Before you toss that banana peel down the drain, find out which things can bring your garbage disposal to a grinding halt
The garbage disposal is responsible for more residential plumbing calls than any other single device. By knowing which foods are fine for the disposal and which aren’t, you can avoid the expensive fees of the handyman.
The Power of Cleaning
You can give your garbage disposal a lot of help simply by running cold water. This will help flush food through the drainage lines and prevent a clog from forming. Adding ice and salt to your disposal every so often can keep it clean and sparkling.
Things That Ruin a Garbage Disposal
By keeping the following things out of the drain, you can avoid expensive appliance repair:
- Bones
The remnants of chicken tenders may be fine for the disposal, but you should avoid putting bones of any kind down the drain. Even very small bones can wreak havoc on the blades and bring them to a quick end.
- Egg Shells
Is there anything more unpleasant than biting down on a piece of shell when enjoying a plate of eggs? Think of your disposal the same way. The membrane clinging to the inside of the shell can get wrapped around the blades and cause problems.
- Coffee Grounds
If you’ve ever accidentally dumped coffee grounds on the floor while aiming for the trash, you may have decided to toss them into the sink instead. Coffee grounds cling to the drain trap and cause clogs over time.
- Fruits, Veggies, and Their Peels
Fruits and vegetables can create an unimaginable stench if left in the trash for too long. Because of this, many homeowners get into the habit of offering them to the garbage disposal. Much of this produce is too fibrous and hard for the disposal to properly handle.
- Pasta
Mamma mia, you can destroy your garbage disposal with just a few Italian dinners! As you’ve probably noticed when cooking pasta, it tends to expand when it gets wet. Because pasta is also quite sticky when wet, it can cling to the sides of your pipes and create clogs that only a professional can remove.
- Oil and Grease
These two are the twin villains of proper pipe maintenance. Never put cooking oil or grease down the drain whether you have a garbage disposal or not. After they’ve cooled, they harden and clog up the pipes.
Protect Your Disposal
One of the best things you can do for your disposal is simply use it less often. Start a compost if you want to reduce pollution and conserve water. If you’ve already run into trouble with your garbage disposal, contact the San Antonio plumbing specialists at ABC Home & Commercial Services for a speedy and effective fix.