Throw turkey skin, bones and fibrous vegetables in the trash.

Halloween may be over, but the biggest nightmare for plumbers is just starting….Thanksgiving. This is the time when plumbers receive the most emergency calls for clogged drains and toilets primarily induced by paper happy guests and stuffing too much food down the garbage disposal. Milwaukee Professional Plumbing Contractors have a rescue plan to bail out homeowners before they make the decision to throw the wrong foods down the disposal. A simple guide to what and how much food is garbage disposal friendly.

First, more than a handful of food down the drain is too much for most disposals to handle. Always run water when using the disposal and keep the water running a few seconds after you turn the disposal off to clear the pipes.

Grease is better off poured into a tin can rather than down the drain. It will congeal and solidify inside drainpipes. Throw any grease away after it solidifies in the tin can.

Throw turkey skin, bones and fibrous vegetables in the trash. If you’re expecting a lot of guests, make sure you have a large enough wastebasket in the bathroom, particularly if your guests have babies that use disposable diapers. Keep paper towels and heavy napkins out of the bathroom and stock the lavatory with clean towels and lightweight napkins to keep your toilet from becoming a dispose-all.

Following these simple guidelines will keep the holidays merry and thankfully even plumbers will be able to spend more time with their own families this season.

Garbage disposals get used and abused during the holidays. Don’t ruin your holiday event with a jammed disposal. Scott Allan, from Gene Wagner Plumbing in West Allis, takes you through the steps to unjam the garbage disposal.