With the year’s most hectic season upon us, your kitchen sink is bound to see some heavy use. You may be concerned over a clogged disposal at the very moment the family is in for dinner, or not sure what can and cannot be put down the drain with your holiday leftovers.
We have the answers if you have been asking yourself these questions. Bumble Bee Home Services has put our experience to work for homeowners in Glendale and the rest of Greater Phoenix, making sure their plumbing is in good order since 2011. Should you need us this holiday, give us a ring at (602) 641-3431.
There is no time like the holidays to put a strain on a garbage disposal. Between the extra guests and all the cooking and cleaning, it is only natural that food scraps make their way to the drain. A breakdown on Thanksgiving or Christmas is a headache best avoided, so here are some do’s and don’ts to see you through.
Do: The Proper Way to Use Your Disposal
You will find that with the right approach your disposal is up to the task of any kitchen waste a holiday meal can throw at it. Make it a point to follow these:
- Use cold water when grinding, before and after as well. It will firm up the grease so it is chopped and washed away and does not go and coat your pipes.
- Put in your scraps in modest quantities; do not try to force a large pile in at once.
- After you are done, let the water run for 15 or 20 seconds to clear the pipes.
- Make smaller pieces of any large food items first.
- To dislodge debris from the blades, put a couple of ice cubes in and grind them every so often.
- Run it from time to time even when you are not putting on a spread to prevent the parts from seizing.
It is the little things that count when the kitchen is in overdrive.
Don’t: Leave These Out of the Disposal
Most of the clogs we see over the holidays come from foods that look innocuous until they are in your pipes. Regrettably, the worst of them are on the menu.
Do not put the following in your disposal:
- Fat, oil and grease. Hot it may be, but it will harden in the pipes and be difficult to get out.
- Hard scraps such as turkey or chicken bones which risk damaging the blades.
- Potato peels become a starchy paste and adhere to the pipe walls.
- The stringy nature of celery, onion skins and corn husks means they will wrap around the blades.
- Rice and pasta will continue to absorb water and swell once in the drain.
- Eggshells and coffee grounds will eventually form a sludge.
- Anything too hard to grind like fruit pits and big seeds.
If you are not certain, the compost or the trash is a better option. Your pipes will be none the worse for it.
A Clogged Disposal? Here is What to Do
An occasional problem can happen to the best of cooks. A humming disposal that will not turn is likely jammed. If there is no sound at all the reset button under the unit has probably been tripped; a press of it should revive it.
For your part, do not put your hand in the disposal and stay away from chemical cleaners of the harsh variety that are bad for the unit and your pipes. When a reset is not enough, call a pro to prevent a minor clog from becoming a major one.
Let Bumble Bee Home Services Be Your Go-To This Season
You should not have to face a clogged disposal by yourself when you have company. We provide electrical, heating, cooling, drain and plumbing services in communities all over the Valley including Glendale, Surprise, Sun City, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert and Goodyear. Our A+ BBB Accreditation and 4.9 stars in more than 4,000 Google reviews speak for themselves, and we are fully licensed and insured.
Our 100% satisfaction guarantee stands behind everything we do and we are on hand 24/7, afternoon or late night.
Make the call to (602) 641-3431 and we will take care of the plumbing while you put in a good word for your holiday meal.
