Tis the Season for Garbage Disposal Disasters

Americans will consume an estimated 22 million turkeys and 318 million pounds of ham around the holiday season! It may be tempting to put all that excess food down your garbage disposal but when in doubt, err on the side of caution. Garbage disposals are not equipped to process every kind of food that finds its way into the sink. Here are a few items that can clog or break your disposal:

Grease

Don’t think for a minute that the grease you dispose of will stay a liquid. In fact, cooking oils, fats and other grease solidifies quickly after being poured down a drain. This leads to clogged drains, faulty disposals and odorous smells. Instead, wait for the grease to harden and then throw it directly into the garbage can.

Vegetable and Fruit Skins

Foods like asparagus, banana peels, artichokes, fruit pits, corn husks and celery should be kept far away from a garbage disposal. Fibrous fruits and vegetable can wrap around your disposal’s blade and fry the motor. These natural foods can also easily be composted and turned into fertilizer as an alternative to throwing them in the trash.

Bones

You’d be surprised how often bones are mistakenly pushed down garbage disposals. Bones big and small can cause extensive damage to your disposal’s blades and motor. Small pieces of bone can also become lodged in your plumbing leading to annoying clogs, slow drains and rotten smells.

Coffee Grounds

Ground coffee may seem harmless but it can quickly build up in your disposal and drains. The grounds can quickly build up as a sediment to line the insides of your pipes. Grounds are best left for compost or the trash.

Pasta and Rice

While this food isn’t as harmful as some of the others, pasta and rice that become lodged in drains can build up over time as they absorb water and expand in your disposal and drain. It’s better to err on the side of caution and send these leftovers directly to the trash.

Egg Shells

Egg shells can harm your disposal in a couple surprising ways. The thin membrane inside the egg can easily get stuck in your disposal’s blades. Ground egg shells turn into a sand-like consistency that can clog disposals and drains. Add these leftovers directly to the trash or compost.

If you are having any last-minute drain clogs or other plumbing problems threatening your holiday plans, call or schedule service online with Catons. Our licensed and insured plumbers are available 24/7, 365 days a year with no extra charge for nights and weekends.