Garbage disposals are designed to handle small food scraps—not entire meals, grease, or non-food items. When homeowners use disposals incorrectly, they can cause clogged drains, unpleasant odors, and even costly plumbing repairs.

Below are practical dos and don’ts to help you avoid drain clogs while keeping your disposal cleaner and more efficient.

Do: Feed it the right things

Run cold water before turning on the disposal, then feed small amounts of food at a time. Suitable items include soft food scraps like fruit and vegetable peels, small bits of cooked food, and leftover plant-based waste. Cutting larger scraps into smaller pieces can also help reduce strain and improve grinding.

Don’t: Put grease and oils down the drain

One of the most common causes of clogs is grease. Pouring cooking oil, fat, or even “small” ... Read more »

Tree roots don’t usually “attack” pipes on purpose—they respond to conditions. When underground plumbing offers moisture, nutrients, or a pathway through damage, roots can grow toward it, eventually entering via cracks, joints, or aging infrastructure.

Root intrusion is a common cause of clogged drains and sewer backups, particularly in older neighborhoods where pipe materials, installation methods, and repair histories vary. Once roots enter, they can snag on surfaces, continue expanding, and further narrow the flow.

Why roots target pipes

Trees grow toward water, and leaking lines provide a steady supply. Even if the main pipe isn’t actively leaking, damp soil around joints can attract roots. In many cases, a combination of small leaks, condensation, or wet backfill creates a “watering” hotspot underground.

Roots also seek oxyge ... Read more »

A garbage disposal is designed to grind food scraps into smaller pieces, but it doesn’t eliminate drainage problems—it shifts them. In most homes, whatever passes through the disposal still travels through the same pipes, traps, and (crucially) the venting system. That’s why disposal issues and drain issues so often show up at the same time.

How the disposal and the drain work together

When you run the disposal, wastewater flows from the sink into the disposal unit and then into the drain line. The sink’s drain trap helps prevent sewer gases from entering your home, while the vent stack allows air to move through the plumbing. If air can’t circulate properly, water may struggle to drain even if the disposal is grinding normally.

Because the disposal’s outlet connects to the main drain (or a nearby drain section), clogs, grease, and partial blockages can affect both disposal p ... Read more »

When a drain clogs once and then clogs again in the same spot, it’s rarely a random coincidence. Most repeat issues come from something continually feeding the drain—buildup, a design that traps debris, or a plumbing problem that makes clogs form faster than they clear.

1) Material buildup that keeps re-forming

Many recurring clogs are caused by deposits that accumulate over time. In bathroom drains, hair and soap scum often combine into a sticky mass that gradually narrows the pipe. In kitchen sinks, cooking grease and food particles can adhere to pipe walls, then harden—especially if hot water alone isn’t enough to dissolve the residue.

2) Partial blockages that never fully clear

After a clog is “mostly” cleared—like when water drains slowly but not normally—residual debris can remain lodged along the pipe’s inner curve or at a c ... Read more »