It’s frustrating when a kitchen sink keeps clogging and you don’t know why or how to fix it. Using a sink plunger may only temporarily alleviate the problem. It’s important to understand why it keeps happening, how to fix the issue, and what you can do to prevent it from happening again.
There’s an Inanimate Object Stuck Down the Drain
It can be easy for inanimate objects to slip down the drain accidentally if there’s no drain stopper in place to serve as a barrier. For example, a knife might drop into the drain while you’re washing it, or a pen can slip down if it gets knocked off the counter.
The inanimate objects create an excellent starting point for a clog, as it’s easy for anything from hair to eggshells to get caught up in them. Even if you clear the clog, they’ll continue to come back as long as the inanimate objects are in the way.
It’s Clogged With Coffee Grounds
Coffee grounds might not seem like they can cause a clog in the kitchen sink, but they can easily clump together, especially if they get caught up on an already existing blockage. Some water may allow part of the coffee grounds to continue on their way, but the more coffee grounds that go down the drain, the worse the clump and clog will continue to get.
Considering their size, coffee grounds can end up in your drain even if you have a drain stopper. The best thing you can do to prevent the problem is to avoid getting them in the sink in the first place, such as by throwing them out instead of washing them down the drain when cleaning a reusable K-cup.
Fat, Oil, and Grease Built Up in the Drain
Fat, oil, and grease are major culprits of kitchen sink clogs. Their composition may lead to many thinking that they slide right down the drain without a problem, but three issues may happen.
First, they harden when they cool and create a significant blockage, and it’s not as simple as running hot water to make it break apart. Another problem is that they leave continuous layers on the interior walls of the pipes. The more grease, oil, and fat that goes down the drain, the thicker the layer becomes. They can also cling to existing blockages and/or stuck debris, such as eggshells, where they’ll harden once cool and continue to create a more substantial clog over time.
Keeping grease, fat, and oil out of your kitchen drains is essential for preventing clogs. They can slip right through your drain stopper if you’re not careful. The best thing you can do is put them into a coffee can (or similar container) where they can harden, and you can toss the entire thing away.
Cleaning Material Created a Clog
Pieces of cleaning material, such as small bits of sponges and wet paper towels, can end up down the drain and create a clog. This can especially be the case if there’s currently a build-up, even if it’s small, as the pieces can cling to what’s already there.
Using a drain stopper can help prevent this, as the holes aren’t large enough to let the bits go past it. When you’re washing the dishes and cleaning the sink, make sure to leave the stopper in place.
There Are Chunks of Human Food Material
Chunks of food can easily slip down the drain if there’s no drain stopper to prevent it from happening. For example, egg shells, pieces of lettuce and other vegetables, small fruit, pasta, candy, and other pieces can either start a blockage or contribute to an existing one.
It’s important to always keep a drain stopper in place when you’re preparing food over the sink, washing fruits and vegetables, washing your hands, and cleaning dishes. Extremely small bits may be able to get through the small holes of the drain stopper, but larger pieces will be blocked.
Keep the water off when you’re cleaning out the drain stopper if there’s still food remnants in the sink. Removing the stopper to clean it out while the water is running can cause the remaining food pieces to go down the drain.
Chunks of Pet Food and Fur Got Down the Drain
Pet food and fur are two more potential contributing factors to your drain clog. This typically happens when you do tasks like washing a pet bowl or cleaning a pet brush in the sink. Fur and pieces of dry and wet food end up down the drain and, similar to human food, can start a clog or become part of a current one.
When cleaning a pet brush, remove as much fur as possible from it by hand and keep the drain stopper in place so it can catch anything remaining. Before washing the pet bowls, throw as many food remnants into the garbage can before you start cleaning, and keep the drain stopper in place during the task.
A Tree Root Is Getting in the Way
One of the more surprising causes of a clog is a tree root growing into the pipe. The root may not necessarily have gotten in anywhere near your kitchen sink but instead entered elsewhere and continued to grow over time through the pipe as it searched out water.
Depending on the root’s position, you may be able to see it if you look directly down the drain with a flashlight. However, the chances are higher that a professional video inspection by a plumber will be able to spot it if it exists. If it does, they may need to clear it with advanced methods before it gets worse and becomes a pipe repair issue where repiping is needed to replace damaged sections.
How to Fix the Clogged Kitchen Sink
Using a kitchen sink plunger may temporarily work, but chances are, if you don’t understand what’s causing the clog in the first place, you’ll repeatedly encounter the issue. If it’s not fixed correctly, the clog will only continue to worsen to the point where the water won’t be able to go down at all.
The best thing you can do is call a plumber rather than attempt to fix the issue yourself. Kitchen sink clogs are one of the most common problems plumbers deal with, making them well-versed in knowing what to look for and how to rectify them. There are a variety of solutions they can try, such as drain cleaning that helps clear the clog while also eliminating built-up debris that can contribute to future blockages.
Don’t let a clogged kitchen sink add stress to your day. Contact Bobby L. Greene Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Co. in Shreveport, LA. One of our experienced plumbers can diagnose and fix the issue and advise you on how to prevent it from happening again. We also offer a variety of other plumbing services, including backflow testing and prevention, toilet installation and repair, water filtration system installation, and garbage disposal repair.
