Thanksgiving kitchen clogs
Most kitchen sinks are equipped with strainers to prevent the passage of large food particles into the drain. Some strainers simply rest in position in the sink drain, while others are held in by a pair of screws. According to the most referred Fort Worth plumber, just use a screwdriver to remove the screws, and be careful not to drop them down the drain.
You can avoid most clogs by not abusing your kitchen drain line. Don’t overload your disposer with meat; foods high in starch, like pasta, potatoes and rice; or foods high in fiber, like celery and corn husks. Also, run plenty of cold water down the drain and let the disposer catch up after every cup of food you push into it. Never dump bacon grease or coffee grounds into the drain. If allowed to settle and cool, they solidify in the drain.
Plumbing Pro Tip of the Week:
Tip #1 Even trained professionals can lose a screw through their fingers, and they are so small and virtually weightless, that you can tune-out the presence of, or the sensation of the screws resting in your palm. A simple craft magnet available at a hobby store can be cut to size, and placed on the metal shaft of your screwdriver.
Tip #2 Sink strainers are a brilliant invention, but sometimes the strainer itself can become clogged. Poking through each individual hole of the strainer is an obvious solution, but not such a good one. In so doing, you will be pushing food particles into the drain, something the strainer is trying to help you avoid. Besides, food and grease tend to accumulate beneath the strainer just where you cannot reach them while the strainer is in place.
Tip #3 The best thing to do is to take out the strainer and empty it into the trash. Wipe it thoroughly with a cloth. After you have removed most of the clogging materials, you can wash both sides of the strainer with soap and water.
Tip #4 There is another helpful little gadget you can use Thanksgiving Day to prevent a kitchen drain clog, and a possible visit from your reliable Fort Worth plumber. This is a triangular garbage container that fits easily into a corner of the sink. Use it for parings and peelings. The container has holes to permit drainage of liquids. If you use such a container, empty it after each meal – not down the sink drain, but into your garbage pail. To prevent odors and possible food decay, clean the container daily.
PLUMBING TRADE SECRETS: A mesh sink strainer keeps particles of food or other debris from going down your sink drain and clogging it. In short time, food may build up on a mesh strainer. This looks and smells unpleasant and is not hygienic. You should clean your strainers often to avoid this build-up.