Before you decide to throw that banana peel or stray stalk of celery down the garbage disposal to get rid of it, stop and read this blog post!
Garbage disposal systems are incredibly convenient and easy to use. However, homeowners and household members often don’t realize that their garbage disposal wasn’t created to pass everything down the kitchen sink drain. In fact, there are quite a few items that people put down their kitchen sink drain that just doesn’t belong there.
So, we thought it would be beneficial to provide homeowners with a guide about what can, and what should not, go down their kitchen sink drains, even if they have a garbage disposal in place. Reading this blog post can go a long way in preventing messy and annoying plumbing problems.
The “Donts” of Your Kitchen Sink Drain
Read on as we uncover some items that should definitely not go down your kitchen sink drain, even if you have a garbage disposal in place.
FOG: This stands for “fats, oils, and grease.” FOG may seem harmless, but the problem is that it hardens and congeals to the sides of your drainpipes as it cools, therefore leaving the opportunity for stubborn clogs. Of course, we’re here to help with professional and reliable drain cleaning if this happens, but wouldn’t it be nice if you could avoid it to begin with?
Instead of pouring FOG down the drain, consider putting it in a tin can or some other disposable container, and then throwing it away after it cools.
Unchewable Food Items: The mistake many people make with their garbage disposal systems is assuming that it can break anything up, including things like meat bones and fruit pits. A good rule of thumb to go by is if you can’t chew it, the impeller blades of your garbage disposal system can’t break it up either.
Rice, Pasta, and Coffee Grounds: These food items seem harmless enough, right? These items expand with water, however. This means that they can get backed up in the drainpipe and wind up creating a blockage. The garbage disposal system won’t do much to resolve this either. rice, pasta and coffee grounds will slip right through its impeller blades.
Actual Garbage: Perhaps the term garbage disposal isn’t quite right–because after all, actual garbage should never be put down this system. It can get wrapped up in the impeller blades of the disposal and break it, or get backed up in your drain.
“Can’t I Just Use Store-Bought Drain Cleaner if I Get a Clog?”
Perhaps you read this list and you’re thinking, “fine! If my drain gets clogged up with anything like this, I’ll just use store-bought drain cleaner!” This is not the greatest planm, to be honest. You see, that chemical drain cleaner works temporarily as best. And because of its caustic chemical nature, it can actually cause corrosion to your pipes, leading to leaks and plumbing problems later on. For professional drain cleaning, be sure to reach out to our team!
For expert plumbing service, installations, or maintenance contact Reliance Plumbing Sewer & Drainage, Inc. Our knowledgeable plumbers serve the North Shore and Northwest Chicago suburbs. Rely on Reliance for garbage disposal services and much more!