Don’t Put That Down Your Garbage Disposal

Many homeowners can’t do without their garbage disposals. They enjoy having the devices because they chop foods up and send them away, down, and into the main sewer where they belong. However, it isn’t a good idea to put just anything down a disposal. Why? Because that could cause the unit to jam and clog, that’s why.

The last thing anybody wants is to have to call out an after-hours plumber to fix a stoppage. Yet, that could be what a person’s future holds if they put particular items in their disposals. Don’t fret if you find yourself in need of an emergency plumber. Instead, contact us at any time, day or night, to schedule service. Now, let’s look at some ways to prevent kitchen sink stoppages from coming to fruition in the first place. 

Avoid Placing Cooked Pasta In The Garbage Disposal

Pasta noodles absorb water and expand. They get compacted tightly inside J-bends or continuous waste arms and stop sink water from draining. Bread is similar to pasta noodles in that it will soak in H2O like a sponge and expand. Small amounts, like a few spaghetti noodles, here and there, should be all right. However, if you aren’t looking for a date with an after-hours plumber, don’t get in the habit of dumping mounds of pasta or bread down the disposal every night. 

Never Put Pits Or Seeds In A Disposal

Seeds and pits are usually small and hard. They are difficult to cut or grind by hand or machine. When pits and seeds are introduced to the inside of garbage disposals, they bounce around and make terrible rackets. Rather than getting chopped into little bits, they get lodged between blades, leaving them unable to spin. That is when stoppages can come to light. 

Keep Non-Food Items Away From The Disposal

Last but certainly not least, those that don’t wish to deal with after-hours plumbers should keep non-food items away from their disposals. What kind of non-food items? Well, we are glad you asked. The list could go on and on, but we will narrow it down a bit. Anyone that wants to avoid a kitchen sink stoppage will find it in their best interest to keep coins, buttons, and paper clips away from disposals.

Paper towels and plastic wrappers should be recycled or put in the trash, not the disposal. By keeping these and other things out of disposals, people may be able to avoid plumbing emergencies. However, if you aren’t quite so lucky, please, don’t hesitate to give our after-hours plumber a call.