Garbage Disposals

What Every Boise Homeowner Should Know About Garbage Disposals

With Thanksgiving approaching, kitchens across Boise and Meridian are about to get a serious workout. Between mashed potatoes, turkey trimmings, and endless stacks of dishes, your garbage disposal will face more food waste in one weekend than it usually does in a month. As plumbers, we see a spike in disposal emergencies right after the holidays — but most of them are completely preventable.

At Plumbing Solutions of Idaho, we help Treasure Valley homeowners keep their plumbing running smoothly year-round. If you want to avoid an inconvenient clog or costly repair this holiday season, follow these simple do’s and don’ts to keep your disposal healthy and humming.

What Garbages Disposal Can Handle

A garbage disposal is designed to grind small food scraps — not act as a trash compactor. When used properly, it keeps your kitchen cleaner and your drains clearer. Safe items include:

• Soft foods in small amounts – things like cooked vegetables, bits of fruit, and leftover rice (in moderation).
• Cold water while running – always use cold water to keep grease solid and easier to grind.
• Citrus peels – a few lemon or orange rinds can help freshen odor, though they shouldn’t replace actual cleaning.
• Small bones from poultry or fish – only tiny, soft ones. These help scour the chamber but should never be added in bulk.

The key word is small. Feed items gradually while water runs continuously. Overloading the disposal with a pile of food is a sure way to jam it.

What to Keep Out of Garbage Disposals

Some kitchen staples cause the majority of holiday plumbing calls. A few might surprise you:

• Fibrous vegetables – celery, asparagus, corn husks, and onion skins wrap around the blades and tangle the motor.
• Grease, fats, and oil – when hot, they seem harmless. Once cooled, they solidify in pipes and create sticky blockages.
• Coffee grounds – they form dense clumps that behave like mud in your drain line.
• Eggshells – contrary to old kitchen myths, they don’t sharpen blades. The thin membrane inside shells can cling to parts and cause buildup.
• Potato peels and pasta – both turn into a starchy paste that gums up the disposal and slows drainage.
• Bones, pits, and seeds – hard items dull or damage the blades and jam the impeller.

We call these materials “plumber’s gold” because they generate so many service calls — but we’d much rather save you the trouble.

The Thanksgiving Connection to Garbage Disposals

Thanksgiving dinner creates the perfect storm: heavy meal prep, multiple cooks in the kitchen, and extra guests who may not know your disposal’s limits. Combine turkey grease, stringy green beans, and potato skins, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster.

Before guests arrive, run a quick disposal test. Flip the switch and listen — if it sounds sluggish or drains slowly, it’s time for maintenance. You can grind a few ice cubes with lemon slices to clean residue and sharpen the blades. After the big meal, scrape plates into the trash first, not the sink. Remind well-meaning helpers to keep turkey skin, stuffing, and vegetable trimmings out of the disposal entirely.

The Right Way to Use Garbage Disposals

To make your disposal last longer and perform better, keep these habits year-round:

• Run plenty of cold water. Let it flow before, during, and after grinding to flush debris through the system.
• Feed food gradually. Avoid large handfuls or big chunks.
• Clean monthly. Use baking soda, vinegar, and cold water — not harsh drain cleaners, which can corrode metal components.
• Let it run. Keep the motor going for several seconds after food clears to wash away remaining particles.
• When maintained correctly, a quality garbage disposal can last ten years or more.

Common Disposal Mistakes Boise Homeowners Make

Even well-intentioned homeowners can shorten the life of their disposal. Here are a few frequent issues we see:

• Running hot water with grease. Hot water liquefies grease temporarily but pushes it farther down the line before it solidifies — often outside the reach of your disposal.
• Skipping regular use. Disposals work best when used frequently. Letting them sit idle can cause rust and seizing.
• Forgetting to reset. If your unit suddenly stops working, check the reset button on the bottom before assuming it’s broken.
• Ignoring slow drains. A sluggish sink is an early warning sign. Call a Boise plumber before it becomes a full blockage.

What to Do if It Stops Working

If your disposal jams, turn it off immediately. Never stick your hand inside the chamber. Try these steps instead:

• Cut the power at the switch or circuit breaker.
• Use an Allen wrench in the bottom socket to manually rotate the motor back and forth to dislodge debris.
• Press the red reset button.
• Restore power and test.

If the motor hums but doesn’t spin, or the reset keeps tripping, call a professional. Continued operation can burn out the motor or damage your plumbing.

Why Call a Boise Plumber Instead of DIY?

A garbage disposal sits at the intersection of plumbing and electricity. Even experienced homeowners risk leaks or shock if they attempt repairs without the right tools. Our licensed plumbers handle hundreds of disposal installations and repairs across the Treasure Valley each year. We can diagnose whether your issue is electrical, mechanical, or drain-related — and we’ll get you back to working order quickly, often the same day.

A professional inspection can also reveal deeper problems, such as deteriorating pipes or hidden grease buildup, before they lead to larger clogs or backups.

Get Holiday-Ready with Plumbing Solutions of Idaho

Thanksgiving should be about food and family, not flooded kitchens and panicked phone calls. Before the season’s first big feast, let our team inspect your disposal, drains, and sink traps. We’ll make sure everything runs smoothly so you can focus on the turkey, not the plumbing.

And if something does go wrong, our emergency service team is ready to respond throughout Boise, Meridian, and the surrounding Treasure Valley communities.

About Plumbing Solutions of Idaho in Meridian, Idaho

Plumbing Solutions of Idaho is a trusted, full-service plumbing company proudly serving Meridian, Boise, and communities across the Treasure Valley. Whether you need a skilled Boise plumber to fix toilets, clear drains, repair water heaters, or handle full repipes, our team is equipped to deliver prompt, professional service. As your go-to source for expert plumbing in Idaho, we offer dependable solutions for both residential and commercial properties. With a commitment to quality work and local integrity, Plumbing Solutions of Idaho is the name to call when you need reliable plumbing in Boise and throughout Southern Idaho.