Save them for the trash bin—and save your garbage disposal’s motor
If you were fortunate enough to have a garbage disposal when you were growing up, you probably weren’t very careful about what you threw into it. After all, that scary motor seemed to take care of just about anything. Over time, though, you may have learned that garbage disposals are just as susceptible to clogs and breakdowns as other appliances. Now that you’re older and wiser, take care not to throw these 10 items down yours.
1. Non-Organic Trash
It might seem obvious, but plastic and metal can seriously damage your garbage disposal blades. Even smaller items like paper and cigarette butts can wreak havoc.
2. Grease and Animal Fat
Once it passes through the disposal, this stuff can congeal in your pipes. This often has devastating effects for your plumbing system.
3. Rice, Pasta and Other Starches
This stuff expands dramatically when soaked and is a major cause of organic clogs.
4. Pits
Fruit pits and even seeds can damage the blades and motor on your garbage disposal. Avoid throwing them down at all costs.
5. Eggshells
The shells themselves aren’t problematic, but eggshells have a thin membrane that can’t be broken down in a garbage disposal. This can cause long-term problems.
6. Any Bones
Like other hard, semi-porous materials, bones can damage your blades in short order.
7. Stringy Fruits and Vegetables
It’s difficult for garbage disposal blades to cut through these items. It can be extremely difficult to disentangle them.
8. Excessive Amounts of Hot Water
Surprisingly, using too much hot water during the actual disposal process can lead to thicker grease clogs.
9. Heavy Vegetable Peels
Corn husks, squash skins and other inedible vegetable coverings are worthy adversaries for your disposal blades.
10. Coffee Grounds
Since coffee grounds are about as fine as sand and other sediment, they can build up over time and form tough-to-manage clogs in your pipes.
Talk to the San Antonio Plumbing Specialists
Even if you’re as careful as can be, your garbage disposal can fall victim to regular wear and tear. Father Time has a way of catching up with even the sturdiest appliances as well. Fortunately, at ABC Home & Commercial Services, we offer a wide range of appliance repair services for your garbage disposal and just about everything else in your kitchen. To learn more, give us a call at (210) 599-9500 or schedule a free estimate online.
Comments
This is the first time I have heard the correlation between hot water and using the garbage disposal at the same time. It makes a lot of sense that this makes existing grease thicker. In my experience, it is grease that is the death knell of disposals.