Garbage disposals can be indispensable kitchen tools, but misused, they could create serious plumbing issues ranging from clogged drains and blade damages requiring costly plumbing repair services to knowing which items not to put down the disposal in the first place will keep it running efficiently and save both money and hassle in the future – here is a comprehensive list of items not recommended to put into it for optimal performance and tips on maintaining its performance effectively.
1. Coffee Grounds
While coffee grounds might appear to dissolve easily when placed down your drain system, they tend to form thick clumps that clog pipes and create drainage issues. For optimal garbage disposal unit functioning and efficiency reasons, it would be prudent to dispose of coffee grounds via your compost bin or trash can rather than down your drain pipe.
2. Potato Peels
Potato peels can quickly clog your garbage disposal when ground into fine particles. Once ground, they create a starchy, starch-laden paste that coats blades and pipes and eventually leads to blockages in your system. If you have too many potato peels for disposal, it’s best to simply dispose of them through trash pickup or compost pile collection.
3. Fibrous Vegetables
Fibrous vegetables like celery, asparagus, and corn husks contain long fibrous strands that may wrap around your disposal’s blades, jamming the motor and creating mechanical issues. Furthermore, fibers may tangle together into knots that clog pipes, causing major plumbing issues if they are put through your garbage disposal system. When disposing of fibrous vegetable scraps, always place them directly in the trash or compost and not through it!
4. Pasta and Rice
While pasta and rice might seem harmless at first glance, their exposure to moisture makes them expand even after being cooked. This leads to them expanding when putting down the garbage disposal and creating dense blockages in your pipes that require professional plumbing repair services. Over time, even small amounts can accumulate and create major clogs, requiring professional plumbing repair services.
5. Bones and Hard Items
Garbage disposals were intended for soft food scraps like veggies and fruits, not hard items such as bones. Even small chicken or fish bones can damage blades or jam the disposal, while hard items can wear down their motor over time, significantly shortening their lifespan. Therefore, to protect both you and the disposal, dispose of bones in the trash to avoid costly plumbing repairs down the line.
6. Nuts and Seeds
Nuts and seeds should not go down your garbage disposal! Grinding nuts produce peanut butter-like residue, which clings to blades and pipes, causing jamming or sticking of pipes and blades, causing them to jam or jam altogether if thrown too close together in one go, damaging and potentially even breaking them. Instead, throw these items directly into the trash or compost.
7. Fruit Pits
Pits found in fruit such as peaches, avocados, and cherries contain hard material that could damage your disposal’s blades or jam its motor if accidentally put through your disposal system. As with bones, treat fruit pits like bones. Don’t put them through your disposal at any cost to keep your disposal running efficiently. Throw them out instead for optimal functioning!
8. Non-Food Items
Although this should go without saying, non-food items should never go down your garbage disposal. Plastic, metal, rubber bands, and twisted ties can damage it significantly, leading to costly repairs or replacement costs. Drain blockages, requiring professional plumbing repair services for remediation, also occur.
9. Shellfish Shells
Shrimp, crab, and lobster shells can easily dull or damage the blades in your disposal and may become lodged there for too long before eventually falling through into your trash can. Much like bones, they do not dissolve with them either, so it would be best to dispose of them accordingly rather than try to break them down effectively in your disposal unit. Toss these hard objects directly in the garbage instead.
Conclusion
Being mindful about what goes into your garbage disposal is the first step towards creating an enjoyable kitchen and avoiding expensive plumbing problems. You can increase its lifespan by keeping items like grease, fibrous vegetables, and bones away from it and ensure optimal performance. When issues arise, however, turning to Houston community plumbers for assistance can restore full functioning keeping everything running smoothly!
Knowledge and regular maintenance of your garbage disposal unit are required to prevent clogs and damage. This tool should remain useful and functional over its lifespan with proper attention to both areas.