Your garbage disposal is one of the smallest appliances in your kitchen, but that doesn’t stop it from being one of the most useful. Taking good care of your disposal will help it function properly, keep it free from unpleasant odors, and extend its lifespan. One of the most common reasons homeowners call for garbage disposal repair is because they put something inappropriate down the disposal. Here are a few of the most common items you should never rinse down your kitchen sink.

What to Avoid Putting in Your Disposal

1. Grease

Grease may be liquid when it’s hot, but it solidifies inside the disposal and clogs the impellers. If it somehow does not get stuck in the disposal, cooled layers will eventually build up in your pipes and stop up your sink. Never pour grease, oils, or fats down the drain — instead, collect them in a jar to dispose of them later.

2. Bones

Fish and chicken bones wedge themselves between the disposal’s impellers, halting their movement and hurting the motor. If the impellers manage to chop them up at all, the bones will splinter into smaller shards that can damage your plumbing.

3. Coffee Grounds

Coffee grounds become grainy when they dissolve in water, and the resulting sludge has difficulty passing through your disposal. Often, grounds create more than a clog; the grains work their way into the appliance components, impairing their function and requiring garbage disposal repair to remedy.

4. Starches

Uncooked starches, such as pasta, rice, and potato peels, expand when they come into contact with water. They’ll settle into your disposal, expand, and stick to each other, requiring professional drain cleaning to remove.

5. Hard Items

The impellers in your disposal are not sharp blades; they are blunt objects that use speed and force to break down food particles. However, they aren’t fast or powerful enough to break up hard waste like fruit pits, shells, or popcorn kernels. If a solid clogs your disposal, schedule garbage disposal repair.

The right garbage disposal repair service will get your kitchen sink back on track as soon as possible. The contractors at Lonneman Plumbing have been serving residential and commercial customers throughout Northern Kentucky since 1960, building a reputation for top-notch service and effective repairs. Plus, their emergency plumber is available at any time. Explore their plumbing repair services on their website and call (859) 341-7755 to schedule a free estimate.