Not for the Garbage Disposal
We believe that your drains should be much like your furnace filters; clean. That’s because a clogged drain can have implications that are costly and full of hassle. In this blog post, we’ll highlight 5 things that you shouldn’t put down your drain, even if you have a disposal. Our hope is that you’ll be able to better maintain your drains, and protect your home from a potential disaster.
The five things you shouldn’t put down the drain include:
Bacon fat, grease, or oil: These oily substances will and can attached themselves to the blades of your disposal, rendering it useless (dull). They can also adhere to the drains themselves and create clogging or backups.
Glass, plastic, or paper: These items will ruin the blades of your disposal and create a potential clog in your drain. Your disposal isn’t made for these types of materials.
Bones: Always toss bones (beef, pork, lamb, chicken, and fish) into the trash. You may have heard that these bones can sharpen your disposal blades, but this is not true. Just think about cutting up a chicken with your knife. After a while, the knife would go dull if you kept cutting the bone (the same concept applies with the disposal).
Bleach or drano: These harsh chemicals, although they can breakup food and other forms of clogs, they can also ruin seals and pipes. If you are going to use these tools, please use them in moderation.
Coffee grounds: Have you heard about flushing coffee grounds down the disposal to help get rid of oder? Well, it’s true, but the particles - being so small - also accumulate and block the pipes. There are other ways to help a smelly disposal. Don’t use coffee grounds.
Although there are many things you shouldn’t put down the drain, there are few things you should and can do. The ‘does’ include:
Use your disposal regularly: A regularly used disposal won’t allow for an accumulation of food (letting it dry and harden). This projects the blades and drain around the disposal.
Disinfect & clean: A mixture of baking soda and vinegar will help with the cleanliness and smell of your disposal. Talk about a nice option (being cleaned and smelling good).
Cut larger items into smaller pieces: By cutting items into smaller pieces, you’ll protect the longevity of the disposal as it’ll be able to handle the disposing of more items. Many disposals break down due to the grinding of the wrong items and/or the grinding to too large of items.
We hope these tips are helpful to you as you continue to use your drains and disposals everyday. Remember, it’s better to be proactive rather than reactive.
- A R Engh Heating & Cooling Team