult to remove, but it’ll be even harder to remove from the pipes.

2. Food Debris

If you’re using your sink as a disposal for food debris, stop!

Even if you’re following the “plunge and snake” method, that material isn’t going to go anywhere. It’s just going to back up in your pipes and potentially cause major damage (and even more major clogs).

3. P-Trap Problems

The p-trap is a U shape that goes around the drain in your sink. It catches the drain water, and it prevents kitchen sink clogs. When it’s correctly installed, it doesn’t have an issue protecting your pipes from debris.

However, if you live in an older house, the p-trap may have been improperly installed, or it may have been damaged over time. You can easily check to see if it’s secure. Simply lift up the p-trap and see if water comes out. If it doesn’t, then the p-trap might be secure, but there may be something wrong with your drain pipes.

4. Soap Scum

It may seem silly, but soap scum can be a major problem.

Do you run a dishwasher? If so, then consider this: the dishwasher soap (and other cleaning products like the ones in your bathroom) will start to build up on the surface of your sink. As this soap scum builds up, it will begin to plug up your sink over time.

5. Paper Towels

Paper towels, with their thin and often bonded composition, have the potential to clog your kitchen sink. Paper towels are generally 94% air, therefore, there isn't much substance in them to block your pipes. However, paper towels may cause a few other problems.

They are intended to absorb fluids, and they do so. Unfortunately, they do not enable water to drain effectively. You should not flush paper towels since they can quickly clog your kitchen drains. Instead, place them in your garbage receptacle.

Conclusion

If you’ve got a kitchen sink clog, you know it can quickly become frustrating. If you follow these tips and be mindful of what you put down the sink, then you're halfway through to a clog-free sink experience!

The Shroom Company specializes in drain protection technologies for every drain in your home. Prevention is often the best medicine when it comes to clogged sink drains and other plumbing issues like drain flies coming out of your sink. Learn more about all of our TubShroom and SinkShroom family of products here.