Maintaining Your Sink

Whether you’ve recently bought and installed your new sink following our guide to kitchen sink installation, or you just want to keep your current sink in tip-top condition, this guide is for you.

We’re going to outline what parts of your sink you need to check regularly, which sink issues occur most often (and how to fix them), and how to keep your appliance as clean as possible.

Checking Your Sink

When it comes to keeping your sink working as best it can, being proactive is key. You’ll save time and money in the long run by keeping performance issues to a minimum, which in turn will save you a lot of stress! Here are the key areas to check for:

Problems with your sink’s plumbing

A number of issues can potentially affect your sink’s plumbing, and unless these areas are checked regularly you may find they slip under the radar. The reason for this is that your sink’s plumbing is often tucked under a cupboard, where you’re unlikely to notice problems unless you’re specifically looking for them.

Thankfully you don’t need to be an expert at kitchen sink plumbing to spot problems; you just have to check the ends of each pipe for leaks, drips, and blockages. It’s also recommended to check the floor under your sink regularly, for pools of water.

Problems with your sink’s seal

You will remember from our article on installing a sink that to prevent leaks, you need to apply a layer of sealant. If this seal is allowed to wear off, or isn’t applied correctly in the first place, over time the sink, and the area around it, risks being damaged beyond repair.

We recommend regularly checking the seal around your sink is working correctly by looking for leaks around the edge of the sink – both above and below the worktop.

Problems with your sink’s drainage

It’s very important to ensure your sink can drain properly. If it’s not, clearing the blockage as soon as you can is vital. More often than not a blocked sink is caused by food – a problem that’s easy to prevent and resolve. We discuss how to do this just below.

Common Kitchen Sink Issues & How to Repair Your Kitchen Sink

In this section we will look at the most common sink issues, and show you how to fix them.

How Do You Fix a Kitchen Sink that Won’t Drain?

If you regularly let small pieces of food go down your sink then over time it’s highly likely it will become blocked. This blockage actually occurs in your sink’s plumbing, often within your pipes. If your sink starts draining more slowly than usual, or not at all, it’s clear you have a problem.

So what do you do if your kitchen sink won’t drain? If you encounter this issue directly below your sink you should be able to ‘fish’ the blockage out, using a specific tool or by making your own. This is a very easy solution to a drainage issue, however if your kitchen sink is blocked past the U bend then you may need to use a chemical to dissolve the blockage.

My Kitchen Sink Smells – What Do I Do?

From time-to-time your kitchen sink may produce many unwanted smells. You may find that your kitchen sink smells of ammonia, like metal, or food waste. Although the smell is far from ideal, the real concern is what’s causing it. If the cause is food then this more of an inconvenience than anything else, however if the source of the odour is something more serious then it’s very important to deal with it as soon as possible.

If you can’t find the source of the odour, and it keeps growing stronger, we recommend consulting a professional as soon as possible.

How Do You Fix a Kitchen Sink that is Leaking?

Leaks are commonly found around the seal of a sink and where the sink joins the plumbing. You may also find that your kitchen sink U bend is leaking.

If your sink seal is causing a leak you will need to remove and replace it. If you can, just unclip and loosen your sink and replace the seal. If this isn’t an option we recommend using a sealant gun and silicon sealant to reseal worn areas without moving the sink.

If you’re inexperienced with sink plumbing then you may want to consult a professional to find the source of the leak. If you are experienced in this area, we recommend reviewing each section of the plumbing individually until you pinpoint the source.

Now you know what to do when your kitchen sink is clogged, what causes your kitchen sink to smell, and when to replace your sink, you have all of the information you need to keep it in great condition for as long as possible. Remember, it’s important to check your sink on a regular basis to prevent serious issues from occurring, and if you encounter any of the issues above then you must deal with them as soon as you can. Drag your feet and you’ll probably need to replace your sink earlier than expected.

For more information on any of our sink models please contact us.