With Thanksgiving and Christmas almost upon us, many homeowners are preparing to spend lots of time in the kitchen. Although this can be a fantastic time of wonderful food and family gatherings, it is also a time when your kitchen pipes may be more vulnerable to becoming
clogged or other drain issues. The last thing you want to deal with when you are trying to make the perfect turkey is a backed up kitchen sink, so here are some tips and tricks to avoid holiday plumbing issues.
Run Your Faucet and Garbage Disposal Together:
Running the faucet when you are using your
garbage disposal can help to break down any particles of food down the drain and make it easier for the disposal to work efficiently. When solid food particles are ground up in the disposal without any water, there is a higher chance of a clog being created.
Watch Those Fats and Oils:
Although there may be more fats, grease, and oil in your kitchen when you are preparing holiday food, it is important that they don’t get washed down your drain. Even liquid forms of grease can solidify into a sticky, icky mess inside your pipes. Scrape any greasy plates and dishes into the garbage to minimize any oils or fats that end up in the drain.
Use Your Garbage Can Not Your Disposal:
Many homeowners think that their garbage disposal can handle anything, but this isn’t always a good idea. Certain foods such as fibrous vegetables, starchy foods, fruit stones or bones can have a devastating effect on your drains. These materials can create a tangled mess inside your pipes that attract further debris to create a massive clog. You should also avoid putting coffee grounds down your drain. So, if you want to avoid a kitchen mess, make use of your garbage can and scrape all your plates before they go in the sink.
Use a Drain Mesh:
Although your children may be aware that they should not put any inappropriate items down the drain, your guest’s small children may not be as well trained. So, if you want to avoid having to fish this year’s must-have toy out of your kitchen drain on Christmas Day, consider putting a drain mesh in place.
Don’t Resort to Chemical Cleaners:
Some homeowners think that they can prevent clogs from forming or tackle an existing clog with store bought chemical drain cleaners. While many of these products are marketed as an easy fix to plumbing problems. Unfortunately, some of these drain cleaners contain highly corrosive chemicals that can cause damage to your pipes. Some chemicals are so harsh that they can even cause a leak. Additionally, if the cleaner fails to clear a clog and you need to use a more invasive method, you put yourself or your plumber at risk of chemical burns. If you do notice that water is draining more slowly, avoid resorting to a chemical cleanser and call in a professional plumber. An
experienced plumber has the expertise and tools to quickly clear a blocked drain and get your kitchen back to optimum functionality before your guests are even aware there is a problem.
By Giovanni Longo President Flood Brothers Plumbing
Giovanni Longo is a 3rd generation master plumber who has been practicing his craft and trade in the greater Los Angeles area for well over a decade and a half. A plumbing and hydraulics-engineering innovator, Giovanni’s particular world-class expertise focuses on dealing with challenging sewer system designs as well as resolving complex commercial and residential draining issues. As a certified Flood Mitigation expert, he is also well versed in a wide variety of water damage and remediation solution.
