Any chef will tell you that the kitchen sink is an extremely important fixture. It’s essential for drinking water, washing, and disposing of certain liquids. When the kitchen sink starts draining slowly or stops draining completely, it can be a huge deal. The best thing to do in this situation is to call an experienced Elmhurst plumbing professional and avoid chemical drain cleaners. In an ideal world, of course, you would prevent the clog from happening in the first place. Here are a few of the most common causes of kitchen sink clogs.

Hardened Grease

Life would be so much easier if it were okay to flush cooking grease down the drain. Unfortunately, it simply isn’t. Though grease may be a liquid when it’s hot, it turns solid when it cools. If you send hot grease down the drain, it will be a matter of minutes before it cools and hardens, which could lead to a blockage. The best way to dispose of hot grease is to pour it into a can in your kitchen, then throw that can into the garbage once it’s full.

Coffee Grounds and Eggshells

If your kitchen sink has a garbage disposal, you might be more inclined to send more substantial items down it. However, even the most advanced garbage disposals aren’t equipped to handle things like coffee grounds and eggshells. These items can cause a clog in your kitchen drain, or at the very least damage your garbage disposal. To get rid of eggshells and coffee grains, either put them in the compost or throw them in the garbage.

Other Food Debris

Depending on the complexity of your meals, cooking can be a hectic endeavor. You may find yourself so busy with broiling and sautéing that you don’t pay too much attention to what’s going down your drain. Small food particles are generally fine, but larger pieces of food can cause real problems. The best way to prevent this is to install a drain guard , which should catch larger food pieces.

Whether it’s finished or unfinished, a basement can be a very useful space. Unfortunately, it’s the one place that’s most vulnerable to flooding. If you notice excess water in your basement, it’s important that you call an Elmhurst plumber or another professional as soon as possible. Your flooding is most likely caused by one of the following.

Improper Drainage

Every property in the city should be configured in such a way that allows water to run away from the house and into the municipal sewer system. If your property has a slope or ditch that doesn’t allow for this type of drainage, then there’s a good chance that water will flood into your basement. If this happens, you’re best off having a professional reconfigure your home’s drainage.

Clogged Gutter

Gutters are designed to collect the water that falls on your roof and channel it away from the home. If debris gets stuck in the gutter, water can’t get where it needs to go, causing it to instead spill onto the base of your home. Over time, the water from the clogged gutter could find its way into your basement.

Poor Sealing

After a period of heavy rain, the ground water around your property is likely to swell. The lower floor of your home should be protected by a sturdy seal; if it isn’t, there’s a good chance water could get in during or soon after a rain storm. As you can imagine, poor sealing is also implicated in flooding caused by poor drainage and clogged gutters.

Backed Up Sewer

The municipal sewer system can get overburdened during periods of high water volume, causing sewer water to back up into certain homes. After the next prolonged rain storm, be sure to keep an eye on any drains in your basement—including drains found in a downstairs bathroom or a laundry room drain.

Burst Pipe

It’s relatively common for pipes to freeze and burst during the cold months. If left unattended, a burst pipe can result in thousands of dollars of water damage . The best way to avoid this is to keep the indoor temperature above 55 degrees at all times.

There are some plumbing leaks that are very obvious. For example, if you have water pouring out of a pipe in your basement, you should call an emergency plumber right away. However, there are other leaks that are tougher to spot. Watch this video to see how to tell if you need plumbing services serving Elmhurst.

You may not be able to see a leaky plumbing pipe behind a wall, but if the paint on that wall is chipping or you see a discolored spot on it, it could be a sign of a plumbing leak. Likewise, large wet spots will often form on ceilings when leaky pipes are located above them. In both of these situations, you should have an emergency plumber come out to assess the damage right away. You can prevent a more dangerous plumbing emergency by fixing leaks quickly before they cause bigger issues.

