Thanksgiving Plumbing Tips: What NOT to Put in Your Garbage Disposal
As Thanksgiving approaches, many of us are preparing for a day filled with family, friends, and — of course — delicious food. But with all the cooking and cleaning that comes with a holiday feast, one kitchen appliance tends to get more use than usual: the garbage disposal. While it may seem like a helpful tool for getting rid of food waste, overloading or misusing your disposal can lead to serious plumbing problems. In fact, the day after Thanksgiving is one of the busiest days of the year for plumbers due to clogged drains and damaged garbage disposals.
In this article, we’ll explore what not to put in your kitchen sink garbage disposal during Thanksgiving, the most common culprits of clogs, and when you should call a plumber to avoid a plumbing disaster. Follow these tips to keep your disposal running smoothly and prevent costly repairs during the holiday season.
Why Your Garbage Disposal Can’t Handle Everything
Your garbage disposal is designed to break down small food scraps into fine particles that can easily flow through your plumbing system. However, it’s not a catch-all for every type of food waste. Certain items can damage the blades, clog your pipes, or cause your disposal to jam. Over time, even seemingly small amounts of the wrong materials can lead to big problems.
Common Thanksgiving Foods to Avoid Putting in the Garbage Disposal
Thanksgiving meals often include a variety of rich, hearty dishes, many of which produce scraps that can wreak havoc on your garbage disposal. Here are the top offenders to avoid:
1. Grease, Fats, and Oils
One of the biggest mistakes people make after preparing turkey or other fatty meats is pouring grease, fats, or oils down the drain. While these substances are liquid when hot, they quickly solidify as they cool, creating a sticky, thick blockage in your pipes.
What Happens: Grease coats the inside of your pipes, causing buildup that eventually leads to a clog. It also contributes to "fatbergs," which are massive clumps of fat, grease, and debris that can block entire sewer systems.
What to Do Instead: Dispose of grease and oils in a container and let them cool. Once solidified, toss them in the trash.
2. Fibrous Vegetables
Thanksgiving often includes vegetables like celery, asparagus, and potato peels. While these might seem harmless, fibrous vegetables have long strands that can wrap around your disposal’s blades and jam the motor.
What Happens: The fibers get tangled, preventing the blades from moving freely and potentially burning out the disposal's motor.
What to Do Instead: Compost fibrous vegetable scraps, or simply throw them in the trash.
3. Potato Peels and Starchy Foods
Mashed potatoes are a Thanksgiving staple, but the peels and starchy remnants from potatoes and other foods like rice, pasta, and bread should never go down the drain. Starchy foods turn into a gummy, sticky paste that can clog your disposal and pipes.
What Happens: The sticky residue from starchy foods builds up in your pipes, creating blockages that can eventually lead to a full-blown clog.
What to Do Instead: Dispose of potato peels and other starchy leftovers in the compost or trash.
4. Bones
Whether it's turkey, ham, or beef, bones are a major no-go for garbage disposals. Bones are too hard for the blades to break down and can cause significant damage to your disposal’s motor.
What Happens: Bones can dull the blades, jam the disposal, or break the disposal entirely. Even if small pieces make it past the blades, they can clog your pipes further down the line.
What to Do Instead: Toss bones in the trash or save them for making stock. They should never go down the drain.
5. Eggshells
There’s a common misconception that eggshells sharpen garbage disposal blades, but in reality, they can cause more harm than good. The membrane inside the shell can get caught in the blades, and the shell itself can break down into small, gritty particles that stick to grease and other debris inside your pipes.
What Happens: The combination of shell particles and grease creates a sludgy mixture that clogs pipes and can damage the disposal blades.
What to Do Instead: Compost eggshells or throw them away.
6. Coffee Grounds
After your Thanksgiving feast, you might be tempted to rinse out the coffee pot and send the grounds down the drain. However, coffee grounds can clump together in your pipes, forming a dense sludge that’s difficult to break up.
What Happens: Coffee grounds don’t break down easily in water, and they accumulate in the pipes, leading to slow drainage or complete blockages.
What to Do Instead: Coffee grounds are great for composting. If you don’t compost, throw them in the trash.
When to Call Sanders
Even if you’re careful about what you put down your garbage disposal, issues can still arise, especially with the added strain of Thanksgiving meal prep. Here are some signs that it’s time to call a professional plumber:
1. Persistent Clogs
If your sink is draining slowly or not at all, even after using a plunger or drain cleaner, it’s time to call a plumber. Clogs deep within your plumbing system may require specialized tools like a plumbing snake or hydro jetting to resolve.
2. Unusual Noises
If your garbage disposal makes grinding, humming, or clanking noises, this could be a sign of something stuck inside or damage to the blades. Turn off the disposal and call a plumber to assess the situation.
3. Leaks
Water pooling under your sink or around your garbage disposal unit can indicate a loose connection, worn-out seal, or damaged pipe. Ignoring leaks can lead to water damage and mold growth, so it’s important to have a plumber inspect the issue right away.
4. Odors That Won’t Go Away
If you notice persistent foul smells coming from your garbage disposal, even after cleaning it, there may be food particles trapped in the drain or disposal. A plumber can help clean out your system and prevent future odor issues.
Tips for Proper Garbage Disposal Use
To keep your garbage disposal in good working condition throughout the holidays, follow these simple tips:
Run cold water before and after using the disposal to help flush any remaining particles down the drain.
Avoid overloading the disposal. Feed food waste into the disposal gradually rather than dumping large amounts in at once.
Clean the disposal by grinding up ice cubes and a small amount of citrus peels to help remove buildup and keep the blades sharp.
Regularly inspect your disposal for any signs of wear, such as leaks, strange noises, or poor drainage.
Final Thoughts
Your garbage disposal is a convenient tool, but it’s not designed to handle every type of food waste, especially during the holiday season when it sees more use than usual. By being mindful of what goes down the drain — avoiding grease, fibrous vegetables, bones, and starchy foods — you can prevent clogs and damage, keeping your kitchen running smoothly during Thanksgiving.
If you do run into plumbing issues, don’t hesitate to call a professional plumber. At Sanders Plumbing HVAC, we’re here to help with all your holiday plumbing needs, from garbage disposal repairs to emergency clogs. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and keep your Thanksgiving stress-free!