A clogged sink might seem easy to ignore at first, but it can significantly impact your home’s comfort. Clogged sinks stop water from draining efficiently, leading to backups, bad smells and other sink problems. If you want to keep your sink in good working condition and save money, you need to know how to prevent your sink from clogging. Check out this guide to learn how to prevent sink clogs!
What Causes Sink Clogs?
Whether you want to avoid water backups or gross smells, understanding sink clogs can help you prevent them. Your kitchen and bathroom habits influence your sink clogs — here are some of the main causes:
Grease and oil: While it’s convenient to pour grease and oil down the drain, it isn’t good for the sink. Grease and oil solidify as they cool, creating blockages in your pipes, catching other materials and preventing proper drainage.
Food: Food is a big problem behind drain clogs. Bits that get flushed down the kitchen drain accumulate. Stuck food leads to foul odors, bacteria growth and clogged sinks.
Hair: Bathroom sinks are likely to develop hair clogs over time. Shaving, cutting or brushing your hair over the sink can cause hair buildup in the drain. All that hair combines with soap and other substances to create smelly sink clogs.
Mineral deposits: Hard water contains minerals like magnesium and calcium. With lots of hard water passing through your system, you’ll eventually get mineral deposits in your pipes. These deposits can block your sink and catch onto other debris.
Soap scum: Soap will also leave a sticky residue on your pipe walls. This sticky film traps other debris flowing through your pipes, causing slow drainage.
Objects: Accidentally dropping bottle caps, jewelry, toys and other objects down your sink might also create clogs. Stuck objects form obstructions that reduce water flow and drainage.
How to Prevent Kitchen Sink Clogs
If you want to keep your kitchen sink effective and fresh-smelling, you need to stop clogs before they can form. Staying vigilant and practicing better kitchen habits is how you prevent a clogged kitchen sink. Find these trouble spots in your routine, and you’ll avoid needing a professional to come out and unclog your drains. Here’s how to prevent your kitchen sink from clogging:
Throw out grease: Collect oil and grease in containers and throw them out instead of pouring them down the drain. You can also recycle cooking oil at certain drop-off locations.
Use sink strainers: Put a sink strainer over the drain to collect any food bits. Stopping debris from entering the pipes in the first place is your best clog-prevention strategy.
Scrape plates: Scrape food from plates into the trash before putting them in the dishwasher. You’ll minimize pipe clogs with a little extra prep before running your dishes.
Run hot water: After you use your sink, run hot water for a few minutes. This can flush away any debris that’s collected in the pipes. Boiling water can help dissolve grease buildup, but it’s not a foolproof strategy.
Avoid hard items: Avoid putting hard items like popcorn kernels, fruit pits and coffee grounds down the drain. These objects can damage your garbage disposal and create blockages.
How to Prevent Bathroom Sink Clogs
Bathroom sink clogs are mainly caused by hair, but you can get clogs from other sources, too. Practicing good bathroom habits can ensure you keep your sink clog-free. Here’s how to prevent your bathroom sink from clogging:
Install a drain cover: Drain covers catch large debris and hair, stopping them before they create clogs.
Regularly clean the drain: Try to remove hair from your drains regularly. Staying on top of drain hair will keep your pipes clear, avoiding big blockages.
Keep solids out: Watch for cotton swabs, jewelry and toothpaste caps when you’re in the bathroom. Stop these items from going down the drain and backing everything up.
Flush with hot water: Like your kitchen sink, your bathroom sink needs regular hot water flushes to keep it clear. Boiling water is a great way to loosen debris and clear out small buildup.
Signs Your Sink Is Clogged
While prevention is essential, sometimes sink clogs happen. Knowing the signs of a sink clog can prevent severe plumbing issues and expensive repairs. When you can spot a sink clog, you can take rapid action and clear it before it gets worse. Keep an eye out for these signs of a sink clog:
Gurgling: Hearing gurgling or bubbling noises coming from your sink? These sounds can indicate a drain clog. When water tries to pass through the block, it moves around trapped air and debris. These interactions create that gurgling sound you’re hearing.
Slow drainage: If your sink has started to drain slowly, you’ve probably got a clog forming. Slow drainage is a common sign something’s obstructing your pipes.
Weird smells: A clog might be forming if you’ve started to notice smell unpleasant smells coming from your drain. Bad odors often mean that food is stuck, decomposing and feeding bacteria. This bacteria growth creates a foul smell as it feeds on organic matter in your plumbing.
Water backup: Water backing up or overflowing from your sinks means you have a severe clog. Water backs up when it can’t pass through the pipes at all, forcing it back out through your sink.
Why Should You Turn to a Professional for Plumbing Problems?
While you can prevent clogs at home, you’ll want professional help for more severe plumbing issues. If you can’t unclog your pipes or have water backing up, it might be time to call in an expert. Professional plumbing services give you comprehensive, expert care for your plumbing systems. Professionals will accurately diagnose and fix your issue, ensuring your system is clear and effective. Calling experts early prevents expensive repair bills and inconvenient plumbing problems.
Get Expert Plumbing Help From Strada Services
When you’re dealing with plumbing issues, don’t wait — contact Strada Services for assistance. Our team of expert plumbers can handle a wide range of plumbing tasks. From unclogging pipes and fixing leaks to installing water heaters, we’re here to help.
At Strada Services, we prioritize customer satisfaction and quality work. Our technicians will assess your plumbing system and provide you with expert advice on your next steps, ensuring you get your sink back. With decades of experience and a commitment to customer service, you can count on us to go above and beyond. Plus, with our 24/7 emergency phone support and affordable pricing, getting the help you need has never been easier. Contact Strada Services to schedule your next plumbing appointment today!
Joe Strada, owner of Strada Electric, Security & Air Conditioning, started working at the young age of 14. He’s never attended college, but he has spent his life dedicating his time and energy to his trade and providing high-quality services to his customers.
At 19, Joe started working at a well-known air conditioning company and developing his commitment to excellence. He has state certifications in electric, plumbing, air conditioning, residential building and general contracting. During his years of training and experience, Joe noticed a sincere need for a dependable electrical contractor in Florida who embodied the same dedication to customer service in which he believed.
In 2003, Joe co-founded Strada Electric, Security & Air Conditioning. Since then, the company has been in the business of providing peace of mind to customers. We offer expert electric, security and air conditioning solutions for homes and businesses, leveraging our experience to deliver professional and responsive service with reliability and respect.
Joe Strada, owner of Strada Electric, Security & Air Conditioning, started working at the young age of 14. He’s never attended college, but he has spent his life dedicating his time and energy to his trade and providing high-quality services to his customers.
At 19, Joe started working at a well-known air conditioning company and developing his commitment to excellence. He has state certifications in electric, plumbing, air conditioning, residential building and general contracting. During his years of training and experience, Joe noticed a sincere need for a dependable electrical contractor in Florida who embodied the same dedication to customer service in which he believed.
In 2003, Joe co-founded Strada Electric, Security & Air Conditioning. Since then, the company has been in the business of providing peace of mind to customers. We offer expert electric, security and air conditioning solutions for homes and businesses, leveraging our experience to deliver professional and responsive service with reliability and respect.
