Your garbage disposal is a handy appliance in the kitchen, making clean-up after meals a breeze. However, not everything belongs in the disposal unit. Misusing it can lead to clogs, foul odors, and even damage.
At Legacy Plumbing, we want to keep your kitchen sink flowing smoothly all year round. So, before you reach for that handy disposal button, take a moment to learn about the sneaky saboteurs that can wreak havoc on your garbage disposal. In this blog, we’ll highlight the things you should never put down your garbage disposal to keep your kitchen sink flowing smoothly and avoid the need for costly repairs.
Grease and Cooking Oil:
- Pouring grease and cooking oil down the drain is a common mistake many homeowners make. While they may be in liquid form when hot, they solidify as they cool, leading to blockages in your pipes and causing backups. Instead, dispose of grease and oil in a separate container and throw them in the trash once cooled.
Fibrous Foods:
- Fibrous foods like celery, onion skins, corn husks, and artichokes can tangle around the disposal blades, leading to jamming and potential motor burnout. Avoid putting these items down the disposal and opt for composting or trash disposal instead.
Coffee Grounds:
- While washing coffee grounds down the drain may seem convenient, they can accumulate and create a sludgy mess. Over time, this can lead to clogs and foul odors in your pipes. Dispose of coffee grounds in the trash or use them in your garden as compost.
Eggshells:
- Despite popular belief, eggshells do not sharpen garbage disposal blades. Instead, they can stick to the sides of pipes and create blockages. You can dispose of eggshells in the trash or add them to your compost pile.
Bones and Fruit Pits:
- Garbage disposals are not designed to handle hard objects like bones and fruit pits. Grinding these items can damage the blades and motor of your disposal unit. Instead, dispose of bones and fruit pits in the trash or compost them.
Non-Food Items:
- Avoid putting non-food items like bottle caps, rubber bands, plastic utensils, or glass down the disposal. These items can damage the disposal unit and create blockages in your pipes.
Chemical Drain Cleaners:
- While it may be tempting to use chemical drain cleaners to unclog your kitchen sink, they can damage your pipes and disposal unit over time. Opt for natural alternatives, specialty kitchen sink drain cleaners, or call a professional plumber for assistance.
The do’s and don’ts of worry-free disposal usage!
- Don’t fill your disposal with food, and then turn it on. Doing so can cause backups in the tubular piping below the sink and put a considerable damper on preparing your favorite meal.
- Don’t leave food in the disposal without turning it on. This can create horrible smells as the food decomposes.
- Don’t put anything other than a food item into a disposal. Make sure to remove it before turning the disposal on. Always ensure the disposal is turned off before retrieving an item from its interior.
- Turn on the water before putting food waste in the disposal. Continue to run water while food is being processed in the disposal. Run the water for 20 to 30 seconds after the food clears the disposal.
- Do only put small amounts of food in the disposal at one time.
- Always let the food clear the disposal before adding more. This helps the disposal and your drain lines function as intended.
Following the dos and don’ts when operating your disposal will significantly decrease the likelihood of unexpected backups in the future! If you encounter persistent clogs or issues with your garbage disposal where the kitchen sink drain cleaner won’t cut it, don’t hesitate to contact Legacy Plumbing for professional assistance. We will unclog your kitchen sink and handle any necessary garbage disposal repairs.
To schedule a consultation, contact us at (972)-801-9798. We look forward to working with you!
Your Privacy Choices
