A kitchen sink full of dirty water is a frustrating way to end dinner. Grease cools and hardens in the pipe, food scraps and coffee grounds get trapped, and over time the drain narrows until it backs up. Double sinks and garbage disposals add extra connections where clogs can form.
We clear kitchen sink backups quickly and cleanly, and help you understand what's causing them.
Kitchen Sink Backing Up Around Markham
Markham is known for its diverse food culture, and many home kitchens cook every day with oils, rice, noodles and other ingredients that can build up in drains. Grease is the biggest culprit: it goes down as a liquid but cools and sticks to pipe walls, catching food particles until the drain narrows.
Double sinks, garbage disposals and dishwashers all connect to the same drain, so a blockage anywhere can show up as a backup in the sink. We check each connection when we clear the line.
In older homes, kitchen drains may be galvanized or cast iron, which collect buildup faster. In newer homes, long horizontal runs from islands can be prone to clogs if they weren't sloped well.
Basement kitchens in second suites often share a drain line with the main kitchen upstairs. If both are slow, the shared line or main may need attention.
If your kitchen sink keeps backing up, hydro jetting may be a good option to clean the pipe walls more thoroughly than snaking.
We'll leave your cabinet clean and dry, and test everything before we leave.
Small habits make a big difference: scrape plates into the garbage, wipe greasy pans and run plenty of water.
Around holidays and family gatherings, kitchen sinks work overtime, and that's when many backups happen. Large batches of rice, potato peels and cooking oil are a tough combination for any drain. If you're hosting a big meal, keep a container handy for grease and scrape food scraps into the garbage or green bin rather than the disposal. If the sink backs up anyway, give us a call and we'll get things flowing again.
Signs You Need Kitchen Sink Backing Up
Call us if your kitchen sink shows these symptoms:
- Water backing up into one or both basins. Grease and food buildup in the trap or drain line.
- Slow drainage. Water takes longer and longer to drain.
- Gurgling. Air struggling to pass through the drain.
- Bad smells. Food waste trapped in the pipe decomposes.
- Dishwasher draining into the sink. The shared drain line is blocked.
How We Do It
- 1
Clear the cabinet
We access the trap and connections under the sink.
- 2
Check the disposal and trap
We clear jams in the disposal and clean the trap.
- 3
Snake the line
We clear the drain line through to the stack.
- 4
Reconnect and test
We reinstall connections, run water and the dishwasher, and check for leaks.
- 5
Share tips
We suggest simple habits to prevent grease buildup.
Why Choose Markham Plumbing
Kitchen clogs usually live beyond the trap. We clear the full line, check the disposal and dishwasher connections and leave the cabinet dry and clean.
- Full line clearing
- Disposal checks
- Dishwasher drain checks
- Clean workspace
Kitchen Sink Backing Up FAQs
Can I pour grease down the drain with hot water?
No. Grease cools and hardens further down the pipe. Wipe greasy pans and put grease in the garbage or compost where permitted.
Why is my dishwasher draining into the sink?
The shared drain is likely blocked, often at the disposal or trap.
Does a garbage disposal cause clogs?
Disposals can contribute if fibrous or starchy foods are put down them. Use them sparingly and run plenty of water.
Should I use a plunger on a double sink?
Block the other basin first. If that doesn't work, call us instead of using chemicals.