If you have a basement in your home or business, there is a chance that it could flood at any time. By working with a residential or commercial plumbing company, you can set up a flood control system that will allow you to keep water out of your basement space. McCoy Sewer & Plumbing can help you pick out a flood control system in Elmhurst and install it for you.

There are many benefits to having a residential or commercial plumbing company install a flood control system. A flood control system will limit the amount of water damage your basement will sustain in the event of a flood. It will also prevent a sewer backup from affecting your basement. Additionally, the system will allow you to store items in your basement without worrying about them getting wet. When you call on McCoy Sewer & Plumbing, a highly trained plumbing technician will show you the flood control systems available for your needs and guide you to the right choice for your home.

If left untreated, a clog in your sewer line could lead to a very costly cleanup and, in some cases, a need for a whole new sewer line. So if you suspect that you might have a clog in your sewer line, you should contact a company that specializes in residential plumbing right away and have it inspected. It’s much less expensive to have a sewer line clog removed than it would be to have to do major repairs to your plumbing system due to a sewer line backup. Here is how you can identify a clog so that you can seek sewer repair in Elmhurst .

Pay Attention to How Often Your Drains and Toilets Clog

Your drains and toilets are going to get clogged up from time to time. No matter how careful you are about what you put down your drains, ongoing use and buildup from soap scum and debris can lead to clogs. If, however, your drains and toilets clog up on a regular basis and do not respond to conventional drain cleaning solutions, it could be a sign that you have a clog in your sewer.

Listen for Strange Noises Coming From Your Toilet

When you turn on your washing machine or run the sink in your kitchen, does your toilet make a gurgling sound? If your toilet makes any kind of noise when you’re using another water source in your home, it could be because wastewater is having trouble moving through your sewer line .

Watch Out for Water Pooling Near Your Home’s Drains

When water can’t pass through your sewer line, it will start to back up into your home. At first, it may just be a small amount of water pooling around your drains, but that could change quickly. Before long, you could have raw sewage spilling back up into your home, so have a plumber inspect your sewer system immediately.

Do you have a clog in one of the drains inside of your home or business? Before you call for plumbing services , you should might attempt to use a plunger to get rid of it. If that doesn’t work, you should then call a plumber to have him or her deal with your clogged drains near Elmhurst. The plumber will be able to use either a plumbing snake or hydrojetting to get rid of your clog and clear your plumbing pipes up again. Here are the differences between the two plumbing methods.

How Does a Plumbing Snake Work?

Plumbing snakes, which are also sometimes referred to as plumbing augers, have long metal tubes with a corkscrew or blade attached to the end of them. While providing plumbing services, a plumber will often try and use a plumbing snake first to eliminate a clog. In order to do it, he or she will hand crank the plumbing snake to extend the metal tube through your pipes. Once it reaches the source of the clog, it can then be used to break it down and retrieve it from your pipe. Plumbing snakes are ideal for clogs caused by food particles, hair, and other small debris.

How Does Hydrojetting Work?

Hydrojetting calls for a plumber to place a pressurized hose connected to a machine that is equipped to pressurize water through your plumbing pipes. When it reaches a clog, the hose can be used to blast clogs away with a very powerful stream of water. Whether your clog consists of grease, oil, built-up minerals, or even tree branches, hydrojetting is extremely effective. You won’t have to worry about clogged drains once you use hydrojetting to clear your plumbing system.

Which Is Best For You?

Plumbing snakes and hydrojetting can both be effective . It all depends on what is causing a clog in your drain and where the clog originated. Your plumbing company will be able to inspect your clog and decide which method will work best. Either way, you won’t have to deal with clogged pipes anymore once the plumber is finished providing you with the right plumbing services for your needs.

