Holiday Cooking Season Brings More Garbage Disposal Problems

The holiday season means big meals, busy kitchens, and extra food waste. Unfortunately, it also means an increase in plumbing issues—especially clogged or damaged garbage disposals. With more people in the home and more food being prepared, it’s easy for the disposal to become overloaded or misused. Understanding what your disposal can and cannot handle will keep your kitchen running smoothly throughout the holidays.

What You Can Safely Put in Your Garbage Disposal

Garbage disposals are designed for soft, biodegradable food scraps. Items like cooked vegetables, soft fruits, small amounts of pasta, and leftover pieces of bread typically grind well. Always run cold water while using the disposal to help solidify grease and improve flow through the pipes.

Foods You Should Never Put in Your Disposal

Some of the most common holiday foods can severely damage disposals or clog pipes:

1. Fibrous or Stringy Foods

Celery, pumpkin fibers, onion skins, and corn husks can wrap around disposal blades and jam the system.

2. Starchy Foods

Potato peels, rice, and pasta expand into a paste-like substance that builds up inside the drain.

3. Grease and Fats

Though they appear liquid when hot, they quickly harden in pipes and cause blockages.

4. Hard Materials

Turkey bones, ham bones, nut shells, and fruit pits can dull or break the disposal’s grinding components.

5. Coffee Grounds

These accumulate into sludge inside pipes and restrict water flow.

How to Avoid Holiday Disposal Breakdowns

Run cold water before, during, and after using the disposal. Feed food scraps gradually. Never overload the system. If the disposal slows, makes unusual noises, or stops altogether, shut it off immediately and avoid forcing it.

When to Call a Professional

If a jam or clog won’t clear, or if you notice repeated issues with slow drainage, calling a professional ensures the problem is resolved safely and correctly. Putman & Son’s Plumbing provides fast holiday service to keep kitchens running smoothly.

Keep Your kitchen—and holidays—running without disruption

Preventive habits and a clear understanding of what your disposal can handle will help you avoid inconvenient repairs during the busiest time of year.

The post Holidays Are Coming Up: What You Can and Can’t Put in Your Garbage Disposal appeared first on Putman & Son's Plumbing.