Pumpkin spice is in the air, so we all know what’s coming up next…
With the bustle of the holiday season just around the corner, it’s time to prepare yourself for a busy kitchen. As plumbers, this is also when our schedules are packed full of appointments. As everyone prepares for Thanksgiving to kick off the season, we wanted to pass along a few tips to save you from a potential plumbing issue. Nobody has time for a kitchen set back when those pumpkin pies need baking!
THINK BEFORE YOU CLICK
If you hadn’t guessed it, issues with sinks and garbage disposals run pretty high on the list of calls plumbers make. Keep in mind that not everything that fits into the garbage disposal belongs there. They are powerful and do the job well, but treating it right will keep it lasting even longer. Taking a moment to check if a food item should be put down the drain before you click the button could save you from a potential catastrophe.
Here are a few things that should be tossed in the trash, not the beloved disposal:
Fat, grease, oil: These liquids become solid once they harden around the blade and within the pipe. Once the liquids are solidified, the water flow becomes limited.
Bones: Isn’t grinding up the hard stuff meant for a disposal? Not when it comes to turkey bones! Unless they are very thin fish bones, these need to be tossed in the trash.
Veggies: Certain vegetables like carrots, celery, onion skins, and asparagus are very fibrous and can wrap around the blade of the disposal, causing it to literally stop in its tracks.
Potato Peels: Keeping in line with the vegetables, the peels from potatoes can create a paste that is starchy and will jam up the pipes with a gum-like substance.
Pasta and Rice: The same way pasta and rice expand once they’ve been cooked, the same goes for when you’re trying to get rid of them. Jamming the sink with these foods are sure to clog it up once you turn the faucet on.
Coffee Grounds: Even when you’re in a hurry to get the next pot going, trash the coffee grounds. While they can eliminate a lot of unpleasant scents in your drain, the issue is when the coffee grounds accumulate within the pipes.
GET TO IT!
With your crash course on what belongs in the trash instead of the disposal, you should be prepared for a fully functioning kitchen sink this holiday season. Let the memories and feasting begin! At Graydon Faulstick Plumbing, we are prepared to assist you in your plumbing needs this holiday season. For assistance, you can reach us at 570-992-0447 or 610-381-4171 for more information.
