Tips for preventing Continuous Clogs in a Utility Sink

What You will Need:
Sink drain strainer
Metal container with lid
Drain stopper
Adjustable wrench
Pail


When you have a utility sink its single purpose is to dispose of stuff that are a by-product of some sort of craft or work. If you are a painter, you would discard chemical substances and paint in the utility sink, much like a professional cook may dispose of food particles. The utility sink is usually connected directly to the primary plumbing line that lead to the sewer or septic system. This is what allows you to dump these items in this sink as using a normal home sink would find you having more problems with clogging. The utility sink can still become obstructed and the following article will explain how to prevent this from happening.

Step 1 - Strain the Utility Sink

When you are dumping things in to the sink, the larger objects can easily become trapped in the pipe. If the materials make it down the pipe then it could possibly get stuck in the bend of the pipe. These problems may require the use of a emergency plumber to solve. An easy way to stop this from occurring is to add a strainer to the drain. A utility sink doesn't usually have a strainer which will catch larger items that may be better being discard in the standard garbage instead of poured it down the sink. The strainer should be cleaned often to help keep it working properly.

Step 2 - Thin it Out

When you're dumping things like chemical substances and paint, it is crucial that they are thinned before being dumped down the drain. The paint can seize up and then solidify in the drain pipe which will cause a problem with proper draining of the utility sink. Chemical substances may actually eat away at material that is caked inside the water pipes. Food and hair are two of the main examples. When these materials dislodge they can become trapped further down the pipe. Place a stopper in the drain hole and then pour in your material. Run the water to thin the material out before it is allowed to go down the drain. Once it is thinned out pull the chain to remove the stopper.

Step 3 - Dispose Elsewhere

There are particular materials that should never be disposed of down the drain of a utility sink or any sink for that matter. This is primarily the case with food items. Grease is the worst thing you can dispose of down a drain. The grease will seize up and cling on the surfaces of the pipe which will ultimately cause a clog. You should always dump the oil by dumping it inside of a metal tin with a lid. A coffee can is the best case scenario. The grease can then be disposed of at a recycling center.

Step 4 - Clean the Bends

Most of the clogs in your utility sink will be found in the bend of the pipe below the sink. Use the wrench to remove the coupler. The section of pipe can then be removed and properly cleaned.

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Park Mechanical Plumbing & Sewer
8324 Luzon Ave.
Sacramento, CA 95828
(916) 231-5681