Your kitchen is one of the most common places you use water in your home, and it has a lot of plumbing associated with it. This includes sinks, faucets, garbage disposals, and dishwashers. While you probably don’t give these appliances much thought as long as they are working properly, they can run into problems at any time. Here’s how to prevent five of the most common kitchen plumbing problems.
Kitchen Plumbing Low Water Pressure
This is one of the most common kitchen plumbing complaints, as it can make it difficult to clean dishes effectively. Fortunately, it is also one of the easiest to fix. In most cases, the faucet’s aerator has become clogged over time due to minerals in the water. This is especially true for homes not equipped with water softeners. Soaking the aerator in vinegar for several hours should dissolve the buildup. If that doesn’t solve your problem, there could be a blockage in one of your pipes or an issue with your water supply. Your plumber can help you identify the culprit and get things flowing again.
Jammed Garbage Disposal
Garbage disposals are remarkably effective at getting rid of food scraps, but they aren’t designed to handle everything. For starters, you should never throw bones or other hard items down the garbage disposal. Potato skins, rice, and other starchy foods can gum up the works as well. Finally, you should avoid pouring cooking grease down the disposal. As it cools, it congeals, sticking to the sides of the disposal canister and the blades, causing more kitchen plumbing issues. Not only that, but it can congeal inside your pipes as well, possibly creating even more problems.
Clogged Drain
As mentioned above, cooking grease is one of the most common causes of blocked drains in kitchen sinks. It can build up in your pipes over time, eventually blocking the pipe entirely. As the blockage grows, food particles and other debris can get stuck in it as well, accelerating the process. It is best to avoid dumping leftovers and other food waste down the drain, especially if you don’t have a garbage disposal. Never pour cooking grease down the drain either.
Leaking Dishwasher
There are a number of components in your dishwasher that can leak, and they are all relatively easy to fix. For starters, the door gaskets can become loose or worn. You’ll simply need to replace them to stop the leak. The door seals can crack over time as well, and they are also easy to replace. Damaged spray arms and float switches can often be fixed with a simple screwdriver, and the hose clamp screws that connect to your other kitchen plumbing, like the drain or garbage disposal, may just need to be tightened. If you are still experiencing leaks, call your plumber right away to prevent lasting water damage.
Leaking Faucet
In many cases, faucets leak simply because the O-ring seal around the base has become worn out or cracked, causing it to lose its seal. This is an easy fix that can quickly stop leaks. However, it is also possible for faucet leaks to come from deeper within your kitchen plumbing. You can call on the skills of a plumber to identify the issue and make a plan for repairing it.
Check Your Kitchen Plumbing
Here at Forrest Anderson, we are proud to help both homeowners and commercial kitchens throughout the Greater Phoenix area with these and a variety of other common kitchen plumbing issues. If you are having trouble with your kitchen plumbing, don’t be shy about getting in touch with us right away.
Contact Forrest Anderson Today!