Smart Plumbing FAQ
FAQ - KITCHEN CLOGS
What causes kitchen clogs and how to unclog them? Fats or greases poured or washed down a drain often cause kitchen clogs. Fatty deposits cool and solidify along the walls of your pipes. Over time, these deposits trap other debris and before long, your pipe is clogged shut. The best tip is to not pour cooking grease down the drain. Put it in a soup can or pickle jar and then scrape remaining grease out of the pan. Wash the pan with hot soapy water to make sure the grease dissolves and flushes out of your drain. As an extra precaution, you can also pour a bit of ammonia down the drain to help clear any grease from the pipe. Use a basket strainer sink if the drain does not go through the garbage disposal. Larger pieces of food can be collected and discarded by hand. When a drain is clogged first thing to try is a plunger. If you are working in a kitchen with a double sink, seal the drain in the other side with a cloth. Place the mouth of the plunger over the clogged drain, and pump firmly, repeatedly. If you succeed in freeing the drain, run some hot water to refresh the pipes. If plunging does not work, give us a call and we can help you solve it.
Do not use acid-based products to clear grease clogs in you sink drains. They will at best melt the grease and it will just re-solidify farther down the line. A bleach based product or a product that will change the grease into CO2 + water are far superior. Plus they are also much safer to keep under the sink with small children and pets around.
Pour an enzymatic cleaner in your drains several times a year. These are NOT the same as corrosive or acid-based cleaners. An enzymatic cleaner is a solution of bacterial cultures and enzymes that slowly deteriorates organic material inside pipes. Such solutions should only be used as routine maintenance to help keep your drains clean. These products are recommended because they are not corrosive and are safe for pipes, plumbing equipment, and septic systems. Use enzymatic cleaners for your garbage disposals, showers, bathtubs, toilets, and other household drains. Fully turn on the cold water and then the garbage disposal before dumping coffee grounds or eggshells (or anything) down the drain. If you do not have a garbage disposal, or if you have a septic system, do not put coffee grounds or eggshells down the drain. These materials will build up over time and cause drainage problems. Once a week, fill each sink in your home to the brim and then pull up the stopper. The volume and weight of the water will fill the drain pipe completely with water. It will help flush the drain line of possible obstructions. Three or four times a year, fill every sink and tub in the house with water. With the help of friends or family members simultaneously pull all of the drain stoppers up and flush all toilets in the house. This large volume of water will help flush the larger sized drainpipes and underground building drains.
Do not use acid-based products to clear grease clogs in you sink drains. They will at best melt the grease and it will just re-solidify farther down the line. A bleach based product or a product that will change the grease into CO2 + water are far superior. Plus they are also much safer to keep under the sink with small children and pets around.
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