When everything is going well, most people don't give their sinks a second thought. But there's nothing quite as irritating as trying to perform a simple chore like washing dishes, only to find that the sink is draining slowly. If you've noticed that this seems to be a hassle more often in your kitchen than with any other drain or sink in your home, then here's the reason behind it and what you can do to keep it from happening.

Food

One of the biggest problems with kitchen sinks is the constant flow of bits of food going down the drain. Typically, sinks in the bathroom and elsewhere don't have to deal with much more than water, soap, toothpaste, and other liquids. Kitchen sinks, on the other hand, are constantly accumulating bits of debris and food from the dishes you wash off in the sink.

Typically, there isn't enough food on just a few dishes to cause any problems. But after weeks or months of washing them down the drain, they can start to accumulate and cause partial blockages that can cause the sink to drain slowly and ineffectively.

Oils

Another problem that kitchen sinks face in much higher quantities than other sinks is oil. Oil typically goes down the drain along with food, and it can cause problems on its own or in combination with said food.

For example, oil doesn't mix with water, so when it goes down the drain, it can end up sticking to the walls of the pipes. Once it's there, it acts as a sticky trap that food bits and other debris can get stuck in when they wash down the drain. This can speed up the process of developing a partial blockage. The matter only gets worse if you do things like dump used cooking oil down the drain.

Backup From Dishwasher

If you have a dishwasher, it may also be causing problems for your drain. Typically, dishwashers drain their used water through the same system of pipes that your kitchen sink is attached to.

If all of the water, debris, and oil coming out of the dishwasher doesn't make it all the way out to the sewer line, it can end up accumulating at the end of the pipe. This can be partially avoided by pre-cleaning your dishes, but if you're washing them off in the sink to remove the debris and oil before putting them in the dishwasher, then the result will still be the same. You'd have to wipe them off with dry towels and throw away any debris to completely avoid this problem.

The good news is that you don't have to perform this tiresome step daily to prevent sink blockages. Simply talk to a plumber about arranging regular drain cleanings. Drain cleanings can be performed when there's already a blockage, but they're also a great maintenance method for removing oil and debris before it can slow things down. Nearly all kitchen sinks can benefit from this, so if you're tired of your kitchen sink being sluggish on a regular basis, then talk to a plumber who offers drain cleaning services..

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