You’ve just finished your Thanksgiving dinner with a nice piece of pie, and now it’s time to clean the kitchen. Stacks of dirty dishes, greasy pots and pans, and every utensil you own need a scrubbing.
At Jack Hall Plumbing & Heating, we love Thanksgiving, but our team knows emergency calls for clogged drains and broken garbage disposals after Turkey Day are as predictable as folks taking a nap during the football game.
Here are some tips to keep your drains and garbage disposals safe this Thanksgiving:
Steer Clear of “Fatbergs”
Turkey drippings, gravy, melted butter, and used cooking oil are a recipe you never want to put down the drain. As they cool, these leftovers solidify and coat your pipes. This can lead to a serious clog plumbers dread, called a “fatberg.” Instead of sending greasy, oily things down the drain, pour them into a disposable container to cool, then throw it in the trash.
Watch Out for Non-Food Items
A kitchen during Thanksgiving is always chaotic. In all the confusion, non-food items can slip down the drain or into the garbage disposal. Watch for turkey trussing twine, small metal utensils, bottle caps, and even produce stickers. These items can quickly clog drains, and you’ll hear it loud and clear when they damage the garbage disposal.
Don’t Feed Your Garbage Disposal Bones or Gristle
A good rule of thumb is that nothing from the Turkey should go down the drain. Turkey bones are too hard for garbage disposals and can dull the blades, damage the unit, and even crack pipes. Small bits of leftover meat, gristle, and rubbery turkey skin clog drains and will make “fatbergs” even worse.
Fiber Isn’t Good for Your Plumbing
When cleaning up the kitchen after the feast, you never hear, “Wow! We ate all the veggies.” While it’s tempting to pulverize leftover vegetables in the garbage disposal, stringy foods like celery, green beans, asparagus, etc. can wrap around the blades and damage the motor. Also, if you like to use a lemon wedge to temporarily mask odors from the disposal, the downside is that thick citrus rinds can also cause plumbing issues and corrode metal components over time.
Starchy Foods Gum Up the Pipes
Your stomach and your pipes probably feel the same after too many servings of mashed potatoes. That’s because starches such as rice, pasta, and yes, mashed potatoes, absorb water and turn into a thick, sticky substance in your pipes. Potato peels can also sneak past garbage disposal blades forming sticky clogs or wedging tightly in the drain.
Call Jack Hall for Holiday Plumbing Emergencies in Lake George, Queensbury, Saratoga, Glens Falls, and Ballston Spa
At Jack Hall Plumbing & Heating, our team is ready to respond to your plumbing emergencies year-round, even during the holidays. Jack Hall’s licensed plumbers have the experience to quickly clear pipes, repair and replace garbage disposals, and get your home back to normal fast. If your plumbing lets you down during the holidays, contact us to learn more about our comprehensive plumbing services and how our team can handle all your plumbing needs.