About Sinks

Jim W asked:


We are renting a home with a sump pump in the basement. Is it normal for the kitchen sink to drain into the sump pit? Seems odd as you have to totally clean your dishes before you even wash them so there are no food particle that go into the sump and clog it
Should have mentioned this home is a 1860s farm house so I think it is safe to say it was piped this way many moons ago

Juanita

tobydoby asked:


I live in the country and my water comes from a well. It is only the kitchen sink where I have this problem. I do have a dishwasher, too.

Louise

Rob Carlton asked:


There is something really fascinating about kitchen appliances, and we can spend hours wandering aimlessly between the stoves, dishwashers and other delights of an appliance store. There are an amazing range of appliances now available both in stores and online, although how many of them fit into the average kitchen budget is quite another matter.

The height of fashion in recent kitchen appliances is stainless steel. Traditionally the material for kitchen sinks, most appliances are now available in stainless steel. The classy silvery look is clean and sleek, matches virtually any style of décor and is a very practical hygienic alternative to wood or other materials. One particularly great piece on the market is the stainless steel refrigerator and freezer with French doors. The doors offer the sophistication of side by side refrigerators, combined with the practicality of a freezer underneath. This arrangement limits strain on the back when reaching into the refrigerator. These cost between two and three thousand dollars and are now available with an integral television screen, ideal for those who like to spend time in the kitchen.

At present there are an incredible range of stoves on the market. Many people now prefer electric as gas stoves can be more dangerous, particularly in properties with young children. In addition the luxury of not having to clean the burner pans of a gas stove will be appreciated by all. Extras available with many electric stoves include places for griddles or grills and radiant cook tops. Some even offer a ‘Sabbath’ setting that allows you to keep food warm after it is cooked.

Developments in dishwashers in recent years have seen new functionality being added all the time. Some have a time delay feature so the machine can start working while you are at work, or during the night, perhaps to take advantage of cheaper electricity. Another feature is an adjustable top shelf that can hang in any direction to make the best use of the space in your dishwasher. Additional shelves have been added to many machines to allow you to wash more items at the same time, without having to stack them on top of one another and risk breakages in effective washing.

So can you afford your dream appliances without blowing your budget? Firstly you should check for dented or slightly damaged appliances; some suppliers have specific stores stocking purely damaged goods. In this way you can pick up a branded appliance for half the normal price. You could also look for unmarked brands, which will often be made by the same manufacturer and be available in similar models, but without the designer name to inflate the asking price. Be patient and shop around to find the perfect appliance at reasonable prices. Wait for stores to have their seasonal offers and see what bargains you can snap up then. Whenever you are buying an appliance, you need to consider performance as well as looks and style. Check online to see what other customers have to say about the appliance to be sure it is worth the money you are spending on it.



Jesus

Tomato asked:


Every time the washing machine is emptying out water comes up into the kitchen sink. The plumbing is probably original ,50 years old.
Details: City sewer, I already tried the plunge,remove the sink trap
Also, I have a Water Hammer problem (A thump in the piping when hot water is turned on).
Help me PLEASE!

Frank

dr521 asked:


How much should I expected to pay to have my porcelain double sink in the kitchen reglazed?

Paula

Dr. Harry W asked:


I always wait until the last second to take a piss. This is the third time I ended up pissing right in the KITCHEN sink. This time there was water in the sink with dishes in it. I forgot to empty out the sink and refill it when I was done. My mother just washed the dishes in my pee. What should I do? Do you think I’m disgusting?

Randy

Martin Applebaum asked:


Finding discounts kitchen sinks is easier than before. Numerous kitchen stores have put up the information about the products online. The buyers just have to surf web in order to find most attractive discounts.

The best part of the online marketing strategy that is used by the manufacturers to show the picture of the product in the best form as well as highlight the discounted price that they are offering. Aside from this, some manufacturers as well offer huge discounts on the shipping rates and a few even send free.

Nevertheless, to find superlative deals, it will be good to consult with the kitchen experts as some of the kitchen experts have online websites where the buyers may take a close look at the available options. Getting in touch with them might cost a little, but they will surely direct the buyer in selecting the store that will offer best discounts without any compromising quality and this is particularly helpful when the homeowner is undergoing a full kitchen-remodeling project.

In order to save more, buyers can think of choosing only discounts kitchen sinks on different components. Instead of getting a completely new sink, the owners will be able to save a little more by seeing if there are reusable components. While doing this, they might want to consult the resurfacing professionals who will specialize in repairing the kitchen sink finishes.

In addition, they can be helpful to cut the costs, since they can decide which of the kitchen sink parts actually need to be replaced and they can as well refer buyer to best places where they will be able to buy discounts kitchen sinks.

Some contractors have contacts with the local dealers and they are notified of pending sales on the household building supplies. In case you know of any contractor or kitchen installer, then it can be advantageous.

At times, you may get lucky and find a business sale or auction of the kitchen fixtures so keep a close eye on local classifieds for the ads on auctions and end of business sales.

Selecting the right sink for the kitchen is extremely important to the overall look and feel of the room. Decide what your requirements are prior to making the acquisition. Knowing what you exactly want before purchasing will let you to make a very good decision and you may find your discount kitchen sinks.



Troy

Jonathan Zemeckis asked:


Choosing a new sink is a difficult task to say the least. Should you order one basin or two? How about three? Deep basin or shallow basin? Is a built in drainboard really necessary? How about a ledge? Those are just a few questions you should ask yourself before you order your new sink. Another question that must be answered is the type of material your sink will be made of: Stainless Steel, Fireclay, Composite, Soapstone, or Slate? The choices are many when it comes to sink material. We are going to discuss five of them.

