Garbage disposals are one of the greatest modern assets to grace your kitchen sink—however, they’re not exactly fool-proof. There are dos and don’ts when it comes to disposing of food down your garbage disposal. We’ll explore the don’ts in detail, saving you time and money for costly repairs.
5 Foods That Can Clog Your Garbage Disposal
Did you know that not every single piece of food you throw down the garbage disposal is suitable? Here are five food items that you should never rinse down the drain.
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Eggshells
Your garden will enjoy your eggshells a lot more than your garbage disposal. The membrane of eggshells can wrap and twist around the blades of your garbage disposal, causing damage or blade breakage.
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Coffee Grounds
Even though coffee grounds are small, they can build up over time, causing sediment compaction in your pipes. Again, it’s best to save your coffee grounds for your plants. So next time you make yourself a fresh brew, make sure you’re composting those grounds instead of sending them on a trip down the drain.
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Rice, Pasta, & Other Expanding Materials
Rice and pasta expand when met with water—even after the garbage disposal has ground them up. Save your drain from rice, pasta, and other expanding materials, and throw your excess spaghetti into the trash bin.
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Stringy Vegetables
Vegetables like celery, corn husks, and lettuce have no business being in your drain. The stringy parts of these vegetables can quickly wrap around your garbage disposal blades, causing resistance and potential blade damage. Throw these vegetables in the compost, instead.
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Cooking Grease & Oil
Grease and oil harden as they cool down, which can cause major clogs. Hardened cooking oils can stick to your drainpipes, creating blockages. Instead of pouring your cooking grease and oil down the drain, pour it into a ziplock bag or container and dispose of it.
5 Common Garbage Disposal Problems
It’s fairly easy to tell when your garbage disposal is malfunctioning. Here are several clear signs that you have an issue with your garbage disposal.
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A Jammed Garbage Disposal
If your garbage disposal is jammed, then you’ll most likely hear a humming sound as water and other liquids regurgitate back into the sink. Food blockages are typically caused by foods like eggshells, stringy vegetables, coffee grounds, and cooking oil.
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A Dead Garbage Disposal
Have you ever flipped the switch of your garbage disposal just to discover that nothing is happening? If your garbage disposal is dead, you could have one of a few different issues on your hands. The electrical switch may need to be replaced, or your circuit breaker could have overloaded. Call the team at 4 Service Pros to get to the bottom of your dead garbage disposal.
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A Humming Garbage Disposal
If your garbage disposal is making a humming noise, your disposal is probably jammed or not getting enough power. Let our professionals help pinpoint the reason behind your humming garbage disposal so you can get back to using your kitchen with ease.
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A Smelly Garbage Disposal
What’s that smell? If it’s coming from your garbage disposal, then you most likely have food particles clinging to your drainpipe and blades. Don’t worry; if you’re smelling any unpleasant odors from your garbage disposal, it needs to be cleaned. Pour a mixture of baking soda and vinegar down the drain. If the smells don’t go away, call our team, and we’ll help you dismantle it.
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A Leaking Garbage Disposal
Sometimes, garbage disposals will leak into a dishwasher if they’re connected. Other leaks can occur from the garbage disposal that won’t drain correctly. Contact the team at 4 Service Pros for a full garbage disposal inspection.
Drain Cleaning Services by 4 Service Pros
Don’t reach for the chemical drain cleaner—call the professionals at 4 Service Pros instead. Our team can help you unclog your drains, fix your garbage disposal, and get you back to doing what you love in the kitchen. Enjoy a fully-functioning garbage disposal again, and get in touch with us for expert drain cleaning solutions today.