Holiday Hosting Stress: What Your Garbage Disposal Can (and Can’t) Handle
The holidays bring family, friends, food… and sometimes a whole lot of plumbing stress. As the kitchen fills with activity and the sink starts piling up, one hardworking appliance gets pushed to its limits more than any other: your garbage disposal.
At Precision Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, we see more disposal-related calls between Thanksgiving and New Year’s than almost any other time of year. Here’s why — and how you can keep things running smoothly.
Why the Holidays Are Hard on Garbage Disposals
Between big meals, increased cleanup, and guests who may not know the “house rules,” your disposal gets hit with more scraps in a few days than it may see in an average month.
Common holiday stressors include:
1. Bigger Meals = More Scraps
Turkey trimmings, potato peels, vegetable ends — it adds up fast. Many people start sending everything down the drain without thinking twice.
2. More People in the Kitchen
Even well-intentioned helpers can accidentally clog your system with items your disposal wasn’t built for.
3. Cold Weather Doesn’t Help
Grease and fats cool faster in winter, solidifying inside your pipes and leading to stubborn blockages.
What Not to Put Down the Disposal (Holiday Edition)
Here are the most common offenders we see this time of year — avoid these and you’ll avoid most holiday plumbing emergencies:
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Grease, fats & oils – They harden inside pipes and cause major blockages.
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Potato peels – Create a thick, starchy paste that clogs drains.
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Bones – Even small ones can damage the blades.
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Fibrous foods: celery, onion skins, corn husks – They wrap around the motor.
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Eggshells – The membrane can gum up moving parts.
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Pasta & rice – They expand with water and become glue-like.
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Coffee grounds – They settle like sand and build up over time.
When in doubt… don’t put it down the disposal.
How to Keep Your Disposal Happy During Holiday Cooking
A few simple habits can save you a lot of stress — and possibly a holiday service call:
✔ Run cold water before, during, and after use
Cold water keeps grease solid so it can move through the line instead of sticking.
✔ Feed scraps slowly
Don’t dump a whole cutting board at once.
✔ Cut large scraps into smaller pieces
If you wouldn’t put it in a blender, don’t put it in your disposal.
✔ Use citrus peels for freshening
Lemon or orange peels help eliminate odors naturally.
✔ Know when to use the trash instead
Your disposal is a helper, not a garbage can.
Signs Your Disposal Is Struggling
If you notice any of the following, it’s best to call a pro before the problem (or the guest list) grows:
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Slow draining
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Humming but not turning
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Water backing up into the sink
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Bad odors that won’t go away
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Frequent resets required
When to Call Precision Plumbing, Heating & Cooling
Whether you need a quick fix, a clog cleared, or you’re ready to upgrade to a quieter, stronger disposal, our team is here to help keep your holidays stress-free.
Serving Fargo-Moorhead and surrounding areas, we’re available for same-day service – even during the busy season.
**Always remember UNPLUG before you UNCLOG, fingers aren’t meant to go into the disposal as well. Check back next week for tips and suggestions on how to clean your disposal.
