What NOT to Put Down the Garbage Disposal

Drain clogs are incredibly frustrating, which is why you should do everything you can to prevent them! Knowing what can and what cannot go down the drain of your kitchen sink is one way to do this. If you have a garbage disposal, it may seem as if your drains are invincible. Of course, this isn’t true, and all of the items you put into the drains will eventually catch up to you. Learn what to avoid and how to protect your garbage disposal from our list.

Food Wrappers and Non-Foods – This should go without saying but we’ve seen it too often to take chances. Your garbage disposal is not designed to handle these, and they will clog your drains!
Popcorn Kernels and Meat Bones – A good rule of thumb: If you wouldn’t be able to chew it with your own teeth, it doesn’t belong in the disposal. The unit can become overworked attempting to break these up, which may stop the motor.
Pasta and Rice – This one may seem odd at first. After all, your garbage disposal is able to break these up. However, pasta and rice clog up your drains because they can expand quickly in the pipe with water also found in the drains. If you’ve ever experienced backup in your sink from too much pasta in the drains, you already know this!
Celery and Onion Skins – These are fibrous, or stringy, foods. Along with things like corn husks and asparagus, these can wrap around the disposal impeller and jam the motor.
Grease and Fats – These can solidify in the pipes as they start to cool down. The eventual buildup of fats, grease, and oil, along with any debris passing through that sticks to it, can cause major clogs that call for professional repair.

Call Air Mechanical, Inc. for kitchen plumbing services in Andover, MN and the surrounding areas.