Kitchen chores produce a lot of waste. Some of it ends up in your sink during washing, cooking & dishwashing. A sink strainer prevents this waste from entering your drainage & blocking your plumbing. You may recognize it as the mesh or perforated sieve that sits on top of your sink outlet. If this sieve is a little deep & shaped like a basket, it is a basket strainer.
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Consumers need to be aware of the quality & type of basket strainers because the wrong choice can result in unwanted hassles, blockages & plumbing costs. A strainer may look tiny & insignificant but it is critical for the maintenance of your kitchen drainage & plumbing. The wrong strainer can reduce the life of your sink and drains. Replacing a kitchen sink strainer is quite a lot of work so it is better to invest in a good one.
These are quite easy to install. Just use some plumbers putty and place it in place. Then you push on the strainer while the drains are turned in place. Make sure that you use enough plumber’s putty so that your sink strainer doesn’t leak.
Typically, there are three types of basket strainers.
1. Type 1: Traditional heavy-duty fixed strainer:
This type of basket strainer is the traditional basket that is integrated into the sink. It offers the best quality in terms of strainers as they are very sturdy. It is easier to wash & drain off the grime from its perforations. Second, it holds steady to high-pressure tap flows & backflows. These strainers are often smaller so the chance that items get into your drains is smaller.
Often a rubber stopper is used with these. These sinks are cheaper and can work very well. Some people opt for this type of sink because it fits better with the design of their kitchen as well.
The drawback of this type of sink is that you have to take care of the stopper. This can be annoying as it might be difficult to find in a cluttered kitchen. The holes in this stainer are often bigger as well. This can make it easier for clogs to form in your drains.
2. Type 2: Removable metal Strainer: The Modern option
More recently design has become more important for kitchen sinks. For this reason, the strainer has become removable. This reduces the need of having a rubber stop as you can just close the strainer. These strainers can be removed when needed.
This is handy as it is easy to clean them. You also have bigger holes when needed. This can be dangerous though as you can be tempted to push bigger items in the drain. This can lead to clogs. Often a push system or a turn is used to put this into place. These are quite durable and shouldn’t break that easily. Furthermore, you can replace them when needed.
You can get deep basket strainers as well. These are bigger strainers that allow you to collect more dirt. People that cook a lot might want to look into these as you have to clean your sink less often when you use these. This can be handy when you cut a lot of vegetables or fruits.
Common materials are chrome, copper, silver, and nickel. You have to take a look at the sink that you have to determine what fits. Some materials might react with each other and this can discolor your sink so be careful when you combine different metals. When you get a new one, it can be a great idea to check if it is compatible with the brand of your sink. This can be done by searching the brand name of your sink and the name of the strainer.
Most strainers come with a 2-year guarantee. Generally, they should last a decade if they are taken care of. Given that they are quite hard to install, it is best to go for a more expensive option so that it will last longer. Leaks can cause a lot of damage so it is best to avoid this.
Garbage disposals might need special strainers so be sure to check the instructions.
3. Type 3: Seperate kitchen sink stainers
If your sink didn’t come with a good strainer, it is possible to get a separate one. These are often quite cheap to get and can be made in plastic or metal. If you get a lot of clogs in your kitchen sink, it can be a great idea to get one. Avoid using chemicals to unclog your drains as this can break them down over time. You also shouldn’t throw cooking oils in your sink as this can clog your drains as well.
A strainer is a cheap and easy way to avoid clogs. It is more work but can save you a lot of money as clogs can be hard to fix and can lead to expensive repairs. For this reason, it is great to get one. Just make sure that it is big enough for your sink. It is a lot easier to use this than to replace your current sink stainer.
What Strainer works best for you?
First, have a look at the drain hole of your sink. If it is a stainless steel sink with a long sleeve, you might have fewer options as you need to adjust the strainer to the design of your sink.
Either way, the choice of strainer depends largely on your requirements. The traditional sink strainer is cheaper but might be less functional than a moving sink strainer. If you cook a lot, the last option might be better. Most modern kitchens are using this and it works really well. Just make sure that you remove big items before you open them up. You also have to regularly clean the strainer.
Kitchen basket strainers are important as they make sure that your sink doesn’t leak.
It is important that you get the right one for your sink to avoid problems. A plumber should use plumbers putty or something similar to make sure that the kitchen sink strainer doesn’t leak.
Sinks are used multiple times per day so it is important that you get the right set-up. A modern kitchen sink strainer can make it easy to filter out coffee grounds or other items that are used in your kitchen. This keeps your drains clean and avoids clogging up your kitchen sink.
These strainers can range in price from 10 to 100 USD. The more expensive ones use better metals and have multiple layers. This makes it easier to clean them.
Kitchen sinks can last up to 20 years. In most instances, you will have to replace the kitchen strainer after about 10 years. Getting a good one can make your life a lot easier. In this post, we have outlined what you have to take into account when you get a new one.
