Is your kitchen sink taking longer to empty? Have you noticed a bad smell coming from your drains? Grease or fat build up in your pipes could be the cause of your slow draining or foul-smelling sink. How can you tell if you’ve got a kitchen sink clogged with grease?
But don’t panic. Maintain Drains have over 15 years of experience unblocking drains in Poole and Dorset. We can help you identify what has caused the issue, even if it’s not a grease blockage!
How to Unclog your Kitchen Sink
First things first, we always recommend contacting a drainage expert when it comes to drain unblocking. What may look like a minor blockage could be caused by something much more severe further down the pipework. Tree roots, rats or collapsed pipes are things that we deal with daily. This kind of damage is not easy to repair so when in doubt, call the experts!
You might have been tempted to fix the problem yourself. A lot of us are guilty of this! Often, we worry about the cost of calling someone out or having to wait for an extremely long time with our smelly drains. Maintain Drains provide 24-hour call-outs and can solve your problems for as little as £75. Simply click here to get in touch.
One thing you definitely want to avoid when it comes to unblocking your kitchen sink is chemical drain unblockers.
Why Chemical Drain Unblockers are bad for Your Drains
Chemical drain unblockers are really bad for your drains. Using them regularly can lead to corrosion and irreversible damage to pipe work. Inevitably, your quick fix solution could lead to more costly repair work later down the line. To avoid that scenario, we’ve put together this handy guide to help you identify what can and can’t go down your kitchen sink.
Is Grease Blocking Your Sink?
Grease is the number one cause of a blocked kitchen sink. Many of us wash a frying pan or a dish without considering the impact that it has on our drains. Most liquids can go down your kitchen sink with no problem whatsoever, however, if you’ve been disposing of these items incorrectly then you may have just got to the cause of your clogged sink.
Grease, Fat or Lard
Often, people pour grease or fat down their kitchen sinks as it is a liquid when hot. Think about the last time you roasted some potatoes – what did you do with the leftover goose fat? If your kitchen sink is clogged with grease this might be why!
The problem occurs when the grease or fat has cooled down. Your pipes run deep underground where the average temperature is cooler than your kitchen. The colder temperature cools the grease down, causing it to become solid again.
Coffee Grounds
Another thing that people often dispose of in the kitchen sink is coffee grounds. While it’s completely safe to put almost all liquids down the sink (coffee included!), the grounds from fresh coffee are not liquid. They also do not dissolve in water, increasing the likelihood of a blockage.
You may think putting coffee grounds down the sink occasionally won’t be a problem, you’d be wrong! We deal with home owners that rarely put coffee down the drain and still end up requiring an expert drain unblocking service.
Honey
Honey is another product that might be causing you an issue. It’s not the first thing you’d think of when it comes to your clogged kitchen sink, however, honey is sticky. The problem with pouring sticky substances down the drain is it increases the chances of blockages as debris gets stuck to your pipework.
If you have been putting honey down your kitchen sink you may want to get a drainage expert out to run a CCTV drain survey. The survey will give you a clear idea of what’s going on and let you know if any damage has been done.
How to Unblock a Kitchen Sink
So, if you think you’ve got a clogged kitchen sink, think about what you have been putting down it. If you’ve been disposing of honey, coffee grinds or fat/grease down your drain then that is probably the issue.
If you haven’t put any of these substances down the drain then a much more likely cause would be cracked or damaged pipes, rats in your drainage system or obstructions caused by tree roots further down the pipework.
Your local drainage expert will be able to help you deal with your clogged kitchen sink and identify the cause of the problem immediately. A grease build-up is highly likely to be the cause however, we are happy to conduct thorough drainage inspections using our CCTV technology until we’ve got to the root of the problem.
Don’t forget – chemical drain unblockers are no good when it comes to unclogging a kitchen sink blocked with grease! Get in touch with your local drainage expert or click here to discover the natural way to unblock your kitchen sink.
What About Commercial Kitchen Drains?
Large commercial kitchens, such as those found in schools or restaurants, are required by law to fit a grease trap. This piece of equipment is specifically designed to stop any fats or food build-up from getting into the public sewer system.
Having a grease trap installed does not mean it is safe to dispose of fats down the kitchen sink! You could still clog the pipes directly below the drain and risk damaging the drainage system over time.
To speak to an expert about having a grease trap installed at your venue, or find out more about grease trap maintenance, get in touch with Maintain Drains.
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FAQs
Q: What are some signs of a clogged kitchen sink?
A: Slow drainage and foul smells could indicate a clogged kitchen sink, often caused by grease or fat buildup.
Q: Why is it recommended to contact a drainage expert for unblocking?
A: Minor-seeming blockages might be symptoms of more severe issues like collapsed pipes or tree root intrusion, best handled by professionals.
Q: What is the potential downside of using chemical drain unblockers?
A: Chemical drain unblockers can lead to pipe corrosion and irreversible damage, resulting in costlier repairs in the future.
Q: What is the primary cause of blocked kitchen sinks?
A: Grease is the leading cause of blocked kitchen sinks due to its solidification in cooler pipes.
Q: How does grease become problematic in drains?
A: Grease is liquid when hot, but it solidifies as it cools down in the underground pipes, causing blockages.
Q: Why should you avoid disposing coffee grounds down the sink?
A: Coffee grounds don’t dissolve in water and can accumulate in pipes, increasing the risk of blockages.
Q: How can honey contribute to drain issues?
A: Honey is sticky and can cause debris to cling to pipes, leading to potential blockages.
Q: How can a drainage expert help diagnose drain issues caused by improper disposal?
A: A CCTV drain survey by an expert can identify the cause of the blockage and assess potential damage caused by substances like honey, grease, or coffee grounds.
