Many of us peel vegetables right over the sink, letting those peels flop right into it so we can easily sweep them into the disposal. It is what that disposal is for, right? A machine that can dispose of any unwanted waste?
The answer, from our Plumbing Manager, Steve Masloskie: “The only thing that should go into a disposal is the smaller, softer scraps, or other items, that are rinsed off of your plate, or bowl. The best scenario is to simply throw your excess foods away, in the garbage. If you picture anything that you put down your disposal as needing to take a long trip through your pipes, then into your home’s main pipe, then into the city’s pipes, it becomes a little clearer why it’s important to NOT put everything down your sink.”
When unsuitable items end up in the garbage disposal, there is a good chance your disposal will get clogged. Here are six tips to ensuring that your garbage disposal doesn’t get clogged:
1. Don’t Put Fibrous Foods Down the Disposal
Avoid putting fibrous foods or tough-skinned vegetables into the disposal. The strings of celery, artichokes, asparagus, lettuce, corn husks, carrots, onion skins and potato peels can wrap around the blades, preventing proper operation of the motor. If you feel you must put fibrous foods into your disposal, do so in very small quantities, and run the cold water while you operate the unit.
2. Don’t Put Tough Skin or Pits Down the Disposal
Don’t put extremely hard foods into the garbage disposal. Items such as bones, hard skins of fruit and meat and fruit pits can dull and even break the unit’s blades. In a worst-case scenario, hard foods will jam the disposal, preventing blades from turning and causing the motor to burn out.
3. Keep Grease Out of the Disposal
Greasy foods will distribute a film over the blades, diminishing their effectiveness. Eventually, the grease will begin to decay, causing an unpleasant odor in the kitchen. Pouring grease into a garbage disposal can result in clogged drains when the grease solidifies.
4. Never Put Eggshells Down the Disposal
Contrary to popular belief, eggshells have no place in the garbage disposal. Some people claim that egg shells sharpen the blades of the unit, but this is not true. The shell’s stringy membrane layer can wrap around the shredder ring, and the shell itself will be ground to a sand-like consistency capable of clogging pipes.
5. Don’t Put Expandable Foods Down the Disposal
Avoid putting expandable foods such as pasta and rice into the garbage disposal. Even small particles of these foods will swell with water and eventually clog the trap.
6. No Non-food Items Should Go Into the Disposal
Exercise common sense, and don’t put non-food items into the garbage disposal. Avoid the example of homeowners who have placed rubber bands, twist ties, cigarette butts, pull tabs, fabric, sponges and plant clippings into their disposal units. These items cannot break down enough to wash down the drain.
If you’re having issues with your garbage disposal regularly clogging, even when you’re careful about what items go into the disposal, it’s time to call a professional for repair. Contact Thermal Services, Inc. for garbage disposal repair near Omaha, NE.
