In this article…
- Why You Shouldn’t Put Food Down Your Garbage Disposal
- How To Avoid Clogging Your Garbage Disposal and Kitchen Sink Plumbing
- Maintaining Your Garbage Disposal and Keeping Your Plumbing Clean
From cookie baking sheets to spaghetti pots to frying pans caked with oil, your kitchen sink takes on a lot of excess liquids, foods, and crumbs of all sorts.
Like overrunning your hot water and putting constant pressure on your water heater, draining food solids and various liquids down your kitchen sink strains your plumbing.
But, you may be thinking…”Isn’t that what a garbage disposal is for? To help break down the food before washing it down the drain?”
While, yes, this is true, garbage disposals aren’t meant to be the first and only guard to clog prevention and stopping large food particles from entering your drain.
The truth is, your garbage disposal isn’t supposed to be a catch-all safeguard for your kitchen sink, and overusing it can lead to disastrous plumbing issues in the future.
Jim’s Plumbing Now has been a trusted Dallas and Fort Worth plumber, helping homeowners and business owners repair and protect their plumbing, including water heater replacements, drain cleaning, and whole-house repiping.
We’re here to fix your plumbing when something goes wrong, but we’re also here to educate you on how to properly maintain your plumbing to prevent any potential issues from bubbling up in the future.
One of the most common misconceptions and easiest problems to avoid has to deal with your garbage disposal, and we’re here to clear the air.
This article will provide you with the correct information on why you shouldn’t allow food to go through your garbage disposal, tips and tricks to keep it running properly, protect your plumbing, and more.
After reading, you’ll understand how to avoid damaging your plumbing and causing pesky clogs and can ensure your garbage disposal continues to run efficiently.
Why You Shouldn’t Put Food Down Your Garbage Disposal
When rinsing and washing dishes, sending food down your garbage disposal is nearly inevitable. We understand that.
However, when we talk about not putting food down your disposal, there are some okay dos and absolute don’ts we’ll outline further in this article.
Continuously putting various foods down your kitchen sink and through the garbage disposal can cause buildup in your plumbing, which is the biggest risk of allowing large quantities of food to wash down the drain.
Think about the different types of food you eat daily and weekly and how much of those foods end up in the sink, even if it’s just a small amount. The culmination of these different foods can become caked in the drain, causing clogs.
You’ll notice your drain is clogged if the water is draining slowly or not draining at all, and this is a bad sign.
The longer your sink drain goes collecting food through the garbage disposal with no cleaning, the more it can damage your plumbing and drain pipes further down, not just in your sink.
What You Can And Can’t Put Down Your Garbage Disposal
Avoiding allowing most types of food to go down your garbage disposal is a good rule of thumb to follow. However, several foods and food groups can slide by, and others that are a big no-no.
Some foods that are okay to send down your garbage disposal include
- Soft foods, like fruits, vegetables, and eggs
- Liquids, like water, milk, and juices (small amounts of oil are okay)
- Citrus rinds
Some foods you should not put down your garbage disposal include
- Animal bones
- Eggshells
- Pasta, rice, potatoes, and other starchy foods
- Large quantities of oil
- Coffee grounds
- Fruit pits
As you can see, the list of don’ts outweighs the dos, so when it comes to deciding whether to wash something down your kitchen sink, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
3 Common Problems With Your Garbage Disposal
After outlining why you shouldn’t put food down your garbage disposal and what foods are and are not okay, let’s look at some common problems you will notice with your garbage disposal if the wrong food makes its way down the drain.
1. Drain clogging
The biggest risk is clogging your garbage disposal and sink drain. This can happen from a large buildup of different types of food caking to the walls of the drain and inside the garbage disposal.
To avoid this, ensure you don’t allow large food particles or any items on the “don’t list” down the disposal, and regularly rinse and wash your sink and drain to keep things running smoothly.
2. Blade blockage
Another problem you may encounter if the wrong item falls down the drain is creating a stoppage in the garbage disposal. You’ll notice this if you flip the switch to turn it on and only hear a light humming, indicating the blade is not running.
This could mean the blade is blocked by an item that isn’t meant to be there, blocking the blade from rotating when the motor is turned on.
If you suspect this is the case, carefully inspect the garbage disposal blade for any large items causing the blockage. Make sure the disposal is turned off.
3. Electrical problem
Your garbage disposal also may not be running if there is a shortage in the electrical component. If you suspect this is the case, most garbage disposals have a small red button at the base of the disposal under your sink.
Simply hold the button down for a few seconds to reset the disposal. Then, turn the disposal on to confirm the problem is resolved.
Most common issues with garbage disposals can be avoided by ensuring the right items are only going down the drain and properly maintaining your disposal and sink drain.
How To Avoid Clogging Your Garbage Disposal and Kitchen Sink Plumbing
The best maintenance for any home appliance is preventative maintenance. This holds true for garbage disposals and kitchen sink drains as well.
As we’ve outlined in the above section, the first measure to take to protect your garbage disposal is knowing what foods can and cannot go down the drain. This will ensure you avoid clogging and garbage disposal backups.
One of the best ways to catch the wrong food from going down your drain is using a small sink strainer. This strainer simply sits at the base of your sink drain and catches any large food items from entering your drain. Then, you can dump the strainer into a compost or trash can to clear it.
You can also use a white vinegar and baking soda combination to clean your drain lines. First, pour a cup of baking soda into the drain. Then, slowly pour a cup of vinegar down the drain and let it bubble for about half an hour. Rinse with cold water to clear all blockages.
Cold water is best for running down your sink because if any oil or grease is inside the garbage disposal, the cold water helps to solidify it, then break it up to run down the drain easily.
With these simple and effective maintenance tips, you will ensure your garbage disposal continues to run properly and protect your drains from potential problems.
Maintaining Your Garbage Disposal and Keeping Your Plumbing Clean
Now that you know why you shouldn’t put food down your garbage disposal, the common problems it can cause, and how to best maintain your disposal and drain system, you have the right knowledge to protect your plumbing and troubleshoot any issues you may encounter.
Eliminating any food remains from entering your garbage disposal is a difficult feat, and, many times, virtually impossible.
While allowing small crumbs, liquids, and soft foods down your disposal isn’t the end of the world, it’s best to avoid allowing firm and large food items to go down the drain and use a fine strainer to help catch any bits from making their way down.
If you have a clogged garbage disposal or a slow-draining kitchen sink, use a drain snake and vinegar and baking soda mixture to clear the drain easily.
By taking preventative measures to maintain your garbage disposal, you will improve its efficiency and the drainage of your sink and ensure your plumbing remains up to par.
If you find your kitchen sink has become clogged, hiring a professional to help clean your drains is the best course of action to ensure your drains are properly cleared and your plumbing is draining effectively.
But, you may be thinking, “Do I really need to hire a professional? Is this something I can do myself?”
We understand. Before working with a professional, you want to understand how it will benefit you and your home and if it is worth it.
Check out this article that outlines seven benefits of professional drain cleaning, including the elimination of lingering odors, identifying potential leaks, and more.
