Garbage disposals are very convenient but only if they are working correctly. If your garbage disposal is broken, you can contact American Appliance Repair at 800-640-9934 for garbage disposal repair. Otherwise, read on to learn about substances that should never go down your garbage disposal.
Coffee Grounds
This is one of the most common things people put down the garbage disposal that should absolutely not go down there. Yes, it can help reduce odors in the short term but it can cause much more serious issues to your drain. Think about what your grounds look like when you take them out of the filter. They are dense, thickly packed, and essentially have turned into a paste. You do not want this going down your drains.
Pasta
If you have ever cooked pasta then you know that when it is soaked in water, it can expand dramatically. When you think of this, it should be easy to see why you may not want to drop a lot of pasta down your garbage disposal. As it continues to soak in water, it will continue to expand. It is okay to clear off a few scraps from your plate, but don’t put an entire pasta dish down the disposal.
Bones
Your garbage disposal is indeed good at grinding up food and disposing of it. That said, just because it can grind it doesn’t mean it should. Yes, a new, high quality garbage disposal can likely make quick work of the bones. It can also dull the blades and cause blockages. If you do accidentally drop a chicken bone or fish bone down the disposal, there is no need to panic. Just be sure you don’t make it a regular process.
Oatmeal
As is true of pasta, oatmeal can expand greatly after it is soaked in water. This is particularly true of uncooked oats. A few oats won’t likely cause a big issue, but if you allow a cup of uncooked oats to get down the disposal, they are likely to collect, soak up water, and expand down the line. Hopefully they will eventually get to the sewer. If they do not, then it will be time to contact your local plumber or appliance repair center.
Onion Skins
Most parts of the onion are fine to put down the garbage disposal. However, onion skins can cause an issue, due to their thin membranes. These are so thin that they can go right through the disposal, which can allow them to get through to the drain and essentially act as a net that picks up things you do not want settling in your drain.
If you have issues with your garbage disposal, or additional questions about what you can and can’t use it for, contact American Appliance Repair at 800-640-9934 today.
