Your kitchen sink plumbing is crucial to your life running well. The plumbing must be properly running in order to do your everyday chores and keep up with the demands of your family. And when the kitchen sink drain becomes clogged, not only do the dishes start to pile up, but you could also face the unfortunate expense of a hiring a professional plumber. You can reduce the chances of clogging your kitchen sink by avoiding washing certain foodstuffs down the drain or into the garbage disposal. Below is a list of food items that should never be introduced to your kitchen sink plumbing.
- Avoid hot fats that solidify when they cool. Hot fats, such as those produced when frying bacon or other fatty meats, can become quickly. The process is almost instantaneous when they mix with cold water. As they cool down, the fats will congeal and set up in your kitchen sink plumbing drains.
- Do not place potatoes or their peelings into the garbage disposal. The hearty vegetables swell quickly when introduced to water and then you cannot chop them down. Potato peelings can even jam up your garbage disposal, which may lead to a service call.
- Never wash tea leaves or coffee grounds down the drain or you could wash your hard-earned money away with it by paying a plumber. Tea leaves are notorious for becoming trapped in the P-trap or S-bend piping of your kitchen sink plumbing. The material settles to the bottom of the pipes, restricting water flow and trapping other food particles along the way.
- Avoid foodstuffs that swell when mixed with water. These types of foodstuffs carry with them the potential of expanding in your drainpipes and obstructing the flow of water, slowing down the drain and eventually leading to a blockage.
The problem foods to avoid are:
- Flour
- Rice
- Semolina
- Gelatin
- Gelatinous foods
- Pastry scraps
- Pasta
- Fibrous foods can also wreak havoc on your kitchen plumbing. You should also avoid placing food items such as onion skins, corn husks, celery, and artichokes in your garbage disposal. Aside from potentially jamming the appliance, a garbage disposal does not do an adequate job of grinding up these materials. This could lead to a major blockage in your plumbing system.
A simple rule to follow to avoid causing a kitchen sink blockage is “when in doubt, send it out” with the trash. For answers to your questions, contact the Pink Plumber today.
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