What Not to Put Down Your Garbage Disposal

Your garbage disposal is a powerful appliance, but it is not a trash can. Treating it like one is the fastest way to cause a severe kitchen sink clog or burn out the motor entirely. To keep your kitchen plumbing running smoothly, avoid putting these common items down the drain.

1. Coffee Grounds

Many people believe coffee grounds deodorize the disposal. While they might smell good initially, coffee grounds turn into a thick, dense sludge when mixed with water. This sludge settles in the P-trap beneath your sink, acting like concrete and causing severe blockages.

2. Fibrous and Stringy Vegetables

Celery, asparagus, corn husks, and artichokes have tough, stringy fibers. These fibers can easily wrap around the disposal blades, eventually seizing the motor and burning it out.

3. Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG)

Never pour bacon grease or cooking oil down the sink. While liquid when hot, grease solidifies as soon as it hits your cold plumbing pipes. Over time, it coats the interior of your pipes, restricting water flow and trapping other food particles until the pipe is completely blocked.

4. Pasta and Rice

Starchy foods expand rapidly when exposed to water, even after they have been cooked. When you dump pasta or rice down the disposal, it turns into a sticky paste that clogs the pipes.

5. Eggshells

Despite the old myth that eggshells sharpen disposal blades, the thin membrane inside the shell can actually wrap around the grinding ring. Furthermore, ground-up shells create a sand-like sediment that contributes to clogs.

If your garbage disposal is jammed, humming but not spinning, or completely clogged, don't pour harsh chemicals down it! Call the local experts at Pipedex Plumbing & Drains for a fast, safe repair.