Can I put grease down the drain if I run hot water?

Hot water only moves grease along the pipe. Once it cools, it sets. Collect fat in a container instead.

Why is my dishwasher full of water?

It usually drains through the same line as the sink. A clog in the sink drain or the disposal can leave water in the dishwasher.

Is a garbage disposal supposed to handle everything?

No. Fibrous, starchy and greasy foods can still cause clogs, and some items can jam the unit.

Why does my kitchen sink gurgle?

Gurgling is air moving through a partly blocked drain or vent. It can indicate a clog or a vent problem. If other fixtures gurgle too, see main line clog.

Will baking soda and vinegar clear it?

They can freshen a drain, but they rarely clear a real clog.

Do I need a plumber or a drain cleaner?

You need someone who can clear a drain. If the problem is a leaking trap or a broken disposal, a plumber may be the better fit. Describe the problem on the phone and the provider will say. More answers are on the FAQ page.

Kitchen Sink Drain Clog in Bonita Springs, FL

The kitchen sink works harder than any other drain in the house. It handles hot water, soap, food scraps and cooking fat, often several times a day. When it stops, you notice at once. Most kitchen clogs are straightforward and clear quickly. Some are not, and knowing which is which saves a lot of frustration.

Why kitchen sinks clog

Grease. The leading cause. Hot fat is liquid in the pan and flows down the drain easily. In the cool pipe it hardens into a coating that grows thicker with each use, until food scraps are enough to close it.

Food scraps. Coffee grounds, rice, pasta, eggshells, vegetable peels and starchy foods all swell or settle. A garbage disposal grinds them, but it does not make them dissolve, and the ground material still has to travel.

Soap and detergent residue. Mixed with grease, it forms a paste that sticks to pipe walls.

A jammed or failing disposal. If the disposal hums but does not spin, or the sink drains slowly with the disposal on, the problem may be the unit itself.

Dishwasher connections. The dishwasher drains through the same line, usually via the disposal or a branch tailpiece. A blocked sink can leave dishwasher water standing in the bottom of the machine.

A clog further along. If the bathroom drains are also slow, or the kitchen drain gurgles when the washer runs, the problem may be in the main line. See main line clog.

Safe things to try first

Check the disposal. Turn it off at the switch. If it hums but will not turn, many models have a hex socket underneath for a hand wrench, and a reset button on the base. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and never put a hand in the unit.
Plunge. Fill the sink with a few inches of water, block the second basin's drain with a stopper or wet cloth, and the dishwasher line if there is one, then plunge with a cup plunger for 15 to 20 seconds.
Clean the trap. Put a bucket under the U-shaped pipe beneath the sink, loosen the slip nuts by hand, and empty and rinse the trap. Check the pipe leading into the wall as well.
Run hot water. After clearing, run hot water for a minute to carry loosened residue along.

Do not use chemical drain openers, especially if you have a disposal or plan to plunge. If liquid is already sitting in the sink, it can splash and burn. It also becomes hazardous for the technician who opens the line. If you have used a chemical, say so when you call.

When it is time to call

The plunger and trap clean do not help
Both basins are full, and water does not drain at all
The dishwasher water is standing or backing up
The bathroom or laundry drains are also slow
The sink clears and clogs again within days
Water or sewage smell is coming up through the sink
You do not feel comfortable taking apart the trap

What a provider usually does

For a kitchen drain, the work generally follows this order:

Looks at the disposal and trap, and clears or replaces simple items.
Uses a hand auger or a small drum machine through the trap arm or the wall opening to break the clog. For a line with a lot of build-up, the cable may need a cutting head that scrapes the pipe wall.
Flushes the line with hot water or jets it where the clog is grease. See hydro jetting.
Tests the flow with several minutes of running water, including the dishwasher if it connects.
Looks at the wider system if the kitchen clog suggests the line is struggling. A camera is the tool for that. See sewer camera inspection.

If the kitchen line is clear, but the problem returns, ask whether the line has grease build-up or a belly. A kitchen branch line that has never been cleaned out since the house was built may be heavily coated.

Keeping the kitchen drain clear

Wipe pans before washing. Wipe greasy pans and plates with a paper towel and throw it out.
Collect cooking fat in a container, let it set, and put it in the household waste.
Use a sink strainer to catch food scraps.
Run cold water while the disposal is working, and a little longer after.
Avoid putting down fibrous or starchy foods: celery, corn husks, potato peels, pasta, rice and coffee grounds.
Flush with hot water after washing greasy dishes. It will not cure a build-up, but it helps move fresh residue.
Clean the disposal splash guard to remove odors and residue.

Homes that sit empty part of the year

If you spend part of the year elsewhere, a kitchen drain can develop smells after sitting. The water in the trap evaporates, letting sewer gas up through the sink. Run water down the kitchen drain for a minute when you arrive, and again before you leave. Check the garbage disposal too; food residue left in it for months can cause odor and a sluggish drain.

What affects the price

The provider sets the price. For kitchen clogs the factors are how far the clog is, the equipment needed, whether jetting or a camera is used, and whether the visit is in normal hours. The cost page lists questions that help you compare quotes.

Serving Bonita Springs and nearby towns

This page is written for Bonita Springs ZIP codes 34133, 34134, 34135 and 34136. Calls from Estero, Naples, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres and North Fort Myers can be connected too. See also clogged drain repair for other fixtures.

Call now and tell them it is the kitchen sink.

Ready to clear the kitchen sink?

Call now. Your call is connected to an independent local service provider who can talk through the problem.