Is your kitchen sink giving you trouble? You need some tips for a quick fix.
If you’ve ever gone without your kitchen sink for any amount of time, you know what a headache it can be. If your sink is on the blink, you want a fix, and you want it now. But do you need to call a plumber for every issue? Maybe not. There are some situations or issues that you can repair yourself with some simple tips and tricks. Take a look.
When Your Kitchen Sink Is Leaking
Don’t ignore a leak. Water leaking under your sink can cause damage to the cabinet, the flooring, and anything below your kitchen. The first thing to do is get a good look at where the water is coming from. If there is water around the base of the faucet spout, it could be a worn-out O-ring. You can replace the ring by removing the spout, but first, be sure to turn off the water to the sink. There should be a valve under the sink, so you don’t have to turn off the main.
Kitchen Sink Clogs
A clogged drain is never a good thing, but a clogged kitchen sink is especially inconvenient. And smelly. If there is food in the drain, which is likely, the smell from a clogged kitchen sink can be quite unpleasant. A clog also means you can’t use the sink in the most used room in the house until it’s cleared.
The most common reason for a clog in the kitchen is food. Some people feel comfortable putting anything and everything down the drain, assuming the disposal will take care of it. Unfortunately, a disposal is not a miracle worker.
Some things that should not go down the kitchen sink drain include:
- Oil, fat, and grease
- Fibrous veggies like celery, squash, and pumpkin
- Starchy foods such as pasta, potatoes, and rice,
- And items that can clump up in the mechanism like coffee grounds and eggshells.
If the disposal is clogged with grease, you can try pouring boiling water down the drain several times to clear it. If there is food stuck in the disposal itself, you might need a professional to handle the problem.
If you have a double basin sink, it could be your non-disposal drain that’s clogged. If this is the case, there are several things you can try. You can use boiling water to see if there’s something clogging the drain that will disintegrate or melt and wash away. You can try a plunger to try to push the clog through. If the clog is further down, you can try using a plumber’s snake to clear it so the water will run through.
Check the P-Trap
Sometimes gunk can get stuck in the P-trap under your sink. This is the curve in the pipe under your sink. Because of the curve, food, grease, hair, and other debris that makes its way down the drain can get trapped and cause water to back up into the sink.
If you are up for some simple troubleshooting, here’s what you can do:
- Start by putting a bucket under the drain so water doesn’t get onto the floor when you open the trap.
- Unfasten the P-trap.
- Remove it from the pipe.
- Clear out anything that’s stuck in the trap.
- Replace the trap and test it by running water down the drain.
Know When to Call for Backup
Everyone loves a good DIY project, but sometimes you just have to call in for backup. If you feel out of your depth with anything related to plumbing, such as your kitchen sink, it’s better to leave it to a professional. It’s possible to do more harm than good if you don’t know what you’re doing, and that can cost you more time and money in the long run.
If you have kitchen sink issues, whether it’s a leak, a clog, or anything else, call in the team at Sav-On Plumbing. Our experts can handle any plumbing issue that comes our way and will have your kitchen sink back in business in no time.