What Should I Do If The Kitchen Sewer Is Blocked? Please Keep These Unblocking Tips And Maintenance Methods
The "invisible crisis" of clogged kitchen sewers: from routine blockage to complete unblocking
In the daily operation of family life, the kitchen is the place filled with the strongest smell of smoke and fire. However, it is also a corner where the pipe system is prone to malfunctions and stops running in many cases. When the water flows from slowly leaking to not flowing at all, or even emitting an unpleasant smell, this not only means that cooking must be stopped, but also indicates that thick grease and messy items may have accumulated inside the pipe. As an experienced housekeeping professional, I have dealt with over a thousand instances of blockages and know very well that careless handling will only make the problem worse. Today, I will analyze for you a comprehensive solution from diagnosis to maintenance from a professional deep cleaning perspective.
Professional tool arsenal: from “earth methods” to physical dredging equipment
When most people encounter a blockage, their first reaction is to boil a pot of water. However, this is only effective for milder types of grease condensation. A truly professional dredging measure requires a set of tools that are used in combination:
The first category is basic chemistry, including caustic soda, which is sodium hydroxide, and special pipe dredging agents. Caustic soda will generate high temperatures when it comes into contact with water. It can effectively decompose organic matter, but you must strictly wear gloves when using it to prevent splash burns.
2. Among the physical dredging categories are: hand-operated spring steel dredging springs called "dredges" and household pipe dredging machines . These two are core weapons when dealing with hard objects and deep blockages.
3. Auxiliary detection categories: flashlight, used to inspect water traps, long-handled clamps, used to remove visible foreign objects.
Operation process: graded processing, precise attack on blockage points
There are usually three levels of blockage in kitchen drains, which require different tactics:
Level 1: Grease and sticky blockage
If you notice that the water flow is gradually slowing down, but it is not completely clogged, it is most likely that thick condensed oil is adhered to the wall of the pipe. At this time, do not pour boiling water first. This may push the oil deeper. The correct way is to first pour a bag of professional oil decomposer or 200 grams of caustic soda into the sewer outlet, then pour warm water of about 60 degrees, not boiling water, and let it sit for 30 minutes. At that time, a strong chemical reaction will occur. The hot water can accelerate the melting of the oil, and the caustic soda will saponify and decompose the oil. After half an hour, rinse with plenty of hot water and you will find that the water flow speeds up significantly.
Level 2: Debris entanglement type blockage
When vegetable leaves, rice grains or hair are stuck in the so-called S-shaped water trap, the effect of boiling water is minimal. If this happens, you need to remove the maintenance port under the water pipe, or directly use the hand-cranked spring wire. To insert the head of the wire into the pipe, push the handle inward while turning the handle in a clockwise direction. When it encounters resistance, it means that it has stuck something blocked. At this time, turn it hard and pull it out. Usually, you can bring out a large group of entangled things.
Level 3: Stubborn hard objects and pipeline design defects
In the case where the above methods are ineffective, there is a possibility that, firstly, hard objects such as bones may cause blockage, and secondly, the pipe slope may be insufficient, resulting in long-term blockage. In this case, it is recommended to hire professionals to use a pipe dredging machine (electric spring) to carry out powerful rotary drilling operations, and even use a high-pressure cleaning machine to perform waterjet cutting, so as to completely remove the calcified grease on the pipe wall over time.
Guide to handling details and avoiding pitfalls: home economics’ secrets that don’t spread to others
In practice, there are several details that determine the quality of the dredging effect:
In terms of protective measures, when using chemicals, make sure the kitchen is ventilated. If it accidentally splashes on your skin, rinse it immediately with plenty of water. Never let aluminum pipes come into contact with caustic soda, otherwise they will be corroded and perforated.
Never use poor quality dredging pills. This is the first pitfall to avoid. Most of the powdered dredging pills on the market are strong acids, which react extremely violently and can easily cause damage to old PVC pipes and even cause cracks in the joints.
The second pitfall to avoid is: use the spatula, also known as the skin sucker, with caution. For a completely blocked pipe, if a strong suction action is applied to it, a strong reaction force may be generated, which may cause the pipe joint to collapse. If used, be sure to ensure that the joints at all parts of the pipe are particularly strong.
After the physical dredging is done and the debris in the spring used is pulled out, the next step is to use chemical agents for cleaning. That is to say, a special solution synthesized from the two is used and then hot water is used. The combination of the two can achieve the effect of deep cleaning. The physical method is to open up the blocked paths formed, and the chemical method is to dissolve the remaining things inside after these blockages.
Effect comparison: "blood vessel" scavenger visible to the naked eye
Many owners said that after boiling it with boiling water, it was clear at the time, but it was blocked again the next day. The reason for this is that boiling water can only melt the floating oil on the surface, but the grease polymer deep in the pipe wall is still stubborn.
We use the professional process of "physical drilling + chemical decomposition", which produces significant and subversive effects: before dredging, it takes thirty years for the water to flow down; after dredging, the water flow takes on a vortex shape and is drained instantly, and no "gurgling" sound of return air can be heard. More importantly, the odor disappeared. The reason why this happens is that blocked items are often a good environment for bacteria to breed. After they are completely removed, the air quality in the kitchen will be significantly improved.
Routine maintenance of kitchen sewers: wisdom to prevent problems before they occur
To avoid falling into the back-and-forth situation of "clear the blockage and then block it again", maintenance is more important than unblocking.
Install a double-layer filter and install a fine filter at the drain outlet of the sink to intercept solid objects such as rice grains and vegetable residues. At the same time, wrap stockings around the drain outlet to effectively intercept hair and small fibers.
2. Regular hot flushing: At least once a week, boil a pot of boiling hot water, then divide it into several times and slowly pour it into the sewer. This can wash away the slowly forming oil film and keep the pipe wall smooth.
Perform routine maintenance of biological enzymes from time to time, and use biological enzyme pipe cleaners every other month. This type of cleaner uses microorganisms to decompose organic matter, has no corrosion to pipelines, and can reduce grease accumulation from the source. It is an effective tool to extend the life of pipelines.
4. Prevent accidental spilling of oil: The remaining oil, soup, and hot pot base mixture during the cooking process must wait until it cools down before pouring it into the trash can space, and absolutely do not choose to flush it directly into the underground drainage pipe. This is the most important rule of thumb when it comes to maintaining healthy kitchen plumbing.
When it comes to the health of your kitchen drains, it is directly related to the quality of your home life. With the right tools, scientific processes, and meticulous maintenance, you can not only solve the current blockage troubles, but also keep the kitchen drainage system as smooth as it was at the beginning for many years. Remember, every careful maintenance of pipelines is a sign of respect for the details of life.
