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What Not To Put Down Your Garbage Disposal

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What Not To Put Down Your Garbage Disposal

A garbage disposal streamlines meal cleanup and eliminates the need for manual disposal of food scraps. However, many homeowners misuse the appliance by putting in items that are not meant for it. That can cause plumbing issues and bring your kitchen routine to a standstill. Here are some of the items to never put down your garbage disposal:

Fibrous Foods

Fibrous foods are among the biggest offenders when it comes to garbage disposal issues such as blockages and impeller problems. These foods have a stringy texture; hence, they can wrap around your impeller and cause serious blockages. Our plumbers often find remains of fibrous foods in broken garbage disposals. These foods belong in the trash can instead of garbage disposal. Some of the fibrous foods that should never go down the garbage disposal include:

  • Celery
  • Banana peels
  • Corn husks
  • Onion skins
  • Artichokes
  • Asparagus
  • Rhubarb

Starchy Foods

As counterintuitive as it may seem, starchy foods like rice, pasta, and potatoes do not belong in your garbage disposal. These foods expand when soaked in water to form a sticky paste that can cause clogs not only in the garbage disposal but also down the drain line. If the sticky paste makes its way to the sewer line, it can cause major blockages that may require professional sewer repair. Dispose of starchy foods in the garbage.

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Coffee Grounds

Anyone who loves coffee knows that coffee grounds tend to form a sludgy mess that will clog your garbage disposal. Do not let their granular size fool you—coffee grounds can clump together to form a dense, past-like substance. Instead of throwing them into the disposal, use them in your garden.

Eggshells

Let’s start by debunking a common plumbing myth that eggshells can help to sharpen the “blades” of your garbage disposal. But the truth is, this appliance has impellers rather than blades. That said, eggshells can wrap around the impeller due to their sticky nature. The best way to dispose of eggshells is to toss them in the compost bin.

Grease, Fats, and Oils

You might already know that this trio does not belong in your plumbing whatsoever. Grease, fats, and oils may look harmless when they are in a liquid state, but they will solidify and sit at the bottom of the disposal unit. Even if you flush these items with plenty of water, they will congeal and stick to the walls of the pipes. This will not only necessitate regular sewer line cleaning, but it will also lead to a number of plumbing problems.

Large Bones

Garbage disposals can grind up small bones occasionally, but they are not meant to handle hard items like large bones. They can break the impeller and set you back hundreds of dollars in garbage disposal repair costs.

Nuts and Shells

Even if your garbage disposal is powerful enough to shred food waste with a flip of a switch, it doesn’t mean you can dump nuts down the appliance. Nuts and shells can dull the blades and even break the disposal altogether.

Need Garbage Disposal Repair? Urgent Rooter Is Here For You

If your garbage disposal is in disrepair and you’re looking for a reliable plumbing repair service to help you fix it, get in touch with Urgent Rooter. Our team of plumbers can handle all of your garbage disposal needs to ensure your kitchen runs efficiently. We also offer professional sewer line services, including trenchless sewer line replacement and inspections.

Sep 12, 2024

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