Let’s talk about kitchen plumbing problems. I’ve been fixing Perth kitchens for over 38 years now, and you wouldn’t believe how many times I’ve heard “I wish I’d called earlier” when I show up to fix a blocked sink or leaking tap.
The kitchen’s the heart of your home, and when the plumbing plays up, it affects everything from your morning coffee routine to the family dinner cleanup.
Most kitchen plumbing problems start small. That slight gurgle in the sink or the tap that drips occasionally might seem minor, but they’re usually warning signs of bigger issues developing. Let me walk you through what to watch out for and what you can do about it.
That Dreaded Blocked Sink
We all know the signs – water taking forever to drain, that lovely pasta dinner sitting in a pool of water, or worse, the sink backing up when you’re trying to clean up after a family meal. It’s frustrating, but there’s usually a good reason for it.
Here’s what’s probably going on:
- If water’s draining slower than usual, you’ve likely got a blockage building up. Don’t ignore it – it won’t fix itself
- Hearing gurgling noises? That’s trapped air trying to escape around a blockage
- Bad smells are usually food waste stuck in the pipes – and yes, it’s as gross as it sounds
What’s causing it? Usually, it’s the stuff we put down there without thinking. Cooking oils that solidify in the pipes, those coffee grounds from your morning brew, or rice and pasta that swell up in the pipes. Perth’s water doesn’t help either – the minerals in it can build up over time, making everything stick together even more.
Dishwasher Drama
Your dishwasher should be making life easier, not creating puddles on your kitchen floor. If you’re finding water where it shouldn’t be, or your dishwasher’s making weird noises, it’s trying to tell you something’s wrong.
What you need to know:
- Water on the floor is never normal – even a small puddle means something needs fixing
- If the sink backs up when your dishwasher runs, they’re probably sharing a blocked drain
- Strange noises usually mean something’s not quite right with the drainage
Tap Troubles
Taps seem simple enough, but they can cause plenty of headaches. Low pressure driving you crazy? Got a tap that drips no matter how hard you turn it off? These things might seem small, but they can waste a lot of water and money over time.
Common tap problems I see every day:
- Low pressure that makes washing up take forever
- Dripping taps that keep you awake at night
- Squealing or chattering when you turn them on
Pro Tip: If your tap’s getting noisy or starting to drip, don’t keep cranking it tighter – that usually makes things worse. Get it checked out before you end up needing a whole new tap.
What You Can Do Right Now
While some kitchen plumbing problems need a professional, there are things you can do to prevent issues:
Keep things flowing:
- Never pour cooking oil down the sink – I know it’s tempting, but trust me on this one
- Use a good sink strainer and clean it regularly
- Run your hot tap for a bit after using the sink – it helps keep things clear
When to Call Us
Sometimes you need a professional, and that’s okay. Here’s when you should pick up the phone:
- If water’s going everywhere it shouldn’t
- When multiple things are playing up at once
- If your DIY fixes aren’t cutting it anymore
The thing about kitchen plumbing is that small problems can turn into big ones pretty quickly. A blocked sink might just be inconvenient today, but leave it long enough and you could end up with damaged pipes or worse.
At Plumb It Right, we know Perth kitchens inside out. We’ll get to the bottom of what’s going on and fix it properly the first time. We cover everywhere from Perth’s metro area right up to Lancelin, and we don’t charge call-out fees.
Remember, your kitchen’s too important to put up with plumbing problems. If something’s not quite right, give us a call. It’s always easier (and cheaper) to fix problems early than to wait until they turn into major headaches.
Pro Tip: Save our number in your phone now – you never know when you might need a reliable plumber. And remember, if something seems off with your kitchen plumbing, it probably is. Better to get it checked than wish you had later.
