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Bayonet Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Blog

What You Should Never Put Down the Disposal

plumber-kitchen-sinkFor the modern homeowner, the idea of living without indoor plumbing is pretty much unthinkable. Why would anyone choose to live that way? We get all of the potable water that we need from the various faucets throughout the house. Our appliances that require water are fed that water directly, and a drain and sewer system is there to dispose of all the wastewater in an effective, reliable, and hygienic manner. Not a bad deal, eh?

Well, there are upgrades to the plumbing system that may not be quite as essential as, say, a toilet. However, they can really help you to make the most of your plumbing user experience. One such appliance is the garbage disposal. Is it an absolute necessity? Maybe not. However, once you’ve experienced the convenience that one has to offer, it’s hard to imagine going back to life without one. Just remember that you need a professional plumber in Orlando, FL to install and service yours.

The Benefits of Using a Garbage Disposal

There are a few different ways in which using a garbage disposal can benefit you. The biggest and most obvious of these is the fact that a garbage disposal greatly improves the convenience with which you can clean up after meals and meal prep. You don’t have to worry about scraping every bit of food off the plates, and you don’t need to be fishing every stray morsel out of the drain to avoid clogs.

That’s not the only benefit, though. You also cut down on the amount of trash that goes in the barrel. You can reduce odors coming from the trash, and cut down on trips to the curb with overflowing bags. Just remember that your garbage disposal does have some very real limitations, though. Putting certain items and waste down the drain, even with a disposal in place, can lead to serious clogs or damage to the disposal itself.

What to Keep Out of the Disposal

So how do you know what’s safe and what’s not when it comes to putting things down the drain? Well, you just review this list!

  • FOG: This is a big one. Fats, Oil, and Grease should never go down the drain, disposal or not. This type of waste may be liquid when hot, but can congeal once it cools down—as it will when it hits the pipes in your drainage system. This can result in serious clogs, so make sure to pour FOG into a disposable container and store it in the freezer until you’re ready to bring the trash out.
  • Starchy Foods: Rice, pasta, and even potato skins all fall into this category. Sure, your disposal may not be damaged by trying to grind them up. However, these items can swell up with water if you put them down the drains, and when that happens, they can lead to clogs. Again, they belong in the trash.
  • Fibrous Foods: These actually can result in damage to the disposal. Fibrous foods like celery stalks and corn husks can get wrapped up in the mechanism, causing strain that can lead to damages.

Schedule your plumbing services with Bayonet Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning.

 

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