What Not to Put down Your Kitchen Sink

Are you abusing your kitchen sink drains without even being aware of it? 

You’re not alone. With over 60 years of experience unclogging drains in the Lehigh Valley, here are some common food discards that can be incredibly harmful to your drains.

The good news? If you break a few old habits, you can keep your kitchen sinks flowing smoothly and avoid clogging your kitchen drain. 

Meat. Putting meat down the garbage disposal, although convenient, can damage the blades and workings of the unit. Gristle will not grind easily and can dull the blades of the garbage disposal. And uncooked meat can separate into stringy bits that wrap around the blade. Dispose of all meat products through a trash or compost bin.                       

Coffee Grounds. They won’t damage the blade and workings of the garbage disposal, but the grounds will coagulate in the drain, which can lead to clogs down the road. Want a better way to dispose of them? Coffee grounds can benefit your garden, acting as a natural fertilizer for plants that love acids, like roses and hydrangeas.

Cooking Grease. Grease from cooking foods containing animal fat can quickly solidify, leading to massive buildups and clogs in sinks. Rather than pour it down the drain, pour it off into an old can or container, allow it to cool and solidify, and dispose of it in the trash. (You can put it in the fridge to get it to cool faster). 

If you can avoid tossing these items down the garbage disposal in the future, your drain will require less maintenance and be less prone to clogs.  (Learn how to prevent a “fatberg” in your pipes)

If your drain is having any issues, contact Agentis Plumbing. We don’t charge overtime rates for emergency service on nights, weekends, or holidays! Voted the best plumber in the Lehigh Valley over nine years in a row.