Your kitchen is a frequently used area of the home. This is where you cook, wash dishes and gather with your family after a long day. Your kitchen sink needs to always function properly to allow for the proper drainage of water and other waste materials. Slow drainage, backups and foul-smelling drains are all common kitchen sink issues. Our bathroom and kitchen plumbing service team at Tuck & Howell, Inc. can help you diagnose the following common issues and provide a fix.
Kitchen Sinks That Leak
It’s common for homeowners to experience a leaky kitchen sink. Water may come from your faucet or underneath the sink where pipes are located. This is an issue that can lead to wasting water, which raises your utility bills. It can also cause extensive water damage to cupboards, flooring and more.
Make sure your faucet is completely turned off. There shouldn’t be any water leaking from the fixture. Also, open your cabinet and make sure there isn’t any water leaking from the pipes attached to your sink. You shouldn’t see any water pooling in those areas. If you do notice water coming from your fixtures, check to see if there are mineral deposits on the base or head of the faucet. Also, check handles to make sure they can turn off completely.
Loose connections on pipes or damaged gaskets or O-rings can lead to water leaking out, even if it’s just a few drips per hour. It’s common for pipes to experience corrosion, especially in older homes. This corrosion can lead to leaks.
Experiencing a Clogged Kitchen Sink Drain
There are many materials that make their way down your kitchen sink drain, including food scraps and oils. If these things coat the inside of your pipes, this can eventually lead to slow drainage or even complete blockage. This can cause leaks and burst pipes.
Watch for pooling water in your sink when you’re running water or doing the dishes. If turning on your garbage disposal for a few seconds doesn’t fix the issue, there’s likely a large clog that needs to be professionally removed. You may have a clog in your drain if you smell foul odors near your sink. These smells are from the debris that’s in your drain, which is slowly breaking down and developing bacteria over time. Also, pay attention to any gurgling sounds that come from your kitchen sink drains. This sound is often caused by water attempting to move around debris that’s in your pipes.
Low Water Pressure in Your Kitchen
You need an ample flow of water to come from your kitchen sink to cook, clean and do dishes. Low levels of water pressure can indicate issues like clogs or even backflow. You should check to see if pressure is different in other areas of your home. If it’s not, this is likely a problem that is occurring only in your kitchen. If pressure varies when you change from cold to hot water, there may be an issue with your water heater, such as mineral deposits or clogs.
Spotting Mold Growth in Your Kitchen
It’s important that your kitchen sink always drains correctly. Otherwise, you run the risk of mold growing in damp areas underneath your sink or nearby. Mold is dangerous to your health and can cause allergy symptoms, chronic fatigue, headaches and other health problems. A small amount of mold can be cleaned up easily if safety precautions are followed.
However, you could have widespread mold behind or beneath the cabinet that houses your kitchen sink plumbing, which warrants assistance from a professional mold remediation company. You’ll need to work with a plumber as well to determine the source of the moisture that’s leading to mold growth.
Common Garbage Disposal Problems
If you have a garbage disposal connected to your kitchen sink, this appliance can be very beneficial. It can also cause problems if you’re not using it correctly or maintaining it periodically. You may find that your garbage disposal is leaking or failing to grind up food material properly. There may be a problem with the disposal itself or the pipes that are connected to the sink.
Listen for any odd sounds that occur when you use your disposal. This can include loud grinding sounds, humming noises but no movement from the blades and even a complete lack of sound or movement when your disposal is on.
If your garbage disposal isn’t breaking down food properly or particles are getting stuck, this can lead to bad smells coming from your disposal. You attempt to run a mixture of vinegar and water through your disposal to see if that helps the smell. If you don’t notice a difference, professional assistance may be necessary to determine the source of the smell. Worn-out components may need to be replaced to restore normal function of your disposal.
Spotting Corrosion, Rust and Other Damage
Kitchen sinks are usually made from things like stainless steel, granite or porcelain. These materials are very resistant to damage. However, it’s not uncommon for corrosion or damage to occur, especially if your sink wasn’t installed correctly or leaks are present.
You can do a visual inspection of your kitchen sink to spot any area with rust, materials that appear to be breaking down, or dents or holes. You may see discoloration or flaking on the surface of a metal sink. Brown stains around the sink on your countertop can indicate corrosion or rust underneath the base of the sink.
Kitchen Sink Shifting On the Countertop
Your kitchen sink should be properly installed onto your countertop so that it doesn’t move. This ensures there is a tight seal that will prevent rust, corrosion, leaks and other damage. Put a small amount of pressure on your sink to ensure it doesn’t move. Look underneath the sink to see if any light is passing through gaps around the base of your sink.
If your kitchen sink is still in good condition, we should be able to reattach the sink so it no longer moves. If extensive damage is present, we may recommend having a new kitchen sink installed.
Preventing Common Kitchen Sink Problems
There are steps you can take to prevent some of the common kitchen sink issues that we’ve talked about. Schedule a routine plumbing inspection once per year. This gives our team the opportunity to spot problems early on and perform plumbing repairs. It’s important to catch leaks early before damage occurs.
Make sure that you’re not putting anything down your drain that doesn’t belong there. Even if you have a garbage disposal, avoid putting things down your drain like large scraps of food, paper, plastic, grease, oils, very starchy food and eggshells. You should regularly clean your drain using baking soda and vinegar. Avoid using store-bought chemical drain cleaners. While these products can often remove clogs, they are very caustic and can lead to permanent damage inside your pipes.
Tuck & Howell, Inc. is available to assist with many common kitchen issues, providing drain clearing, pipe repair and garbage disposal services. Our plumbing services experts can also help with any new pipe installation projects that can help make your plumbing system more reliable and efficient. While it can be tempting to address kitchen sink issues yourself, it’s imperative you work with our experienced team. This ensures the job is done right, preventing further damage and issues.
Reach out to Tuck & Howell, Inc. for kitchen sink assistance in Greenville, SC today.
