It’s fall in Arizona and like many valley homeowners, we’re thinking about pumpkin pie, trick-or-treating and heading to the high country to see the fall foliage. As your Glendale AZ plumber serving the entire Phoenix valley, we’re also thinking about homeowners who will be carving pumpkins soon. That’s why every October, we take the time to remind you about what NOT to put into your garbage disposal, with “pumpkin guts” being at the top of the list.
It’s important to know that grinding extremely fibrous materials can tangle and jam your garbage disposal motor and block drains. These fibrous foods include pumpkin pulp, corn husks, celery stalks, onion skins, and artichokes. We highly suggest composting or throwing away these items.
Here are some other items to keep our of your garbage disposal:
Coffee grounds.
Grease, oil or fat. Grease will slowly accumulate and impede your garbage disposal’s grinding ability as well as potentially clog drains.
A lot of potato peels at once. The starches in the potatoes will turn into a thick paste and may cause blades to stick.
Expandable foods like pasta and rice. Just as they expand when you cook them, they also expand inside your pipes or garbage disposal and are the cause of many jams and clogs.
Here are some tips for keeping your garbage disposal running smoothly from your Glendale AZ plumber:
Grind food waste with a strong flow of cold water. Why cold water? It will cause any grease or oils that may get into the unit to solidify, so that they can be chopped up before reaching the trap.
Keep your garbage disposal clean. Pour vinegar and water into the disposal and let it run for a minute or so with some cold water after washing dishes.
Grind peelings from citrus fruits such as lemons or oranges to freshen up drain smells.
Don’t scare your garbage disposal this Halloween. Follow these tips to keep your garbage disposal running smoothly all year long. If you do you need a Glendale AZ plumber to take a look at your garbage disposal anywhere in the Phoenix valley, call us! (602) 273-1740
