Garbage Disposal Myths to Stop Believing

Like most people, you probably have a garbage disposal in your home, and you might not know much about it. There are a lot of myths out there about garbage disposal that can only lead to an emergency plumbing issue. But don’t worry—the experts at RAM Plumbing are here to dispel those myths for you. Here are the common garbage disposal misconceptions and the truth behind them.

You Can Dump All Kinds of Food Waste Down the Disposal

While garbage disposals are meant to handle food waste, it doesn’t mean they can handle everything. Fibrous and starchy food scraps such as corn husks, celery, and banana and potato peels will only get jumbled in the impellers. Furthermore, hard, solid waste like fruit pits and chicken bones will damage your unit. Should this happen, contact an experienced plumber in Tortolita, AZ, from our team right away.

Garbage Disposals Have Blades You Can Sharpen

When you hear the loud noises coming from the drain, you might think that your garbage disposal has sharp razors that cut food waste into tiny bits. The truth is, it doesn’t use blades. Instead, it comes with shredding impellers that spin at high speeds to grind waste before disposing of it. 

Due to this misconception, many people put ice and eggshells down the unit to sharpen the ‘blades’, but it only does more harm than good. This mistake can lead to costly plumbing repairs. 

You Have to Run Hot Water While the Disposal is On

Many people think that running hot water aid in dissolving the waste in the garbage disposal. However, hot water may overheat the unit. Additionally, it only keeps grease and fat in their liquid form, allowing them to flow easily down the drain. This can be troublesome because they harden once they cool down, causing clogs to form. You may need the help of a plumbing company in Tortolita, AZ, to clear the grease buildup in the drains.

RAM Plumbing is more than happy to provide tips and advice about proper garbage disposal usage. You can also rely on us for a full suite of plumbing services. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.