Thanksgiving Tips - Disposal Edition

Thanksgiving is meant to be a wonderful holiday, full of delicious food and conversations with family.

Of course, all that good company can only mean one thing: many dirty dishes crowding up your kitchen sink. All of those food scraps—from turkey skin to potato peels—can sneak their way into your drains, creating mayhem for your plumbing system.

Wouldn't you rather go shopping on Black Friday instead of calling a plumber? Follow these tips to prevent clogged drains this Thanksgiving.

1. Turkey Skins & Grease
   
   Don’t throw turkey skins and frying pan grease down your drain. The grease will eventually solidify and clog your pipes. That's a plumbing disaster waiting to happen! Throw the turkey skins in the trash and wipe out your frying pans with a paper towel before washing them in the sink.
   
   
2. Pastas & Rice
   
   Your leftover casserole you’re about to throw away is a giant drain clog waiting to happen. Casseroles often contain pasta or rice, which swell in water and clog your drain trap.
   
   
3. Bones
   
   Whether it’s bones from the turkey or any other bird, don’t throw them in the garbage disposal. They’ll dull or break the blades. They can even cause it to jam, frying the motor out in the process.
   
   
4. Stringy & Fibrous Vegetables
   
   Tough-skinned and stringy-fibrous vegetables can wrap themselves around the garbage disposal blades, preventing them from turning.
   
   These are the main culprits:
   Asparagus
   Carrots
   Celery
   Potato Skins
   Corn Husks
   
   
5. Egg Shells
   
   People say these help sharpen the blade, not true. Egg shells, when enough are grinded together by your garbage disposal’s blades, can clog your drain.

General Thanksgiving Disposal Tips

• Keep the cold water running when to avoid clogs using the disposal.
• Don’t overwhelm your disposal with scraps all at once.
• Don’t put non-food items down the disposal.
• Don’t throw Thanksgiving foods down the drain.

By following these simple tips, you can help keep your garbage disposal working for years to come.

Sometimes holiday plumbing emergencies happen, that's why our All-Star team is ready to keep the holiday cheer flowing, 24/7.  Schedule online or call if you need us.