Even the best garbage disposals on the market can get clogged up from time to time. Those lucky enough to have one know the ease of getting rid of food waste with a flick of a switch. While there are many things you can dispose of, there’s also a lot you should not. If you can avoid putting these items down your drain, you’ll deal with fewer issues with your plumbing.
Bones
Even the dryest or smallest of bones (beef, pork, chicken, etc.) shouldn’t be disposed of this way, as they’ll just spin around with the blades. And if you can even get them down the drain, they surely won’t make their way through your plumbing system! This can be a costly fix, so just toss them in the trash.
Celery
Because of their coarse stringy texture, they tend to wrap around the blades. This can wear out your motor, dull their edges and prevent them from adequately breaking up other food waste. Anything with this type of fiber, such as corn, onion skins, green beans, and asparagus should also be avoided.
Coffee Grounds
While tempting and seemingly harmless, coffee grounds can become a mucky, thick mess in your drains. Some people swear that it helps with odors, but it’s best to avoid it. If you need to get rid of a smell, pour a small amount of dish soap and let the garbage disposal run for a minute or so with some cold water.
Fruit Pits
You wouldn’t put a piece of wood down your drain, so why hard fruit pits? These are virtually impossible to break up and can break or seize up your disposal almost instantly. If they do make it through, they will almost surely create a block in your pipes.
Grease
Don’t pour grease, oil or fat into your garbage disposal or drain as it will slowly collect and restrict your garbage disposal’s grinding strength as well as clog your drains. Always run cold water while your disposal is working as hot water will cause grease to liquefy and accumulate, causing pipes to clog. With cold water, it will break up hardened oils to the best of its ability.
Pasta
Foods like pasta and rice expand while cooking, and they do the same thing once inside your pipes or garbage disposal. They are the main culprit of many jams and clogs. Don’t put expandable foods into your garbage disposal! It’s simple as that.
Experiencing issues with your garbage disposal? A block in your kitchen sink can throw your daily routine off. Get things back to normal fast with ASAP Appliance & Plumbing Services’ drain cleaning service. No matter how big or small your drain cleaning emergency may be, ASAP can clear away the problem as soon as you need us. Call 402-706-9931 or fill out the contact form now to schedule your pipe cleaning in Omaha!