A HUGE kitchen (drain pipe, really) tip

K

Kira

Joined
Aug 19, 2010
Messages
16,308
Location
Champlain/Hudson Valley
This could serve as a warning too all.
Avoid cheap stainless steel scrubbers (coarse steel 'wool') which are commonly sold in restaurant supply shops.
They shed and have clogged my kitchen drainpipe.

The drain follows shallow run to the big, vertical waste pipe.
I've a plug removed and am repeatedly running my old manual, 1/4" wound cable into and out of its 6' length.
The goo involved is what I'd call "Hollywood Crude Oil". The difference is that it's filled with bits of stainless steel.
I'm going to continue to ream as best I can. Actually, the longer strands help make a substantial wad of crud.

I posted this in Food/Cooking/Beverages because cooks like us clean or force our wives to.
I'm going to post this in the home maintenance section for coverage.
I trust the mods will OK that.
I KNOW it's that important.

Sorry they came up together in the "Latest Threads" stack.
 
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sounds like normal grease drain problem.

I wipe all pans with a paper towel and throw in trash to avoid as much FOG* going down the drain as possible
It can be so bad as to need new pipes.


* Fats Oils Grease
 
The main problem is the oil. There are products that can help reduce the buildup. Some have enzymes, but most have bacterial cultures that produce the enzymes that allow the bacteria to feed.
 
Whew! It's fixed.

The clogged drainpipe exits the kitchen into the wall, low horizontally, 90* down to the basement.
Then into a clunky, dog's leg of tees and close nipples. Then into the 6' shallow pitch mentioned above. It too is a cobbled run.
This layout is a natural, slow-flowing crud catcher.

Grandpa's plain cable snakes got a good workout pulling lying crud from the long pipe and into the drain from above.
However, to reach the clog from below, a tool would have to double back into a tee.

<$24 at HD for a Husky 1/4' x 15ft. Drum Auger with a resilient, springy cable.
Two foot in I hooked a glob and pulled. The crud wad hit me full blast. I couldn't've been happier.

Happy because:
1 The shed threads hung together so the wad could be pulled along.
2 Overall impressive quality, of the cable, crank and grip

A question: Would a pro use something to chase the remaining, black goo down the pipe? ...maybe a harsh detergent?

Also, I'm totally careful with grease too. The black residue wasn't the least bit greasy or oily.

SOS and Brillo pads seem to be made with finer wire which rusts and crumbles fast...
 
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