Stainless Steel - the old standby for the kitchen sink, and for good reason. Hands down, Stainless is the most durable form of kitchen sink available. The steel never fades and the high-tech look of Stainless always appears current with modern design. Stainless is easy to install (and likewise easy to remove) and easy to keep clean. Also, extremely hot pans can be placed directly onto its surface without cause for worry. You can never go wrong with a Stainless Steel sink unless you insist on a warmer look and feel for your kitchen - the cold steel often presents a cold atmosphere along with its practical attributes.

Fireclay - these sinks are made from a natural material and are fired in extremely hot temperatures using an unusual technique. The firing temperatures are so hot that the glaze fuses with the clay, resulting in an exceptionally strong, hard surface that is resilient to chips, stains, scratches, and dings. If you are worried about chipping your Fireclay sink from the occasional dropped pan, you can purchase a wire grid to guard against such an occurrence. Fireclay sinks are the new trend in today’s kitchen design. They are available in a variety of colors and designs.

Composite - the thicker the design, the more durable your Composite sink will be. These types of sinks come in a wide variety of colors and are made from an even larger variety of materials. They do scratch and are much less “hot pot” friendly when compared to Stainless. All things considered, Composite sinks are less durable than Stainless but can offer a more customized look to your kitchen.

Soapstone - these apron sinks diminish storage space under the sink but are easy to clean and can handle hot pots almost as well as Stainless. The Vermont Soapstone company has been producing these sinks since 1850. These types of sinks are not widely known or widely distributed. They are available in a soft, whitish gray with a lighter quartz marbling. Stain resistance increases with the sink’s age, and these sinks blend equally with both modern and traditional designs.

Slate - these types of sinks lean towards difficult for general cleaning and can be particularly hard on dropped dishes. These are custom-order only and are available in reddish, blackish, and purplish tones. Care should be taken when sealing otherwise staining can occur. Despite the few shortcomings of this type of sink, no other sink material offers the texture and organic beauty that can only be found in a true Slate sink.

When choosing your sink material, you should ask yourself the following: how much time do you spend using the sink everyday? Do you prefer an easy-to-clean sink or a beautiful sink that requires more daily maintenance? Will your new sink experience mild or heavy usage? Will dropped dishes be common place or rare? Are you worried about chipping and staining? Is your new sink going to last a lifetime or is there a possibility you could be replacing it in five to ten years? Are you on a budget or is the sky the limit when it comes to pricing? By answering the above questions and taking into consideration the benefits and liabilities of each sink material, you should be able to make a more informed decision when choosing your new kitchen sink.



Jimmy

trer asked:


I’ve poured pounds of food particles down my kitchen sink, and I don’t even have a in-sink grinder, and the sink never clogs. But one well-timed dump can clog the toilet like that. Why is that?

Diane

Dino Rachiele asked:


A Revolutionary Design Idea, but first… the world must recognize the dishwasher.

It’s about time we recognize the dishwasher!

 Why can’t kitchen designers, sink manufacturers and the general public recognize the dishwasher? I must say, I have no clue. The modern dishwasher cleans all dishes, glasses, silverware and most pots and pans, does it not? About the only items a dishwasher will not handle are large cookie sheets, oversized pots and pans, and other large items. If this is true, why are sink manufacturers still designing old fashioned, double bowl sinks? Why are designers specifying them for today’s kitchens? Why does the public accept this? Again, I have no idea… well I might have an idea as to why.

 Humans are notorious inventors. We have invented all kinds of things over the past 100 years. Humans are also very single minded most of the time. It is only a noted few who think outside the box. Those humans are called eccentric; sometimes they are kindly called visionaries. In any event, the vast population of humans is incredibly talented at refining inventions; few are talented or successful at changing paradigms. Allow me to illustrate.

Let’s take the automobile for example. I believe Mercedes Benz was the very first automobile invented, well over 100 years ago. It not only amazes me, but it frustrates me to realize that we are still driving that same invention – merely refined, not re-invented. We are still using a piston engine, gasoline sucking vehicle. Is there no one who can realize that this is 100 year old technology, and the time has come to make a radical change?

Some fringe visionaries have come up with radically new technology, but nothing has hit the mainstream yet.

Sad, but true.  Thank heavens we are not still clicking rocks together to make a fire… oops, matches – the refinement of a million year old invention.

 Now, let me show you what has happened with kitchen sinks over the years. The original sink was a wall mounted “farm sink”. It was a single bowl sink. It was not very good at providing a washing and rinsing area. Thus, the double bowl sink was invented. This was a logical move. Now there would be a place to wash and a place to rinse. This invention came at the time of the industrial revolution in this country. At that time, mass production was the way of the future. In order to produce in mass, generalizations had to be made. Some braniac decided to make the standard kitchen cabinet height (with countertops) 36” tall. Sadly, he (and I would bet it was a “he”) was a generation or so ahead of his time. It has taken at least a generation for the average American to be tall enough to comfortably use a 36” kitchen height. The ultimate kitchen at that time included a double bowl sink.

 Soon after the standardized kitchen came into being, the dishwasher entered the kitchen. This was a big plus. Now, we could put dishes, etc. in a machine and have them cleaned. It truly did take some time for us to refine the dishwasher to the point that it really did clean everything that fit inside it. Apparently, this happened so quietly, no one noticed! If someone had noticed, they would have eliminated the obsolete double bowl sink. The double bowl sink has no value at all, coupled with a dishwasher. A single bowl sink is now required – a large single bowl sink! This sink must be large enough to fit the items which will not fit in the modern dishwasher. There is not one double bowl sink on the market which will accomplish this goal. How funny is that? In fact, there are hardly any manufacturers offering a nice selection of large single bowl sinks. Folks, we need to open our eyes to the new invention – the dishwasher. It is here to stay, let’s make some real progress with sink designs.

 See the idea… click here



Rafael