Preventing a holiday cleaning disaster
When it’s time to prepare the Thanksgiving meal, there’s nothing worse than having a disaster in the kitchen with the garbage disposal. For many people, if the garbage disposal isn’t working properly, kitchen operations come to a halt. Unfortunately, the majority of the problems associated with garbage disposals happen due to people’s carelessness or lack of knowledge about how their disposals can be used. To avoid a garbage disposal disaster on Thanksgiving in your Round Lake home, here are some tips to follow.
Beware of Expandable Foods
If you put foods such as rice or pasta down the disposal, be prepared for problems. These foods, known as expandable foods, wind up causing numerous problems in the drain and pipes. Because they expand as water is added to them, they grow and grow and grow inside the disposal and pipes until they have created quite a clog. A plumber will need to be called to assess the situation and unclog the drain and pipes, and any future expandable foods should be tossed into the trashcan to avoid a repeat of this situation.
Avoid Large Bones
While for the most part turkey bones are fine to put down a disposal, other bones such as those from beef or pork can damage a disposal’s blades to the point where repairs may not be enough. This is because the blades are not made to be strong enough to break the large and dense bones, resulting in the blades getting severely bent. In addition to this, parts of the bones may break off and become lodged in the disposal’s motor and gears, which can cause additional damage.
Steer Clear of Fiber
While fiber may be good for your diet, it’s a terrible idea for your disposal. When fibrous foods such as corn husks, onion skins, and celery are put down the disposal, their tough fibers can become tangled in the blades and motor, resulting in quite a bit of damage. In most cases, a Round Lake plumber will need to be called to make the necessary repairs, which often involve replacing the blades.
No Grease or Oil
By pouring grease or oil down a disposal’s drain, you are virtually guaranteeing a clog that will seem as if the pipes are full of concrete. Grease and oil set up just like concrete in pipes, and require a plumber’s expertise to remove the clog. If this happens, be prepared for a large repair bill.
Don’t get clogged up this Thanksgiving in your Round Lake, IL home, call Duane Blanton Plumbing today at (815) 781-2567.
