Call Now (540) 685-4040

Back to Blog

Holiday Foods to Keep Away From Your Drains

Food is often one of the most important factors of the holiday season. After all the cooking and preparing, it’s quite easy to throw the plates in the sink without paying mind to your drains. However, garbage disposal or not, there are a few different kinds of foods that should never go down the drain, and when they do, a significant clog may occur. Here are the most important foods to avoid:

Eggshells

We cook and bake with eggs very often, so you’re likely to have a few shells lying around. However, do not just toss these into the garbage disposal. The membrane inside can corrode the blades while the loose pieces of the shell can clog your pipes.

Stringy Vegetables

Vegetables such as asparagus, celery, and carrots are known to cause a number of problems. Their fibrous texture gets caught disposal blades and parts of your pipes. They will be hard to get rid of, so stick to the regular garbage can for them.

Grease

While it’s not specifically a “food,” it’s still in many dishes during the holidays. Gravy, bacon, and beef will all leave some leftover grease. While washing dishes, make sure no grease or fat is going down the drain. It turns to fat and hardens on the walls of your pipes. Try emptying leftover grease in jars or plastic bags. You can throw them directly into the trash after that.

Turkey Bones

Of course, you would never throw an entire rib bone down the drain, but there have been cases where people have smaller, leftover bones that they figure the disposal can handle. Hate to break it to you, but it can’t. Doing so will break the blades or clog up the drain. Throw out your turkey bones, to avoid hurting your pipes.

Fruit Pits

If you plan on baking a lot of desserts using fruits like apples or peaches, make sure the pit is left for the trash. Some cores are stronger than others, but an apple pit can still do a good amount of damage to the blades on your garbage disposal, and some cores may even get lodged in your pipes.

If you encounter any of these issues, you may need a professional to come to fix your drainage. Ostrom Electrical Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning professional electricians are here to help! All our services come with upfront pricing and a 100% satisfaction guarantee! Contact us (540) 685-4040, today!

Special Offers
Tax Credits
Save up to $3200 when making a qualifying energy-efficient purchase. Our System Replacement Expert will help you determine what qualifies for a tax credit.
Learn More
Financing
We Offer Flexible Financing with Synchrony Service Financial Company, LLC!
Learn More
Our Members Save More
15% discount (up to $300) on Service Work Performed, Reduced HVAC Diagnostic Fee, Annual Electrical & Plumbing System Inspection, & Biannual Heating & Cooling System Inspection
Learn More
Water Heaters
Install a High-Efficiency Water Heater and You May Be Eligible for Up To $2400 in Tax Credits & Rebates
Learn More
Free Second Opinion
On New HVAC, Electrical, and Water Heater Systems
  • Dollar Badge Financing
    Options Available
  • Contact Us

    Contact Us Today

    Trusted by
    2022 Best of Roanoke award
    BBB A+ accredited business
    Lead-safe certified firm by EPA
    nexstar network logo