Back to Blog


How to Maintain a Healthy Sink Drain


June 3, 2020


The Not-so Glamorous Life of a Sink Drain

One of the most essential pieces of a sink is the drain. This crucial part of your plumbing fixture plays an important role, helping used water escape to your main sewer line. However, sometimes, you may notice that the H2O you just used isn’t going anywhere — it appears to be sitting around, lingering in your sink basin (or draining very slowly).

Ultimately, this is the result of a clogged drain — and that can happen when you least expect it. However, if you’re looking to help eliminate a blockage, here are some things you can do to help keep your drains as clean as possible!

How to Keep a Sink Drain Clog-Free

Dispose of Garbage in a Trash Receptacle

Sometimes, a sink drain will be looked at as a second garbage can in your home. While it may seem harmless to toss a variety of loose debris down it (i.e., produce stickers, vegetable peels, etcetera), there is a chance that all of that non-water waste can slowly narrow the drainpipe, giving H2O next to nowhere to escape.

In a conscious effort to avoid this, you’ll want to take anything that’s not intended to be disposed of in the drain and toss it in a nearby trash receptacle. However, if you happen to have a garbage disposal, this concept can differ. Avoid tossing fibrous foods, coffee grounds, and animal bones down your disposal since not only can they cause a clog, but they can even break your device, too.

Don’t Pour Cooking Grease Down

One of the most common ways that a drain can form a clog is when cooking grease is poured down. Granted, while it may seem like a simple idea at first, it can cause a pretty severe blockage over time.

Think about it like this: when the grease is still hot, it’s a liquid — but the minute it comes in contact with a cold drain pipe, it will begin to solidify, narrowing the route for water to leave your sink.

To make sure this doesn’t happen in your home, it’s wise to take an old container and carefully pour the hot grease into it. Once complete, the cooking byproduct will begin to harden. After it has turned into a solid, toss that old container into a nearby trash can; it’s that simple and beneficial to the well-being of your drains!

If You Have a Problematic Drain in Your Home, Give Our Team a Call!

For the best plumbing services in Renton and the surrounding areas, turn to The Plumbing Joint Inc.! We will get right to work on fixing any problems that have arisen with your home’s plumbing! Give us a call at (425) 228-3204 to schedule your service!