The holidays are the busiest time of year for Arizona homeowners, and one of the busiest seasons for plumbers too. With big family dinners, parties, and extra cooking, your kitchen gets a workout… and so does your garbage disposal.
But here’s the truth most homeowners don’t realize:
Your garbage disposal is NOT a trash can.
During the holiday season, it’s more important than ever to protect it from clogs, jams, and damage that can shut down your kitchen when you need it most.
Here’s what you need to know.
All the foods we enjoy this time of year, turkeys, roasts, casseroles, pies, create scraps that your disposal simply isn’t built to handle. When the wrong items go down the drain, they can quickly clog your pipes, dull your disposal blades, or burn out the motor.
Common holiday culprits include:
Turkey or ham fat and grease
Fibrous foods like celery, onion skins, and greens
Thick potato peels
Large quantities of rice, pasta, or stuffing
Bones, even small ones
Coffee grounds and eggshells
Sticky dessert leftovers like pie filling or icing
These items don’t just harm the disposal, they also stick to the inside of your drain line, leading to holiday weekend backups.
Your disposal can handle small amounts of soft, non-fibrous food scraps, such as:
Cooked vegetables (not stringy ones)
Small bits of cooked meat
Fruit scraps (except peels like banana or citrus rinds)
Soft leftovers
Ice cubes (great for refreshing the blades)
And always remember:
Run cold water before, during, and after using the disposal to push debris through the line and keep grease solid so it can be chopped and flushed away.
If the holidays have pushed your disposal too far, you may notice:
Loud grinding or humming
Water backing up into the sink
Slow draining
Bad odors that won’t go away
A disposal that won’t turn on or keeps tripping the reset button
These are all signs you need a professional inspection before a small issue turns into a full drain blockage.
Many homeowners reach for chemical drain cleaners during the holidays, but they often do more harm than good. They can:
Corrode your pipes
Damage your disposal
Push clogs further down the line
Create fumes unsafe for pets and children
Professional cleaning is always the safer option, especially if you suspect grease or food buildup.
At Rapid Rooter, we help homeowners across Phoenix, Peoria, Glendale, Surprise, and Scottsdale get holiday-ready with fast, reliable service.
We offer:
Garbage disposal repair & replacement
Drain cleaning & hydrojetting
Full kitchen line inspections
Same-day emergency service
Honest, upfront pricing (no holiday weekend surprises)
Whether your disposal is jammed, your sink is backing up, or you want to avoid holiday plumbing disasters altogether, we’ve got you covered.
Holiday season or not, preventative care is the best way to avoid kitchen disasters. Our Rapid Rooter Membership Program, offering:
Priority Scheduling – Skip the wait during busy summer months.
Annual Multi-Point Plumbing Inspection – Spot leaks before they drive up your bill.
Bi-Annual Drain Cleaning & Inspection – Maintain smooth flow during high-use seasons.
Semi-Annual Water Heater Flush – Keep your system running efficiently.
Exclusive Discounts – 10% off all repairs, and up to $300 off major installs.
24/7 Emergency Service – No extra charge for nights, weekends, or holidays.
Satisfaction-Backed Service Guarantee – Confidence in every job.
Transferable Coverage – Moving within our service area? Your membership moves with you.
No Hidden Fees – Clear pricing, every time.
During the holidays, your garbage disposal works overtime, but it’s still not meant to handle fats, bones, peels, or large amounts of food waste. Treat it with care, pay attention to early warning signs, and don’t hesitate to call Rapid Rooter if something starts acting up.
A little prevention now can save you from a kitchen catastrophe when you’re hosting family and friends.
📞 Call/Text: (602) 755-2470
🌐 Visit: RapidRooterAZ.com
📍 Serving Phoenix, Peoria, Glendale, Surprise, Scottsdale & the West Valley