Do’s and Don’ts Of Garbage Disposals

Cleaning up after Thanksgiving feasts can be a nightmare, so here are some tips to help prevent plumbing problems.

First, there are certain things that should never run through your disposal.

Cooked pasta and rice should be tossed in the garbage can because they expand and can clog up pipes.

Potato skins, carrot shavings and egg shells should also not be run through your garbage disposal, according to Daniel Bennett, the owner of Blue Iguana Plumbing.

Bennett has been in the plumbing business for 14 years. He said his worst nightmare was when a couple dumped a pot of overcooked pasta in their garbage disposal and ran it.

He said the pasta clogged up a 10-foot section of pipe. That had to be replaced, and Bennett said the job was not easy.

A good rule of thumb is to throw as much away as possible in the garbage can. Bennett said the garbage disposal should be used as a last resort.

If there is a bad odor coming from your garbage disposal, Bennett said running small pieces of lemon and ice cubes through the disposal is a good idea. The lemon will get rid of the odor and the ice cubes will help keep the blades sharp.

Another tip that Bennett has is to hold off on getting help if you have a plumbing emergency on Thanksgiving. Plumbers charge extra to work on holidays, weekends and after hours.