Every home has drains that need to be cleaned, whether in the bathroom or the kitchen. For instance, looking inside a cross-section of a clogged drain will give you a glimpse of filth, dirt, and residue.
Kitchen drains collect a variety of food waste as well as grease, fat, and oil. If you don’t clean your kitchen drains, they will acquire a nasty stench over time, and there is a great risk of clogging. Knowing how to keep your drains clean can make a difference in maintaining a smooth-running kitchen.
Do you want to know the best time to clean your drain? Continue reading to learn how to take care of this essential component of your kitchen plumbing.
Parts of a Kitchen Drain
The kitchen drain system is more complicated than it appears. Here’s how you’d put your drain together if you could do it yourself:
- Strainer
- Strainer Body
- P-Trap
- Drain Tailpiece
- Drainpipe
- Threaded Coupling
- Washer and Gasket
The drain’s first line of defense against big food particles and other objects is the strainer, also known as the drain basket. The P-trap protects you from sewage gases’ foul odor. P-traps always have water in them, which prevents sewage gas from entering your home through the drainpipe.
When you pour water down the drain, it passes via the tailpiece, the P-trap, and the drainpipe before reaching your main drain. The water then travels to your septic tank or the municipal water system.
Weekly Drain Cleaning Routine
A weekly schedule for drain cleaning makes sense when you consider what goes down a kitchen drain every day. FOG (fats, oils, and grease) is a culinary by-product, and it is one of the most severe issues that all drains face. If poured down the drain rather than thrown away, FOG will ultimately cause jams and sewage backups.
Every week, flush the kitchen drain to keep the greasy gunk from adhering to the pipes. Boil three cups of water and pour it down the drain to achieve the best results. A tiny bit of dish soap added to the hot water works wonders to break down the fat.
After five minutes of waiting for the hot water to work its magic, pour three cups of cold water down the drain. This causes fats and oils to clump together and aids in the removal of any debris that may have remained following the hot water treatment. Finish with another round of hot water to complete the process.
Monthly Drain Cleaning Routine
Drains should be cleaned monthly in addition to your weekly regimen. Experts generally advise against chemical drain cleaners because they might cause harm to pipes. Alternatively, an enzymatic cleaner can be used. Organic items such as food waste are consumed and digested by these cleansers.
Annual Deep Drain Cleaning Routine
If you lack time for a weekly or monthly drain cleaning routine, your pipes should be cleaned at least yearly. Slow drains and foul odors from the sink are indicators that it’s time to schedule your yearly cleaning.
Even if you don’t see anything unusual in the kitchen sink, a blockage might be building somewhere in the plumbing system. Drains should be kept in excellent working order with yearly cleaning. Furthermore, including it in your plumbing maintenance routine allows your plumber to evaluate all drains in your property and assist you in avoiding future issues.
Yearly cleaning involves more complex processes and should be handled by qualified professionals.
Conclusion
Drain cleaning weekly and monthly can take much time or effort, but it’s a must if you want to avoid blockages and foul smells. If you want a convenient way to clean and maintain your pipes, you can book an appointment with a plumber instead.
For all of your professional plumbing needs, reach out to Candu Plumbing and Rooter. We provide reliable kitchen plumbing services such as drain cleaning in Van Nuys. Book an appointment with us now!
