Most of us only think about our garbage disposals when the disposals stop working. Then, we call technicians like those at Pronto Plumbing, Camp Hill, so we can get the disposals working again. However, there are a few ways that you can extend the life of your garbage disposal and reduce the chances of having yours stop when you least expect it.
Below are some of the top items that you should NEVER put in your garbage disposal. Even if you regularly break these rules and feel like your garbage disposal can “handle it”, you should know that you are taking a gamble.
Avoid putting these items into the garbage disposal:
- Anything that isn’t food. This includes napkins, paper towels, wrappers, etc. Even if the garbage disposal can manage to chop up the pieces, they can dull the disposal blades and clog your pipes.
- Gristle, fat and bones. Resist the temptation to put the remains of last night’s stewed chicken into the disposal. Gristle can start to cake on the inside of the disposal and may even begin to attract insects, not to mention mildew and mold.
- Eggshells. You may have been told that eggshells would be fine when tossed into the garbage disposal, but that isn’t the case. Eggshells tend to hook up with other waste products and clog drains over time.
- Banana peels. These belong in the garbage. They may also be composted.
- Potato skins. After peeling your potatoes, toss them into the garbage can rather than down the disposal.
What Happens If Your Garbage Disposal Stops Working?
Let’s say that you, or another member of your family, makes a mistake and throws some items down the disposal, causing an issue. What do you do? In general, it’s recommended that you call an expert rather than trying to fixing the situation on your own. If you do take a DIY approach, NEVER, EVER put your hand into the garbage disposal. Remind children that it isn’t a toy, and discourage their use of garbage disposals until they are old enough to be responsible and understand consequences.
