Fixing Standing Water in Kitchen Sinks

Having standing water accumulate in your kitchen sink can quickly become an annoying and smelly problem. Not only is the dirty water an eyesore, but it also poses health hazards by breeding bacteria and emitting a foul odor.

Luckily, standing water in a kitchen sink is usually fixable with some simple unclogging methods. Read on to learn what causes water to stand in a kitchen sink, steps to clear the clog, preventative measures, and when to call a professional plumber.

Causes of Clogged Kitchen Sinks

Several culprits contribute to a clogged kitchen sink drain that prevents water from properly draining:

• Food debris - Particles from food preparation like coffee grounds, eggshells, small pieces of meat, and vegetable/fruit scraps often wash down.
• Fats, oils, and grease - Butter, cooking oil, bacon grease, etc. coat pipes.
• Hair and soap scum from washing dishes.
• A failing garbage disposal - Food particles accumulate and cause jams.
• Damaged drain pipes - Cracks allow debris and roots to enter.
• Improperly installed pipes - Incorrect slope prevents good flow.

As you can see, the daily activities of a kitchen cause plenty of potential obstructions. Over time, drainage slows and standing water results.

How Food and Grease Lead to Clogs

Two of the biggest culprits of kitchen sink backups are fats, oils, greases, and discarded food particles. Hot water, dish soap, and garbage disposals do not dissolve these things. Instead, the materials stick to the inside of drain pipes.

As more debris accumulates, it traps other particles flowing down the drain. Slowly, the internal diameter decreases until nearly blocked. Any additional waste has nowhere to go but up and out your sink. The sludge also prevents proper water drainage from the sink basin.

Signs of Trouble

Watch for these indicators that food and grease buildup threatens your kitchen pipes:

• Water pooling in the sink or draining slower than usual.
• Gurgling noises from clogged vents.
• Foul sewage odors wafting from drains.
• Infestation around drain areas of fruit flies or drain flies.
• Backed up water and waste in toilets or showers when running kitchen water.

By observing changes in drainage and smells early, you can take action before major blockages form.

Unclogging a Kitchen Sink

At the first sign of standing water in a kitchen sink, try these DIY methods to remove the clog.

Reset the Garbage Disposal

If equipped with a garbage disposal, a buildup of waste likely causes poor performance. First, disengage the power. Check inside for foreign objects like silverware, glass, bones, etc. Make sure spinning blades appear intact and turn freely.

Next, insert a long object like an Allen wrench into the center shaft on the disposal's underside. Rotate back and forth to dislodge trapped particles and reactivate rotation. Finish by reconnecting electricity to test functionality.

Plunge the Drain

Using a heavy-duty plunger specifically designed for sinks provides tremendous suction for loosening clogs. For optimal results:

• Fill the basin with enough water to cover the drain opening.
• Quickly plunge up and down at least 15 times while submerged.
• When you pull the plunger out, check if the drain appears unclogged.
• Repeat steps as needed until the fixture drains.

The rapid pressure differential created by plunging may dislodge the obstruction deep within pipes.

Natural Drain Cleaners

An excellent non-toxic option involves pouring a mixture of baking soda and vinegar down the drain. As the two ingredients react, they produce CO2 bubbles that help break apart grease clogs. Create the cleaner by:

1. Pouring 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain.
2. Adding 1/2 cup vinegar immediately afterward.
3. Waiting at least 15 minutes as the solution activates and foams.
4. Finishing with a kettle full of boiling water to flush remains away.

The boiling water should re-melt any remaining grease so it flows freely without re-solidifying in pipes. Repeat treatments for stubborn clogs.

Avoid Harsh Chemical Drain Cleaners

Baking soda and vinegar provide an excellent non-damaging homemade drain cleaner option. However, you may find liquid chemical products marketed specifically for unclogging at your local hardware store.

These powerful formulations may seem like the easy way out. However, they carry substantial safety hazards and often damage pipes when used improperly.

Corrosive ingredients like sodium hydroxide or sulfuric acid eat through clogs but also eat away at the metal, plastic, or porcelain materials in your plumbing system. The chemicals can melt pipe joints, erode surfaces, and leave behind leak-prone pinholes.

Preventing Future Kitchen Sink Clogs

A functioning kitchen sink relies on vigilant maintenance habits to avoid repeating drain issues. Make these careful practices second nature:

Do Not Send Food Down Drains

Get in the routine of emptying excess debris from cooking, prep work, and cleaning into the trash. Use sink strainers and drain catchers to grab particles washing from dirty dishes, pots, and utensils.

Consider installing an inline kitchen sink filter that blocks food particles. Regularly clean out mesh catch cups or under-sink housings when they become gunked with grease and muck.

Limit Fats, Oils, and Grease in Drains

Never pour leftover oils, fats, or greasy pan drippings down a drain. Allow cooked foods lingering in pans to fully cool and congeal leftover grease you can scrape out. Capture meat drippings for use in stocks and gravies instead of rinsing down the garbage disposal.

Take Care With Produce Scraps and Shells

Use the trash when disposing of fruit and vegetable peels, eggshells, and nutshells. Avoid forcing large volumes down all at once that could bind together and cause cumbersome blockages.

Install Hair Traps

Dozens of slimy hair strands intertwine with soap scum to create thick mats stopping up drain pipes. Hair traps conveniently collect these before they can reach deeper plumbing runs.

Look for inexpensive stainless steel hair catchers that situate flat atop sink drain grates. Flexible rubber stopper types also work well at catching stray hairs washing down from shaving and hand/face washing.

Use a Drain Brush

A special plastic brush that reaches down into sink drains works wonders for preventing gunk buildup. After washing the dishes or cleaning the sink, give a few quick scrubs with your drain brush to keep everything moving freely.

Most come with thin flexible bristles that dislodge particles while still being gentle on pipes. Focus extra effort around the drain basket and garbage disposal inlet.

DIY methods can remedy basic sink clogs in minutes. However, for severe, repeated, or overly perplexing drain issues, calling a professional ensures the problem resolves correctly.