What Not To Put In Your Garbage Disposal

While garbage disposals are one of the most convenient appliances in your Sterling home’s kitchen, there are still some rules that apply when determining what or what not to put in them. If you put the following items in your garbage disposal, it could spell trouble for your plumbing. Grease, fat, and oil, while being material that can be tough to dispose of, should absolutely not go down your garbage disposal. The reason for this is pretty straightforward. While these materials might be easy to pour down your drain, they will solidify once inside it, which could ruin the pipes and plumbing beneath your sink.

Avoid Long, Solid Foods Like Pasta and Carrots

One type of food that might be a bit less obvious is pasta. Pasta should never be put down your garbage disposal. The reason here is that when pasta comes into contact with water, it expands – regardless of whether or not it is already cooked. Therefore, pasta that comes into contact with water after being put in your garbage disposal could expand, causing damage to your pipes. Coffee grounds should never go down your garbage disposal. Opt to throw them in the trash, or even compost them, as opposed to disposing of them this way. Coffee grounds might go down the disposal easily, but they will easily clog the trap, preventing other food from being properly disposed of due to the clogging.

Hard Seeds and Pits

Here’s an easy one: seeds and fruit pits. While this does happen accidentally somewhat frequently, make sure to keep an eye out for pits and seeds when using your garbage disposal. If a pit or seed hits the blades of your garbage disposal in the wrong way, it could do damage and result in garbage disposable leak that is difficult and costly to repair.

Egg Shells

Probably the least obvious one of all is egg shells. While the hard shell of an egg is not great to put down your garbage disposal, the most problematic part is the membrane. The membrane of the egg shell can wrap itself around your garbage disposal’s blade. Along with coffee grounds, egg shells are a great thing to compost. Garbage disposals are a quick and easy way to get rid of that refuse that you cannot use in cooking. Just remember to be mindful of what you put into them, or you could cause some damage to your Sterling plumbing system. Also, check out few tips that will keep your Sterling disposal unit from dying during the ordeal. If you’re experiencing trouble with your Sterling, VA garbage disposal unit, call Cardinal Plumbing, Heating & Air Inc. at 703-721-8888.