It is bad enough when your kitchen sink clogs once, but when it seems to clog over and over again, it can become quite frustrating to determine what the issue is. In this case, it is likely time to contact your local plumber. In the meantime, keep reading to learn some of the reasons that your kitchen might be clogging so that you can avoid this issue occurring again in the future.
You Are Pouring Fats, Oils, or Grease Down the Sink
These are the three most common materials that clog kitchen sinks. There are a few reasons, starting with the fact that they are sticky. This means that they often do not get all the way down the drain and instead stick to the sides of the drain. Once they are stuck, they begin to harden but stay sticky. In the future, other debris will stick to the fats, oils, and grease, which causes an obstruction.
Coffee Grounds
Many people assume that if they have a garbage disposal, it is perfectly fine to put coffee grounds down the sink. Unfortunately, this is not true. Coffee grinds can stick to the sides of your pipes, and due to their nature, can allow other debris to collect over time. This is a common cause of pervasive clogging issues. When they get wet, they absorb water, clump together, and get sticky.
Potatoes, Rice, and Beans
There is no truth to the idea that a garbage disposal can handle all or most foods. They are fine for most fruit and veggie scraps, ice, and certain cooked foods. There are far more foods that can cause problems than are safe to use in a garbage disposal. Foods that pose particular problems include those that swell up when they are exposed to water, such as potatoes, rice, and beans. These can turn into a sort of paste that then attracts other debris.
P-Trap Issues
Not all garbage disposal issues are caused by the foods you put down them. The p-trap, which is the curved pipe you see under your sink that connects the drain of your sink to the rest of the deposit pipes, is designed to hold a small amount of water so that sewer gases do not come up through your drain. However, some debris can get stuck in the p-trap. If you find your drain is constantly clogging, it could be due to something stuck in your p-trap.
No matter the cause, if you have a drain that is clogging over and over again, it is always worth talking to a local plumber to find out what your options are. You can contact Econo West Heating Air & Plumbing at (661) 947-2653 for help right away.