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A garbage disposal is an excellent addition to kitchen plumbing systems. The mechanism churns and discards an assortment of materials, making cleanup easy. Although garbage disposals can handle a lot, there are a few things that should never go down the drain. Below are seven to keep in mind.

7 Things That Should Never Go Down the Garbage Disposal

1. Oil, Grease, & Fats

When cooking oil, grease, and fat cool, they solidify and cause a gooey barricade in the pipes. Hardened grease in your garbage disposal and plumbing eventually create a backup. Fortunately, a quick drain cleaning or pipe flush will help any fats that inadvertently went down the drain.

2. Bones & Meat

Poultry, pork, beef, and lamb bones are thick and not easily pulverized by garbage disposal blades. Small fish bones, however, are fine and break down easily without too much trouble. Also, avoid raw meat and any bits that have been trimmed. Just like cooking oil, meat fats congeal and lead to clogs.

3. Eggshells

There is an old, untrue rumor that eggshells sharpen the garbage disposal blades. The truth is less useful—the eggshell membrane acts as a bonding agent and will stick to the blades of your garbage disposal like glue. Compost them instead and boost your soil’s nutrient content.

4. Coffee

Coffee grounds build up in the drain and will lead to blocks in your plumbing over time. Even churning them in the disposal blades will not break them down enough to pass through without a problem. Instead, sprinkle it in your garden as a natural critter deterrent.

5. Produce Stickers

Tiny stickers on fruits and vegetables need to be removed before rinsing your produce. If not, they will stack inside of your pipes and on disposable blades since they don’t break down in your plumbing system. The glue adhering to your produce will stick to your pipes as well.

6. Potato Peels

plumbingThe high starch content in potato peels forms a paste-like substance when it’s swirled and mixed with liquids in your drain. Giant globs of starch in your pipes create a plumbing nightmare and a backed up drain. 

7. Starches

Pasta, rice, and bread expand in water due to their starch composition, and when this happens inside your garbage disposal and drain pipes, it leads to major problems. Remove even the tiniest grains and pasta bits, so they don’t compact over time.

 

Anchorage calls Always On Call Mechanical when they need plumbing and heating services. Residents and business owners trust their affordable options and licensed team for everything from hot water maintenance to garbage disposal services. They also offer 24-hour plumbing repair when you need it the most. Give them a call at (907) 344-0700, or visit them online for more information about their HVAC and plumbing offerings.

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