A to Z Statewide Plumbing, Inc.

November marks the beginning of the holiday season in South Florida. While we may not have snow, we certainly have feast preparation! For homeowners and restaurant staff across Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Hollywood, this means one thing for your kitchen—the garbage disposal is about to see more action than it has all year.

Unfortunately, this is also the peak season for disposal clogs, jams, and plumbing emergencies. A clogged disposal can quickly halt a busy kitchen. As the trusted experts at A to Z Statewide Plumbing Inc., we want to help you prevent a plumbing disaster before the holiday guests arrive.

Here is why your disposal is working overtime in November, and the simple rules you need to follow to protect it.

The 4 Thanksgiving Disposal Killers

The typical daily use of a disposal involves light scraps. Holiday cooking introduces dense, starchy, and fibrous material that the unit simply isn’t designed to handle.

1. Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG)
This is the number one enemy of your plumbing system, not just the disposal. Gravy, turkey drippings, and bacon grease may go down as liquids, but as they cool, they solidify into sticky clogs inside your drain pipes. The disposal only liquefies them; it doesn’t remove the sticky residue.

The Rule: NEVER pour FOG down any drain. Scrape it into a container and throw it in the trash.

2. Potato and Vegetable Peels
Potatoes, carrots, squash, and other root vegetables generate a surprising amount of fibrous peelings. When ground up, these fibers and starches mix with water and create a thick, dense paste that acts like cement, easily clogging the trap and pipes beneath your sink.

3. Starches and Expandables (Rice and Pasta)
Your disposal blades can grind cooked rice and pasta, but these foods are designed to expand when wet. A small handful of discarded stuffing or pasta salad can swell inside your pipes, quickly creating a solid, impenetrable blockage.

4. Hard or Non-Food Items
Turkey bones, small fruit pits, coffee grounds (yes, coffee grounds!), and bottle caps should never enter your disposal. The grinding chamber is not designed to process hard, non-biodegradable items. This can lead to jammed impellers or damage to the motor itself.

Five Ways to Protect Your Disposal and Plumbing

Prevention is simple and involves creating a few new habits during high-volume cooking times.

1. Scrape Plates Before Rinsing
Before you turn on the faucet, make sure all large food scraps—especially sauces, grease, and vegetable matter—go directly into the compost bin or the trash. Use the disposal only for minimal, residual food waste that has stuck to the plate.

2. Use Plenty of Cold Water
Always run a strong stream of cold water before, during, and for at least 30 seconds after using the disposal. Cold water helps solidify any residual grease, making it easier for the disposal to push it all the way down the pipe and into the main sewer line.

3. Feed Food Slowly and in Small Batches
Don’t try to clear a mountain of mashed potatoes in one go. Feed food waste into the running disposal slowly. If the motor begins to strain, pause, let the motor catch up, and then continue with less material.

4. Ice and Citrus for Maintenance
To keep the blades sharp and the disposal smelling fresh, drop a handful of ice cubes and a few slices of lemon or orange peel into the running unit once a week. The ice chips away accumulated residue, and the citrus oils leave a clean scent.

5. Know the Sound of Trouble
If your disposal is humming but not grinding, or if the grinding sound is weak and metallic, it may be jammed or near failure. Shut it off immediately and do not attempt to reach inside the unit.

If your garbage disposal is jammed, clogged, or you are experiencing slow drainage anywhere in your kitchen, don’t wait for the holiday rush! A to Z Statewide Plumbing Inc. is ready to provide fast, reliable commercial and residential plumbing repair across South Florida. Contact us today for maintenance or emergency service.