How can I reduce plumbing service calls in my apartment building?

Reducing plumbing service calls starts with preventing food waste and debris from entering kitchen drain lines. Installing a permanent sink screen creates a first-line barrier that significantly reduces recurring clogs, backups, and emergency plumbing visits in multifamily properties.

Why do tenants keep clogging kitchen sinks?

Tenants frequently allow food scraps, grease, and debris to enter drains, leading to buildup inside branch lines and main stacks. Over time, this accumulation causes recurring blockages and service calls. A permanent drain screen prevents solid waste from entering the plumbing system in the first place.

What is the most effective way to prevent recurring drain backups?

The most effective long-term solution is source prevention. By permanently blocking food solids from entering drain lines, property owners can dramatically reduce clog frequency and maintenance tickets.

How do preventative plumbing upgrades improve net operating income?

Preventative plumbing upgrades reduce recurring service calls, emergency labor costs, and tenant disruption. Lower operating expenses directly improve net operating income and increase overall property valuation.

What is the ROI of installing drain protection in rental properties?

The ROI depends on service call frequency, but properties experiencing multiple annual clog-related visits per unit often see measurable cost savings within the first year after implementing permanent drain protection.

How can I reduce plumbing operating expenses without major renovations?

Small infrastructure upgrades that prevent recurring problems can significantly reduce maintenance costs without large capital expenditures. Preventing drain clogs at the source is one of the most cost-effective plumbing strategies available.

How do I protect aging plumbing in older apartment buildings?

Protecting aging plumbing begins with minimizing debris, grease, and solids entering drain lines. Reducing internal buildup lowers corrosion risk and helps extend the service life of older cast iron and PVC systems.

Can drain strainers help extend the life of drain lines?

Yes. By preventing food waste accumulation inside pipes, permanent drain screens reduce blockages, standing water, and corrosive buildup that contribute to premature pipe deterioration.

How can I avoid costly pipe replacements in multifamily properties?

Avoiding premature pipe replacement requires a preventative strategy. Controlling what enters the plumbing system reduces internal damage, protects aging infrastructure, and helps defer major capital expenditures.

SemperScreen® FAQs

Find answers to common questions about SemperScreen® products, their uses, installation, and more.

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What is the SemperScreen® sink strainer, and who is it for?

The SemperScreen® sink strainer is a permanently installed drain screen designed to prevent clogs and protect plumbing systems by stopping debris before they cause damage. Not sure of the difference between a removable sink strainer and non-removable sink screen? Visit our page on what is a sink screen.

Homeowners love it for the long-term protection and peace of mind.
Professionals trust it to reduce emergency calls, protect properties, and provide added value to their services.

What kind of sinks will it fit in?

The SemperScreen® strainer will fit all kitchen sinks that come with standard 3.5" drain hole openings. This drain hole size is standard for almost all kitchen sinks on the market today. The SemperScreen® strainer is approved for installation and has been tested per the standards of ASME A112.18.2-2020 and CSA B125.2-20 for plumbing waste fittings.

ASME Testing Report - IAPMO

ASME Testing Report - TPL

Is SemperScreen® permanent sink screens compatible with dishwashers and California Plumbing Code requirements?

Yes. SemperScreen® permanent sink screens are compatible with dishwashers and tested and certified to ASME A112.18.2-2020 and CSA B125.2-20 standards for plumbing waste fittings. It supports CPC 2025 Section 712.4 compliance by reducing the debris load on sewage ejector pump systems. Additionally, per CPC 2025 Section 414.3 and 807.3 (and IPC 2024 Section 409.4), dishwashers are not required to discharge into garbage disposals.

How do I install the SemperScreen® strainer?

The SemperScreen® strainer is very easy to install yourself, however, we recommend that you use a licensed plumber for all installations. Detailed installation instructions are included with each SemperScreen® strainer. You can also find instructions below:

What do I do if my sinks have garbage disposals?

Each SemperScreen® sink strainer can be used as a direct replacement for a standard garbage disposal. They are specifically designed to serve the same purpose as garbage disposals by restricting larger food waste from entering the building's plumbing system. However, unlike garbage disposals, the SemperScreen® strainer is low cost, requires no maintenance, and uses little water. SemperScreen® recommends that you always refer to local building codes when modifying a building's plumbing system. Visit our blog post on how to replace a garbage disposal with a regular drain.

Can SemperScreen® permanent sink screens replace garbage disposals entirely?

In the majority of commercial and multifamily applications, yes. Garbage disposals were designed for residential gravity-fed systems — they macerate food waste into sludge and require significant water to flush it through drain lines. In some systems, such as with sewage ejector pumps, disposals are actually counterproductive: they push food sludge directly into pump systems designed to handle water and soft waste, not food particulate. SemperScreen® permanent sink screens capture food waste at the drain, where it can be scraped into a trash bin or better, a compost receptacle — the right waste stream for food solids. Visit our blog post on why smart property owners are eliminating garbage disposals.

How do I clean it?

Just scoop it out! Unlike traditional single-wall kitchen basket strainers or dangerous garbage disposals, the SemperScreen® sink strainer is ergonomically designed for easy cleaning and it cannot injure you. It is also made of high-grade stainless steel and is safe to use with all your normal residential cleaning products.

How is the SemperScreen® strainer different from store-bought drain covers or traps?

The SemperScreen® strainer is not a disposable or DIY solution. It's a durable, stainless steel screen that’s permanently installed flush with the drain for a seamless, secure fit.

For homeowners: It looks better, lasts longer, and performs far better than plastic traps or flimsy inserts. Read more on our what is a sink screen page.
For pros: It’s a permanent upgrade that minimizes repeat clog calls and improves customer satisfaction. We overbuilt our permanent sink screens to ensure that meet or exceed industry standards for commercial use, find out more on our properties and facilities commercial page.

