Garbage disposal damage can be costly, but it’s easy to avoid if you know what should not be put down the disposal. Although today’s disposal systems are advanced, many common foods can still cause tremendous damage.
Grease, oil and fat
Gunk builds up on pipes as it is, but adding grease, oil or fat speeds up that process. When you dump one of these into your disposal, it cools onto the inner lining of the pipes and creates blockage. Over time, grease builds up on more grease, causing a serious plumbing issue. Let grease, oil or fat cool, and then put it in the trash.
Onion layers and egg shells
Anything with a film or skin-like membrane, like egg shells and onion layers, can wrap around your garbage disposal blades, hindering the motor over time. Despite popular belief, eggshells do not sharpen your blades, so don’t risk putting them down the disposal.
Nuts, shells, pits and seeds
Anything that is hard, small and round will likely cause damage to your disposal’s blades. Nuts, shells, pits and seeds will either sit in the bottom of your disposal, unable to be ground up, or will make your blades dull after being ground up. Stick to throwing these in the trash.
Rice, pasta or bread
You may be wondering, “Rice? It’s so small, and it isn’t hard once its cooked!” The problem isn’t with the texture of the rice, it’s with its qualities. Bread, pasta and rice all absorb liquid, which can cause blockage in your drains.
Although you may use the foods not to put in the disposal listed above often, remember to put them in the trash next time instead of down your drain. If you smell a foul odor coming from your sink drain, call Mr. Plumber to schedule a professional cleaning!
