Garbage disposals are a staple of most Boston, MA homes and because they’re fairly simple devices, repair calls are comparatively uncommon. The one time when repairs do become necessary is when the homeowner has poured an inappropriate food down the garbage disposal, which results in a big problem. Most people know better than to throw bones, peach pits and the like down their garbage disposal, but that’s just the beginning. A surprising number of foods will cause quite a bit of damage if you’re not careful. The more you know, the easier it will be to prevent the problem in the first place instead of having to call in a repair technician to get it treated after the fact. Here’s a list of foods you should always dispose of in the waste basket, instead of putting them down the drain.
- Vegetable Peelings. Many people peel carrots, potatoes and other fibrous vegetables down the drain. Those peelings can wrap themselves around the gears in the disposal and grind the system to a halt.
- Coffee Grounds. Coffee grounds can be like sand to the gears in your garbage disposal, increasing friction at best and causing a breakdown at worst.
- Pasta and Rice. These may sounds like innocuous foodstuffs, but they can be surprisingly strong. Even worse, they absorb water and expand, which can result in a bad clog if you aren’t careful.
- Fats, Oils and Grease. FOG, as these materials are known in the profession, are particularly insidious because they’re often poured down the drain in liquid form when they’re hot. But they will quickly cool inside your pipes and can create a clog that even the most knowledgeable plumber will be hard pressed to break up. Instead of pouring them in the drain, pour them into a coffee can or similar receptacle, then throw the whole thing in the trash once the liquid has cooled.
Contact Cooling Unlimited to resolve any and all problems with your garbage disposal.