Will the SemperScreen® sink strainer slow down drains?

Not at all. It's engineered for optimal water flow while still blocking clog-causing debris. Because the SemperScreen® permanent sink screen uses proprietary double-walled technology, the perforated holes on each strainer actually amount to more surface area than the pipe that connects to it. What this means is that the SemperScreen® permanent sink screen will be the last thing to slow down operations.

Homeowners: Enjoy fast drainage without backups.
Professionals: No callbacks for slow drains or clogged sinks. Get the reports through our certification and testing page.

Does it come with a stopper?

No, each SemperScreen® strainer is built to commercial specifications and they are used heavily in rental properties. One of the major benefits of this product is that once properly installed, there are no parts to remove, misplace, or maintain. If a stopper is desired, you can purchase one of our custom-made SemperStoppers™ here.

What if my property has old sinks that are abnormally thick?

The SemperScreen® permanent sink screen will fit almost every kitchen sink available today. However, sometimes properties have abnormally thick sinks that are remnants of older construction eras. These sinks have basins that are made of materials like ceramic and older cast-iron.

If you are interested in retrofitting these sinks with a SemperScreen® strainer, we offer an easy modification suggestion that has worked well in most cases. The modification process only takes approximately 5 minutes per strainer. See instructions below:

Modified Installation Instructions

How does SemperScreen® permanent sink screens protect sewage ejector pumps?

SemperScreen® permanent sink screens have double-walled stainless steel screen that is permanently installed in the drain opening. It physically stops food particles, debris, and waste larger than a grain of rice from entering the drain system. Because it cannot be removed by building occupants, it provides consistent, reliable protection regardless of who uses the sink. Non-removable = no debris in the pump. Get certification reports through our certification and testing page.

Why is "non-removable" important in residential or commercial settings?

Whether in an office or retail breakroom or institutional kitchen, dozens or hundreds of employees use the same sink every day. Even with signage and training, it's nearly impossible to prevent every employee from putting food scraps, coffee grounds, or other debris down the drain. A removable strainer will inevitably be removed, forgotten, or discarded. Just like in apartments and residential kitchens, installation of a SemperScreen® permanent sink screen means the protection is always there — it can't be circumvented. Read our page on what is a sink screen.

How does a SemperScreen® permanent sink screen support low-flow plumbing and greywater systems?

Garbage disposals require 15–60 seconds of water flow after every use — adding meaningless water consumption that conflicts with low-flow mandates and greywater recovery goals. SemperScreen® permanent sink screens use zero water. Additionally, greywater systems used for irrigation or toilet flushing cannot tolerate food particulate contamination. Our permanent sink screens stop food waste at the drain, keeping greywater streams clean and compliant with state and municipal greywater codes. Read our blog post on how reducing water waste impacts NOI in rentals.

Non-removable By Design. One Install. Never Unclog a Kitchen Sink Drain Again

Stop Clogs at the Source.

Clogs happen for a reason. Food waste and debris along with grease enter the drains at the kitchen sink. Mistakes happen, but they seem to happen more often in apartments, short-term rentals, breakrooms, offices, hospitals, senior-care facilities and sinks you cannot fully control what goes down them. Stopping food debris at the sink drain is ideal. It only takes one mistake for a clog to require a service call. Non-removable, permanent sink screens eliminate food debris mistakes. The additional benefit—never lose a ring down the drain, have to get broken glass out of a garbage disposal, or close a breakroom sink to get coffee stir sticks out of the sewage ejector pump.

Never Unclog a Drain Again. Save Money.

Removable strainers get thrown away or stored under the sink. Garbage disposals constantly break, clog (especially with starchy foods) and need maintenance. Sewage ejector pumps are susceptible to debris blockages (and macerating ejector pumps cost thousands more plus they break). Either way, they lead to significant plumbing service calls and costs. If you never have to unclog a drain or replace a broken disposal or pump, you save on maintenance costs. Added benefit, disposals require lots of water to properly eliminate all of that macerated food sludge (not running enough water is another reason that food sludge can build up in your pipes), and when you ditch the disposal, you save water.

Extend the Life of Your Plumbing.

Blockages can be hard to fix as many main drain lines are not accessible. All plumbing infrastructure downfield from the sink is vulnerable to accumulation of food waste, old drain with rough inside surfaces, septic systems, sewage ejector pumps in particular. Drains in and below concrete slabs are expensive to fix or replace. Keeping food debris out of your drain lines at the sink also keeps blockages from building in your main drain, and extending the life of your plumbing infrastructure.
[Picture is from a customer's rental during renovation and prior to installing our products.]

Close-up of water flowing into a sink drain protected by a SemperScreen® permanent sink screen.

The last sink strainer you'll ever need.

Testimonials

"I am very excited about this. I am very impressed with the 12 I installed in 2022. Not only do I want to install in the rest of my properties but I also want to offer the product to my maintenance customers. Clogged kitchen sinks are such a constant in the rental industry."

Jason C, Home Run Maintenance and Properties

"Clogged drain lines in our apartment buildings are significantly reduced after installing SemperScreen® sink strainers. This product pays for itself 5 times over with just the first blockage or repair it prevents. Very few products in the apartment industry have that kind of return."

Patrick and Robert, BLVD Capital

"High quality"

Anna M, CWH Wholesale Hardware and Apartment Supply

"Nice"

Cristian C, Target

Learn about us and the origin of our products

SemperScreen® permanent sink screens were invented literally to save our investment in a 33-unit apartment building in Los Angels, CA. Read about us and our story.

SemperScreen®