Here in the Golden Triangle, we eat good. Whether it’s a Sunday pot of gumbo, a crawfish boil in the backyard, or just a quick weeknight dirty rice, our kitchens see a lot of action. But while your family loves that rich Cajun cooking, your plumbing absolutely hates it.
At AMC Plumbing, we see a massive spike in clogged kitchen sinks after holidays and big family gatherings. The culprit? usually the garbage disposal. Many homeowners treat the disposal like a trash can, but it is really only designed for small, soft scraps.
To keep your drains flowing and your kitchen clean, here are the top “Cajun Enemies” of your kitchen plumbing.
1. The Roux (and Grease in General)
You cannot make a good gumbo without a dark roux. But that mixture of flour and fat is practically cement for your pipes.
The Science: When you pour hot grease or roux down the drain, it flows like a liquid. But as soon as it hits the cold pipes underground, it solidifies instantly. Over time, it coats the inside of the pipe, narrowing the opening until nothing can pass through. We call this “hardening of the arteries” for your house.
The Rule: Never pour oil, bacon grease, or leftover gumbo down the sink. Pour it into a can, let it freeze, and throw it in the trash.
2. Rice and Pasta
What happens to rice when you leave it in a pot of water? It swells up. It does the exact same thing in your pipes.
If you push a cup of leftover rice or jambalaya down the disposal, it turns into a thick, starchy paste that traps other debris. Even the sharpest disposal blades can’t stop rice from becoming a clog further down the line.
3. “The Trinity” Scraps (Celery and Onion Skins)
Every good recipe starts with the holy trinity: onions, bell peppers, and celery. But be careful with the prep waste.
- Celery: The long, stringy fibers can wrap around the disposal blades, jamming the motor.
- Onion Skins: That thin, paper-like layer can slip past the blades and act like a fishing net in the P-trap, catching everything else that tries to pass.
4. Crawfish Shells (The Ultimate No-No)
This should go without saying, but every season we have to fix at least one. Never put crawfish shells (or shrimp peels) down the disposal. They are too hard to grind completely, and the small shards will create a dense blockage that often requires professional hydro-jetting to clear.
How to Use Your Disposal Correctly
The garbage disposal is for the tiny bits left on the plate after you have scraped the rest into the trash can.
Pro Tip: When running your disposal, always run COLD water, not hot. Hot water melts grease, allowing it to travel deep into your pipes before solidifying. Cold water keeps the grease solid so the disposal can chop it up into tiny granules that wash away more easily.
Sink stopped up after dinner? Don’t reach for the chemical drain cleaner—it can eat through your pipes! Call AMC Plumbing at +1 409-866-3030. We will get your kitchen back in business in no time.