Frozen pipes are among the most serious emergency plumbing situations that are encountered by homeowners. When you are scheduling seasonal plumbing services for your property, you should be sure to ask your residential plumbing contractor about how you can prevent frozen or burst pipes. Since burst pipes are caused by freezing outdoor temperatures, you can keep your pipes from freezing by providing them with proper insulation. A company offering plumbing services serving Elmhurst will be able to fully insulate your pipes and prepare them for the next cold snap. If you are wondering about how you can prevent frozen pipes in your home, be sure to take a look at this informative video from Angie’s List.

Many of us assume that our general plumbing systems will remain in great working order, throughout the years and seasons. Since a plumbing emergency can strike with little warning, it is a good idea to keep the number of a residential plumbing company handy at all times. From burst pipes to a clogged sewer line and more, your emergency plumber can solve a variety of plumbing issues. With the help of an emergency plumber near Elmhurst, you can restore your plumbing back to proper working condition. To help you prepare for the unexpected, here are some essential tips for scheduling emergency plumbing services.

Do Your Research

When you are seeking an emergency plumber that serves your local community, it is important to do your research before you hire a contractor. For example, you may want to ask your emergency plumber to provide you with reviews or recommendations from past clients. An emergency plumber that comes with great ratings will be sure to offer you top quality plumbing repairs, no matter your plumbing situation.

Ask About Licensing

Along with doing your research, it is also a great idea to ask about the licensing that is held by your emergency plumber. In order to provide plumbing repairs, a plumber must have the right type of license from city or county authorities. The licensing process ensures that each plumber has the knowledge and experience needed to provide quality plumbing repairs. By hiring a licensed plumber, you can book your services with confidence.

Consider Response Time

The last situation that you will want to encounter is waiting for your plumber to arrive when a serious emergency strikes your home. As you are considering hiring an emergency plumber, you should be sure to ask the contractor about his response time. Ideally, your emergency plumber will provide a very fast response time to your neighborhood. A faster response time will allow you to address your situation as swiftly as possible.

Scheduling plumbing services serving Elmhurst is among the most important decisions that you will make when you purchase a new home. Since there are many emergency plumbing situations that can arise in your home, you will want to have the number of a general plumbing contractor on hand at all times. At McCoy Sewer and Plumbing , our contractors are thrilled to provide our residential and commercial clients with a full range of plumbing services. For example, we can provide you with quality drain clog repair that will help restore the function of your sink or drain. In addition, we also offer pipe repair and replacement services. Our plumbers also specialize in other plumbing services, such as frozen pipe thawing and water heater replacement. When you book a general plumbing appointment with our company, we will get to the bottom of what is troubling your plumbing system. We look forward to helping you with all of your plumbing needs.

Drain cleaning is among the most common plumbing services scheduled by homeowners. When you experience a clogged kitchen sink or bathroom drain, chances are that you will want to fix the problem immediately. Fortunately, with the help of a contractor offering residential plumbing near Elmhurst , you will be able to solve your clogged drain conundrum right away. After your drain clearing has been completed, your next task will be to prevent your drains from getting clogged again. To help you keep your drains, pipes, and general plumbing system in good working order, here is a look at some essential tips for preventing clogged drains.

Throw Cooking Grease in the Trash

One of the most essential ways to prevent clogged drains in your kitchen is to avoid placing liquid cooking grease down your sink. Although cooking grease is liquid when it is hot, it will quickly solidify when it is placed into your plumbing pipes. Solid grease can completely clog up your drain. To prevent this plumbing emergency, be sure to place your cooking grease in the trash.

Use Drain Screens

Drain screens are among your best defense against drain clogs. When you install drain screens on all of the sinks throughout your house, you will prevent hair and other particles from entering your drain and pipes. In order to make sure that your drain screens are working properly, you should make sure that they create a completely tight seal around the edge of your drain.

Rely on the Power of Hot Water

Hot water can also be a powerful defense against clogged drains. After you use your kitchen sink, for example, it is a great idea to flush your drain with plenty of hot water. The heat of the water and the force of the flow will have the power to break up and wash away any clogging substances. Contact your plumber for more handy tips on how to prevent clogs.