A garbage disposal can be a tremendous help in the kitchen—chopping up and whisking away unwanted food waste. However, while it can tackle most organic materials, some hard, sticky, or fibrous substances risk clogging the system, necessitating plumbing services. The guide below looks at items you should avoid putting down this drain.

What Foods Will Put Your Garbage Disposal Out of Commission?

1. Grease

Grease is waterproof, meaning it can’t easily be broken up or washed away by pouring water down after it. At the same time, it excels at capturing hair, dirt, food particles, and more grease, forming stubborn, foul-smelling blockages in your garbage disposal and pipes.

Wipe greasy pans with a paper towel and dispose of them in the trash. Alternatively, pour the grease into a jar that you can use for later cooking.

2. Coffee Grounds

The by-product of your morning cup of joe might seem to go down your garbage disposal easy. However, the sediment it produces could linger in the U-bend. Use the coffee grounds as fertilizer or toss them in the trash.

3. Vegetable Peels

Potato peels, onion skins, carrot shavings, and similar substances turn to paste when they go through the garbage disposal. This mixture can then adhere to the interior of your pipes and form an impassable barrier. Consider, instead, using these leftovers as compost for your garden.

4. Flour, Bread & Pasta

If you’ve cooked pasta or baked bread before, you know that these materials expand. When crumbs or excess flour get brushed down the garbage disposal, they tend to stick to the pipes’ inner surface, swelling and trapping what comes after it.

5. Bones

Bones tend to just get trapped by the blades, getting knocked around endlessly. If they get to the drain, they’ll likely form a blockage. While you don’t have to worry as much with fish bones, avoid the need for plumbing services by throwing all bones into a food waste container.

 

When you need reliable plumbing services in Elko, NV, call on Parker Solutions LLC. As versatile and highly experienced providers of plumbing and HVAC solutions, their goal is to keep your home up and running smoothly. Call (775) 738-4681 to set up an appointment. Visit their website to learn more about their offerings.