What’s Happening Down Your Blocked Kitchen Sink?

After a nice roast beef meal, I think we can all be a bit guilty of just rinsing some of the scraps down the drain.

Doing things like this can seem harmless, until it starts smelling like something died in it, and the water drains super slow.

So, let’s ask the question nobody really wants to think about…

What’s actually going down your sink?

It’s not just water. There is other stuff accumulating down your sink, which we can often forget about.

Grease

After cooking up some bacon, it can be tempting just to pour the fat down the sink. However, that’s not always a good idea.

Grease doesn’t stay liquid.

Once it hits the inner walls of your pipes, it starts to harden. Over time, it builds up like plaque in an artery. Layer after layer, it narrows your pipes to the point where water struggles to get through. That’s when the gurgling and the blockages start to happen.

Even in the dishwasher, if you put greasy pans inside, it can cause plumbing issues.

Starches

If you’ve ever given your kids a plate of rice, you’ll know that they never finish everything. Sometimes on a good day, there might be a few grains stuck to the sides of the plate. So, when this understandably gets flushed down the drain often, it can add up.

Starchy foods like pasta and rice absorb water. So, when they go into a pipe (which is full of water), they can bloat, making a blockage even more likely.

As more of them accumulate, they can disrupt the flow of water and make it more difficult for water to drain.

Bar Soap

A lot of people don’t realise that soap can contribute to a blocked drain. Bar soap especially, can create residue and scum which can adhere to pipes and mix with other debris. 

In some homes, I’ve seen people who keep soap near the kitchen sink so that they can clean their hands as they cook. However, if you do this, liquid soap is better for your pipes.

Coffee Grounds

Coffee grounds are gritty, and don’t fully dissolve. These bits can often stick together as well when they get wet, making the chance of a blockage even higher.

Many homes just rinse their coffee grounds down the sink, making this a very common cause of clogs.

Hard water

Some water has extra minerals inside it like calcium and magnesium. These extra minerals sound like a free bonus but can deposit inside your pipes. As they accumulate, they form something called limescale which can narrow your pipe diameter.

There are many signs of hard water including crust or white chalky stains on taps. You can learn more signs of hard water here.

Construction Debris or Renovation Dust

If you’ve had any recent kitchen work, tiny bits of plaster or paint flakes can harden inside pipes and block water flow. These bits of debris can result in poor drainage.

Backflow from Other Fixtures

If your sink shares a line with a different drain, a blockage downstream can back up into the sink making it seem like the kitchen’s to blame.

Pests in the System

Sounds like a nightmare, but it happens. Rodents or cockroaches can:

• Build nests or die in vents or pipes.
• Cause blockages and bring nasty odours with them.

Avoid throwing food down the pipes as this can be seen as a free food source for the critters.

Air Problems

A slow drain can be caused by what’s inside the pipe. But that doesn’t just mean debris. It also refers to the air.

Every plumbing system needs proper venting to allow air to flow and water to drain smoothly. This vent is supposed to balance the pressure so that everything can go according to plan. 

If your vent is clogged or damaged, then it can’t do its job any longer. As a result, you might hear gurgling, or get slow drainage. 

Poor Pipe Installation or Design

If the plumbing was DIY’d or thrown together by someone “having a go,” you might be dealing with a poor plumbing design problem. Kitchen pipes are supposed to be laid out in a specific way, with a specific diameter so that everything can run smoothly. 

Having a poor design can slow down the water drainage and increase the likelihood of blockages.

What Else Might Be Going Down There?

When you’re washing, things can slip and make their way down the sink. Some culprits include

• Bits of plastic packaging
• Stray food labels
• Broken dish scrubbers
• Flour

You’d be surprised how many things have accidentally been rinsed down.

Your sink isn’t a bottomless pit. Every bit of oil, starch, grit, or soap scum adds up. What’s really going down your kitchen drain is years’ worth of buildup just waiting to cause a problem.

I’ve been guilty of letting a bit too much go down the drain after a big cook-up. But the difference is knowing what that stuff actually does once it’s out of sight.

So next time you rinse your plate, or think about pouring leftover oil down the sink, ask yourself: “What’s really going down there?”

Your kitchen might look clean and tidy but your pipes might tell a whole different story. But even beyond the classic blockages, vents, and pipe design can play a big role in blockages.

If you’re in Rockhampton and have a blocked kitchen sink, we’d be happy to help. Connect with experience, knowledge, and expertise can help you get your kitchen running smoothly. Whether your problem is residential or commercial, it can be resolved.

Let’s keep your kitchen flowing the way it should!