Foods that Can and Can’t Go Down Your Garbage Disposal

Your garbage disposal is a powerful tool to make kitchen cleanup easy and keep food waste out of landfills. But you shouldn’t treat it like a garbage can. While it can handle most food you throw at it, there are certain kinds of waste you should avoid putting down your garbage disposal.

Foods You Shouldn’t Put Down Your Disposal

Fats, oils, and grease: Known as FOGs in the industry, this type of food waste may seem harmless, but it’s one of the leading causes of clogs in plumbing and sewers. FOGs often start as liquids, but they will usually congeal and stick to the insides of your pipes, causing stubborn clogs. Common FOGs include cooking oil, butter, peanut butter, bacon grease, salad dressing, mayonnaise, and ice cream.

Fibrous vegetables and fruit peels: Thin and/or stringy foods such as celery and fruit peels often slip through garbage disposals without being ground up properly. This can cause clogs further down your pipes. Particularly stringy foods can also wrap around your disposal’s impellers, causing jams or even motor burnout. Common foods in this category include celery stalks, asparagus, corn husks, onion skins, artichoke leaves, and fruit and vegetable peels.

Starchy foods: These foods absorb water and expand, turning into a thick paste that can clog your drain and hinder your disposal. Small amounts are okay, but you should avoid dumping large quantities down the drain. Examples include pasta, rice, potato peels, bread, and oatmeal.

Hard foods: Most garbage disposals can safely grind up hard foods, including small bones. But even smaller chunks of those foods can cause clogs further down your plumbing, especially if your pipes are older. That’s why we generally recommend against putting them down your disposal. Foods in this category include bones, fruit pits, seafood shells, coffee grounds, and eggshells.

Foods You Should Put Down Your Disposal

Your disposal can handle most foods not mentioned above. Generally, small amounts of soft food waste are safe to put down your disposal. Examples include cooked meat and fruit and vegetable scraps. Citrus rinds are also safe, and they can help freshen up your disposal and combat foul odors! You can also put ice cubes down your disposal to help clean the system and dislodge debris. Always remember to wash waste down a bit at a time rather than dumping large quantities down your drain, which can lead to clogs.

Robillard Plumbing Can Help

Do you have a clog in your garbage disposal or elsewhere in your plumbing? We can help. We use the latest tools and technology to clean your drain and free your pipes of pesky clogs. Located in Maple Grove, MN, we serve the entire northwest Twin Cities metro area.

Contact us today to schedule service!

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5 Reasons Why Drain Cleaning Is So Important

Drain cleaning is an easily forgotten aspect of home maintenance, and because of this, many homeowners don’t notice issues with their drains until it is too late. Regular drain cleaning can, however, prevent a whole host of issues and make life easier for you and your plumbing system. Keep reading to learn how professional drain cleaning can help you.

Prevents Clogs

The number one issue plaguing drains is clogging. In the kitchen, grease and food scraps build up over time, leave residue on the insides of your pipes, and eventually create blockages. This problem is exacerbated by improper garbage disposal use. In the bathroom, clogs are primarily caused by the buildup of hair and soap. Regular drain cleaning can remove this buildup before it causes major clogs.

Maintains Fast Drainage

Even if a pipe isn’t completely clogged, some residue can still slow down drainage significantly. You’ll notice this if water pools in the sink while you’re washing your hands or in the tub when you’re taking a shower. Professional drain cleaning and maintenance will keep your pipes clear and water draining fast, so you never have to worry about a sink or tub overflowing.

Reduces Odors

Food, grease, and other residue that build up inside your pipes will eventually rot and create foul odors. Standing water trapped in the curves of your pipes can also smell bad. When these odors find their way up through your pipes, it can mean a problem for your whole house. Keeping your drains clean and free of waste stops these odors in their tracks and prevents new ones from developing.

Stops Water Damage

Clogs and buildups cause water to back up, drain slowly, and even become trapped in your pipes. Unfortunately, pipes are not designed to hold standing water, and these backups can cause leaks along their seams. In worst-case scenarios, your pipes may even burst, causing major water damage to your walls, floors, ceilings, and potentially other areas of your home. Regular drain cleaning and professional plumbing inspections will catch these issues early before they turn into expensive disasters.

Extends the Lifespan of Your Plumbing

Just like your car or any other piece of equipment, proper maintenance and care will help your drains, pipes, and other plumbing fixtures last longer. Without regular cleaning, contaminants such as mineral deposits from hard water will slowly corrode your pipes. The above-mentioned blockages from food, grease, and hair also place unnecessary strain on your plumbing. Regular professional maintenance will prevent more costly issues from developing in the future and enable your plumbing system to function better for longer.

Rely on Robillard Plumbing for Professional Drain Cleaning

We know it can be difficult to clean your drains on your own. Fortunately, the experts at Robillard Plumbing offer full-service drain cleaning for bathrooms, kitchens, main sewer lines, and more. Contact us today, and we’ll make sure your drains are clear of all hazards and debris.

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