Food preparation is a natural part of the holidays here in Salt Lake City, UT, and chances are you’re going to be making a big meal for your family — or even for a whole house full of guests — before the year is over. Not coincidentally, we see a sharp upswing in repair calls to deal with clogged drains and broken garbage disposals caused by throwing the wrong foods down the drain. An ounce of prevention beats a pound of cure in these cases, and if you can be mindful of which foods you toss down the drain, you can save yourself a big headache this holiday season. In particular, the following foods should be tossed in the trash instead of being thrown into your garbage disposal.
- Bones and Fruit Seeds. Most people are familiar with the dangers these present to your garbage disposal. The disposal can’t grind up meat bones, peach pits or similar items, causing the system to jam.
- FOG, or fats, oils, and grease, are troublesome because they’re often poured down the drain in hot liquid form. They solidify when they cool off, creating an instant — and very stubborn — clog in your drains if you aren’t careful.
- Vegetable Peelings, and indeed any fibrous vegetables such as carrots, celery, and potatoes. They can wrap around the gears of the garbage disposal and cause a jam, as well as clogging up your drains. Always toss peelings in the garbage instead of down the drain.
- Coffee Grounds, which can get into the gears of the garbage disposal and cause a jam. They can also be quite sticky, which can lead to a clog in the drain if you aren’t careful.
If you encounter a clog in your kitchen drains, or your garbage disposal isn’t working as it should, call the experts at At Your Service Plumbing, Heating and Air for quality repairs today!
