There are some things that you should never put down on your garbage disposal. These items can damage the blades and/or the motor, resulting in costly repairs. In addition, putting foreign objects down the disposal can cause clogs, which is a considerable inconvenience. So, what should you put down at your disposal?
Fibrous Foods
Fibrous foods like corn husks, lettuce leaves, and celery stalks are problematic for the garbage disposal to grind up. They can wrap around the blades or get caught in other motor parts and cause damage.
Starchy Foods
Starchy foods like pasta and rice can stick to the disposal sides and clog it up over time. Also, if you put too much in at one time, they’ll quickly turn into a thick sludge that could clog up your pipes and clog your drain pipes inside the disposal itself.
Grease or Oil
Avoid placing greasy or oily materials in your garbage disposal. Grease and oil will collect at the bottom of the sink and eventually build up into a clog that will stop the drain entirely. This can sometimes happen quicker than you would expect because oil dissolves fats and grease from other materials, so they will stick together more quickly as they begin to build up around it.
Coffee Grounds
Coffee grounds are one of the most popular items people put down in their garbage disposals. They don’t pose any harm to your disposal, but they do create a messy situation in your sink and drain. When these grounds reach the grinding blades of your disposal, they can clog them up and prevent water from flowing through properly.
Fruit Pits or Seeds
These are other items that you should avoid putting down your garbage disposal. The seeds or pits are too hard for the grinding blades to break down, so they will simply get stuck in the drain pipe instead of being processed by your garbage disposal.
Bones, Eggshells, and Hard Shells
They can be difficult for garbage disposals to break down because they are complex materials that do not compress easily. If you grind these items up at your disposal, they can clog it up pretty quickly because they take up so much space inside the unit.
How Do You Fix a Broken Garbage Disposal?
Fixing garbage disposal yourself may be cheaper short term but not in the long time. You could potentially be wounded or miss anything; I’m sure you’ll forget something if you fix your own garbage disposal. You’ll probably ruin your sink and rack up hundreds in fees. Hence, a plumber. They can always identify when something is wrong, check everything, and don’t charge much. They cost more than YouTube tutorials, but it’s worth it. Don’t be cheap. Get a plumber!
Since 2010, Bueno Plumbing has provided professional plumbing services with a track record of excellence. Call us immediately at 408-440-2728 to talk with our plumbing specialist! Please describe precisely what is wrong with your plumbing. We can assist using the appropriate tools, and we will fix the issue immediately.
