In most households, the plumbing components beneath the kitchen sink will last for decades with proper maintenance. But like any household apparatus, kitchen sink drains do deteriorate with time.
Given the amount of food waste that inevitably travels into the drain during dishwashing and food prep, kitchen sink drains are also far more prone to developing serious blockages that may necessitate a drain replacement.
Here are five of the most common reasons you may need to replace your kitchen sink drain.
1. The Drain Seems to Clog Constantly
It may be time to replace the drain if you feel like you’re always dealing with a slow-draining kitchen sink. But before you do, have a drain cleaning professional look at the pipe's interior via a camera drain inspection.
If you’ve never had your kitchen sink drain professionally cleaned, there’s likely considerable residue buildup inside the pipes that is causing slow drainage. Water jetting can clear out all of the residue within the drain, which will allow water and other liquids to flow freely once again.
2. The Drain Pipe is Leaking or Otherwise Damaged
It’s important to perform periodic inspections of the area beneath your kitchen sink to look for pipe drips and moisture accumulation. If you ever notice small puddles of water or moisture beads on the drain pipes, contact a plumber or a drain cleaning specialist to find out what’s causing the problem.
A pro can look at the pipes' interior and exterior to determine if the deterioration is prompting the drain to leak. A camera drain inspection can also alert you to damage inside the drain that will progress over time, so you can replace the affected components before the leak grows more serious.
3. The Sink Fills With Water When the Dishwasher Runs
If you notice water backing up through your kitchen sink drain when you run your dishwasher, the problem is likely due to one of the following issues:
● A blockage in the dishwasher drain hose
● A clog in your garbage disposal
● A blocked air gap (if your sink has one)
● A clogged kitchen sink drain
When your dishwasher drains, that water is supposed to flow through the drain hose and into your kitchen sink’s wastewater drainage pipe. But when excess food waste obstructs the drain—whether it’s located at the disposal’s drain plug or within the sink drain itself—that water has nowhere to go but upward and into your sink basin.
In a best-case scenario, professional drain cleaning can remove the obstruction and solve the problem. But if there’s any damage to the drainpipe itself, either from age or repeated clogs, you may need a plumber to replace it.
4. You Need a Garbage Disposal
Have you been letting food scraps and oil flow directly into your sink drain even though you don’t have a garbage disposal? If so, it’s probably high time you replace your kitchen sink drain and install a disposal unit professionally.
When you allow fats, oils, starches, and other food particles to flow into a regular drain, those things can easily accumulate inside the pipe and form a clog. If you’ve never had your drains professionally cleaned, there’s likely substantial buildup along the interior walls of the drain, which will eventually result in slow drainage or a complete blockage that prevents liquids from flowing through the pipe.
You can allow certain solids down the drain with a garbage disposal since the disposal’s impellers and grind ring will grind them into a fine pulp. That pulp will travel with the water into your kitchen sink’s wastewater drain, which flows into your septic or municipal sewer systems.
5. Your Existing Garbage Disposal Has Recurring Issues
Whether your garbage disposal drain always smells horrible, leaks water, or just doesn’t seem to work properly, you may need to replace the kitchen sink drain it’s attached to. And, along with the drain, you’ll likely need a new garbage disposal, too.
But before you invest in a new drain and disposal, consider calling a drain cleaning specialist who can assess the interior of the drain via camera drain inspection. A drain cleaning pro can let you know whether gunk accumulates along the drain’s interior, causing odd odors or drainage problems.
While a cleaning appointment won’t fix a fussy disposal, it will alert you to any potential kitchen sink drain issues you should know about. That way, you can address those problems before they cause severe plumbing backups.
Choosing the Right Drain
Picking a new drain means considering faucet noise, under-sink storage, and how easily you can stack dishes because the system will affect all these. And because anything you put down the drain will affect the public's health, understand your local codes so any assembly you consider will meet local plumbing requirements.
Oil and grease can get into the system easily without the right interceptor, so be sure the design you pick has the proper preventative methods to help reduce the risk of blockages from coagulated liquids and has an appropriate drain size for the sink's design.
Clog Prevention Tips
From flushing to rinsing, everyday items like leftovers, sanitary products, cat litter, and fats or grease can become a nasty headache, but taking the proper steps can help reduce your need to call a professional. A few of our expert tips include:
● Use absorbent materials to remove grease or food particulates from the dishes.
● Instead of pouring any oily or fatty substances down the drain, place them in disposable containers.
● Invest in a high-quality mesh strainer to catch small food particles.
● Make it a daily practice to run hot water down the drain to wash away the residue.
● Stay on top of cleaning out strainers and plugs after each use.
Invest in Profesional Services
Even with the best care, not all of the material will wash away and can still end up causing a clog. The biggest issue with this is if the trains aren't draining properly, they can send water back up and bring bacteria into the home, creating an unhealthy environment. Having cleaner drains means a cleaner home, improved water quality, and helps eliminate odors, and our team provides fast and reliable services.
Schedule Professional Drain Cleaning for Your Twin Cities Home
If your kitchen sink drain has been acting up, let our Drain Blaster Bill’s Sewer & Drain Cleaning team help you! We can perform a drain camera inspection to determine what’s causing the problem, and if your drain is slow or clogged, our comprehensive drain cleaning service will solve the problem in a matter of minutes.
To learn more or get started, please call us today at 763-913-8719 or request a free service estimate online, and we’ll get in touch!