One of the first signs of grease in a kitchen sink drain is the smell. Even if you’ve never poured grease down the drain before, oils and fats can collect in your drain over time. Tackle your slow-draining sink – and the stink – with a little help from Mission Plumbing, Heating & Cooling.
What Causes a Grease Build-Up in Drains?
From last night’s lettuce to plumbing issues, many things can cause your kitchen sink to drain slowly. With so many causes, how can you tell if you have a grease clog in your drain? In most cases, food waste and other physical clogs can be cleared by a plunger or a clearing the trap beneath the sink itself.
Grease clogs are more common in homes that prepare meals centered around meat or dairy products. If you love bacon and can’t live without cheddar, your sink can experience a gradual build-up of fats and oils that can clog your drain. You might have grease stuck in your drain if you’ve noticed any of the following signs:
- Loud gurgling or bubbling sound when water is draining
- Slow drainage that gets worse over days or weeks
- Strong smell near the sink that doesn’t fade over time
The Best Way to Clean Grease from Drains
There are a few ways to tackle grease stuck in your drain. Work your way through homemade drain degreasers to see what will dissolve grease in a drain quickly and how you can get the job done yourself. If these solutions don’t work, call the professionals at Mission Plumbing Heating & Cooling for professional drain clearing you can count on.
How to Unclog a Drain That Has Grease in It with Water and Vinegar
You can often use boiling hot water and white vinegar to dissolve grease in a drain. Use oven mitts and protect your eyes while pouring a 1:1 mix of hot water and white vinegar down the clogged sink. Watch the drainage rate to see if water is draining more quickly. You may need to repeat the process a few times to remove all the grease stuck in the drain. When the sink drains normally, pour in more water to rinse away any remaining debris or vinegar.
How to Unclog a Sink with Baking Soda and Vinegar
If water and vinegar don’t work, try this. Pour ½ cup baking soda down the drain, followed by ½ cup vinegar. If possible, use your kitchen sink plug to cap off the drain, which allows the gases produced by the mixture to build up and help push the clog clear. Wait at least an hour, then pour 5-8 cups of boiling water down the drain. You may need to repeat this process two or three times to completely clear the drain.
Can You Put Degreaser Down the Drain?
Never pour degreasers down the drain. These harsh chemicals pose a health risk if residue from the cleaners is ingested in even trace amounts. Most residential degreasing chemicals can compromise PVC plumbing or corrode certain types of metal. Degreasers can also kill the bacteria in septic tanks. This bacteria is crucial to breaking down bathroom waste and reducing the risk of septic backups or leaks.
Is Your Sink Still Draining Slowly? We’re Here to Help
Count on Mission Plumbing Heating & Cooling of Kansas City to provide professional drain services that get your kitchen back to normal in no time. Our trained technicians can quickly identify the source of your clogged drain and make the fix. Request service today or call (913) 347-5425 to schedule an appointment.