Your sink is one of the most utilized appliances in your kitchen – you use it to wash your dishes, hands and produce, plus other chores like soaking utensils and food disposal. Because of how often you use it, it’s essential to engage in basic maintenance to avoid clogs or anything that could stop your sink from working efficiently. As one of your trustworthy plumbing experts in Northern VA for the past 30 years, Vern’s Plumbing recommends the following kitchen plumbing tips.
Professional Plumbing Tips
Before we delve into some of the most common maintenance tips and why they’re important, we wanted to highlight some which tend to be overlooked by most people.
- Keep an eye out for leaks. Even small drips can waste up to eight gallons of water a day.
- Avoid drain cleaners. Despite their popularity, drain cleaners contain harsh chemicals that can damage your pipes and pose serious health hazards.
- Check your water pressure. Your water pressure for your sink should be between 40-50 psi. If the pressure is too high, this could weaken the joints of your pipes.
Avoid Disposing Too Many Food Scraps
There’s nothing that clogs a sink more often than food disposal. While having food scraps flush down your sink periodically is okay, it’s best to avoid it as much as possible. Some of the following foods that can cause clogging in your sink include:
- Fibrous veggies
- Starch-filled foods such as pasta
- Coffee grounds
- Oily food
A pro tip for disposing of oil and grease: store the contents in a jar or a container before throwing them in the trash. It would be best if you always dispose of your scraps via a garbage disposal or use a food catcher.
Kitchen Plumbing Maintenance
Sometimes your kitchen sink might need maintenance simply because it’s been a long time and your pipes are beginning to wear out. Other times, a clog might be too much to handle alone. Without proper plumbing services, the condition of your appliances will deteriorate quickly over time, causing you more money for costly repairs. We recommend following our tips and calling Vern’s for help when you need it!
Clean Out The P-Trap
P-traps are a P-shaped curve in the drain below the sink that connects to your pipes and serves mainly to prevent odor that may arise. Because of their shape, they tend to accumulate debris and cause water backflows.
The remedy for this situation is to unfasten the P-trap and remove any particles that may have accumulated. Before attempting to undo your P-Trap, you should research how to clean one out properly. If that doesn’t prove helpful, the next step is to reach out to a professional plumbing team.
Local Plumbers In Bealeton And Culpeper
Your home relies heavily on plumbing for almost all daily activities, whether it be washing the dishes or taking a bath. No matter the situation, Vern’s Plumbing team members cover everything plumbing related you may need. For any questions or concerns, call us today to learn more about our services – we offer everything from repair, maintenance, estimates and more!
