Don’t Put These Common Foods Down Your Sink or Garbage Disposal
It slices. It dices. It makes food scraps disappear like magic. Yes, the garbage disposal is an amazing appliance but it’s not invincible. There are certain types of foods that you should avoid putting down the kitchen drain – unless you want to risk a clog in your disposal or sewer pipe.
Here are foods that should go in the trash (or compost pile) instead of the garbage disposal.
Fats, oils, and greases
Remember FOG – fats, oils, and greases – when you are done cooking and cleaning out pots or pans. These substances often go down the drain in liquid form but turn solid when they cool off. This gunk can stick to the inside of the disposal or pipes, which is a leading cause of clogs.
Fibrous produce
Vegetables like celery, onions, corn husks, and artichokes may look harmless – but they actually pose a high risk to your plumbing. The stringy fibers can get tangled and wrapped around the garbage disposal blades. They can also clump together with other foods to create a blockage in the pipes.
Pasta and rice
Many grains will expand when soaked in water – even after being cooked. So when you toss pasta or rice down the garbage disposal, you could be asking for a problem. If the food gets stuck in the pipes and expands, a clog is very likely.
Coffee grounds
You may look forward to your morning cup of joe, but coffee grounds certainty do not perk up your plumbing. In fact, the grounds may clump together or get packed down over time. This creates a tough clog that won’t get broken down by water.
Bones or fruit pits
Hard food scraps can damage the garbage disposal blades. Instead of getting broken down, bones and fruit pits rattle around the disposal. If they do make it down the drain, they’ll still be in large pieces that have a good chance of getting stuck somewhere in the plumbing.
Garbage disposal service and repair
A garbage disposal can be very convenient to use – but also very easy to abuse. If you avoid putting these foods down the drain, you can reduce your chances of experiencing a serious plumbing issue.
If you do run into a problem with your garbage disposal, have it looked at by the professional team at Reichelt Plumbing. To schedule an appointment, call (219) 322-4906 today.