24 Nov Garbage Disposal Maintenance During The Holidays
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! The weather is much cooler, the Riverwalk is beautiful, and many families plan on keeping it small this year. But that doesn’t mean kitchens won’t still be the busiest place in your home for the holidays. But what about cleaning? It isn’t always fun, but it is important to make sure that you’re properly disposing of oils, grease, and other material that could be harmful to your drainage system. Here are some tips to keep good garbage disposal maintenance during the holiday season.
Coffee Grounds
You’re up early for the holiday celebration and you’re craving caffeine. That’s completely fine! However, what isn’t fine is pouring your coffee grounds down the sink’s drain. This may cause or even worsen a clog. In fact, most plumbers say that coffee grounds are most likely the cause of a clog in a kitchen sink’s drain. As of now, the best place for proper disposal is the garbage.
Grease and Oils
It’s almost inevitable to occasionally pour greases or oils down your sink’s drain. Over time the grease and oils trapped within the drain can act as a glue and cause material to coat the pipes until the sink’s drain slows or clogs. Actually, more than 47 percent of all sewer overflows in the U.S. are caused by grease, oils, and fats within the drain. When disposing of these substances, the best practice is to allow them to cool, place them into a jar or bottle, then place the jar or bottle into the garbage.
Eggshells
If you’re planning on cooking this holiday season, there’s a high chance that you’ll be doing some baking as well. Many believe that tossing their empty eggshells down their sink’s drain is harmless, as long as the garbage disposal is on and activated. However, the sink’s disposal can cause the shells to break into many smaller pieces. Then trap themselves within the grease and oils. This may cause the grease and oils to thicken which may slow your sink’s drain or cause a clog. Similar to coffee grounds, eggshells are best disposed of in the garbage.
Paper Towels
When cooking and cleaning throughout your kitchen, you may realize that paper towels have become your best friend. It’s believed that biodegradable products are able to quickly dissolve and disappear instantly. Unfortunately, this isn’t always true. Paper towels are designed to absorb the contents it comes into contact with, allowing them to easily clog or obstruct your drains.
Bonus Quarter Moon tip: Replace your paper towels with cloth towels in heavy traffic areas such as the kitchen and bathrooms. This may save you money on paper towels and possible plumbing repair.
Household Fluids
Nothing is wrong with wanting to clean your home after the family has left. However, it is important to know exactly what you’re pouring into your drain to avoid damaging the pipes or harming yourself. Once flushed or drained, the chemicals are able to flow into the public water supply and damage the environment. If inhaled, mixed chemicals may cause eye and throat irritation, nausea, headaches, and even cancer. To best protect your health and the environment, it’s best to use all-natural cleaners, or even make your own!
Not Sure If You’ve Been Practicing Proper Garbage Disposal Maintenance? Call QMP
With the holiday excitement combining with the holiday preparation, it’s almost impossible to keep up with an entire home to make sure you’re ready. Quarter Moon Plumbing, AC, and Heating are here to ensure that you’re able to relax while enjoying family and the holiday season. If you feel uncomfortable about your plumbing and draining system and would like a professional opinion, call Quarter Moon Plumbing, AC & Heating at (210) 651-5899 or contact us on our website.