The garbage disposal is one of the most convenient appliances in the modern kitchen. It makes cleanup a breeze—until it stops working. There is a common misconception that if you can shove it down the drain and the blades spin, it’s gone forever.
But as plumbers in the Magic Valley, we know the truth: those food scraps don’t disappear. They travel into your P-trap and your sewer line. If you put the wrong things down there, you are building a clog that will eventually back up into your sink.
At Sunrise Plumbing, we unclog countless kitchen sinks every year. To save you the service call, here are the top 4 enemies of your disposal.
1. Potato Peels (The Idaho Enemy #1)
Living in Idaho, we eat a lot of potatoes. But putting the peels down the disposal is a recipe for disaster. Potatoes are full of starch. When the blades chop them up and mix them with water, they turn into a thick, glue-like paste.
This paste coats the inside of your pipes and hardens, eventually closing off the drain completely. Always throw your potato peels in the trash or compost bin.
2. Grease, Oil, and Fat
You’ve probably heard this before, but it bears repeating. When you pour hot bacon grease or cooking oil down the drain, it flows like a liquid. But as soon as it hits your cold pipes (especially during a Burley winter), it solidifies instantly.
Think of it like wax hardening. Over time, layers of grease build up until the pipe is choked off. Wipe greasy pans with a paper towel before rinsing them.
3. Eggshells and Coffee Grounds
These seem harmless because they are small, but they cause a different kind of problem. They don’t break down. Instead, they settle in the low spots of your plumbing (like the U-bend under the sink) and act like sediment.
Over time, this sediment creates a sandy layer that catches other debris, slowly slowing down your drain until it stops completely.
4. Pasta and Rice
What happens to rice when you cook it in water? It expands. It does the exact same thing in your pipes. Even after they are ground up, starchy foods like pasta and rice continue to absorb water and swell, creating a dense blockage that is hard to push through.
Sink Backed Up? Don’t Use Chemicals!
If your sink is already clogged, please avoid using chemical drain cleaners like Drano. These harsh chemicals can sit on top of the clog and eat away at your pipes, causing permanent damage. They are also dangerous for us when we come to fix the problem.
Need a clog cleared fast? Skip the chemicals and call the pros. Contact Sunrise Plumbing at +1 208-312-0041. We have the professional tools to clear the line safely and get your kitchen back in action.