When summer hits the South Carolina coast, that can only mean one thing—BBQ season is in full swing! Whether you’re hosting a backyard cookout in Murrells Inlet or grilling by the beach in Myrtle Beach, the warm weather brings friends, fun, and plenty of food.
But while you’re flipping burgers and serving up pulled pork, your garbage disposal might be dealing with more than it can handle.
At At Your Service Plumbing and Drain Cleaning, we see a surge of emergency calls every summer due to clogged or broken garbage disposals—often from BBQ leftovers that should never have gone down the drain in the first place.
So, before your next cookout turns into a costly plumbing problem, let’s talk about what your disposal can (and definitely can’t) handle.
Why Summer BBQs Are Hard on Garbage Disposals
BBQ food is delicious—but it’s also greasy, tough, and fibrous. Many summer favorites are exactly what your garbage disposal hates most.
Here’s why your plumbing system needs extra care during BBQ season:
🍖 Greasy and fatty foods can harden and clog your pipes
🌽 Fibrous veggies like corn husks can tangle and jam the blades
🦴 Bones and fruit pits can damage the grinding mechanism
🍉 Large food scraps overload the disposal
🧻 Guests who don’t know the rules may throw anything down the drain
Hosting more people means more strain on your entire plumbing system—and one wrong move can turn a party into a plumbing disaster.
The DO’s of Using a Garbage Disposal During BBQ Season
Let’s start with the best practices. These tips will help keep your disposal running smoothly even when your kitchen is working overtime.
✅ DO Run Cold Water When Using the Disposal
Always use cold water before, during, and after running the disposal. Cold water helps solidify grease and fat so it can be chopped up and pushed through the drain. Hot water, on the other hand, melts grease—which then re-solidifies deeper in your pipes.
✅ DO Cut Food Scraps into Smaller Pieces
If you need to put food in the disposal, break it into small chunks to avoid overloading the system. Feed them in slowly rather than dumping everything at once.
✅ DO Keep It Clean (with Ice and Citrus)
You can keep your disposal blades sharp and clean by occasionally grinding a few ice cubes. For freshness, toss in some lemon or lime peels—not whole citrus fruits, just the peels—for a natural deodorizer.
✅ DO Use It for Soft, Non-Fibrous Scraps
Here are a few examples of things your disposal can handle in small amounts:
Soft fruit peels (no pits!)
Cooked vegetables
Small amounts of leftover rice or pasta (well-rinsed)
Leftover sauce rinsed off a plate
Just remember: When in doubt, throw it out.
The DON’Ts of Garbage Disposals During BBQ Season
Here’s where most people get into trouble—especially with cookout cleanup. These disposal don’ts will help you avoid clogs, jams, and mid-party meltdowns.
❌ DON’T Put Bones Down the Disposal
Chicken wings, rib bones, steak bones—none of them belong in your garbage disposal. Bones are too hard and will either jam or break the blades.
Dispose of bones in the trash or compost them properly if you’re set up to do so.
❌ DON’T Pour Grease, Oil, or Fat Down the Drain
This is one of the most common mistakes we see, and one of the most damaging. Grease solidifies in your pipes and causes major clogs over time.
Instead, pour cooled grease into a container (like a used can or jar) and throw it away once solid.
❌ DON’T Put Corn Husks or Celery in the Disposal
Fibrous veggies like corn husks, celery, asparagus, and artichokes can wrap around the blades and stall the motor. These should go straight into the trash or compost bin.
❌ DON’T Overload It
Putting too much food in at once is a surefire way to overwhelm your disposal. This leads to clogs, jams, and even burnout. Feed items slowly, and let the disposal fully clear before adding more.
❌ DON’T Use Harsh Chemical Drain Cleaners
If your disposal is slowing down or smells bad, do NOT pour chemical cleaners down the drain. They can corrode your plumbing and damage the disposal.
Use a mixture of baking soda and vinegar, or call At Your Service Plumbing for a professional drain cleaning.
Common BBQ Offenders to Keep Out of the Disposal
Let’s be specific. Here’s a quick list of BBQ-season foods that should never go into your garbage disposal:
🦴 Bones (chicken, beef, pork ribs)
🌽 Corn husks and cobs
🥩 Fat trimmings or grease
🥔 Potato peels (they can form a paste and clog pipes)
🧅 Onion skins (especially the thin, papery outer layers)
🍉 Watermelon rinds and large fruit pits
🍞 Large amounts of pasta, rice, or bread
🧄 Garlic skins
🥬 Salad greens or fibrous stems
Keep this list in mind as you’re cleaning up from your next BBQ or cookout!
What to Do If Your Garbage Disposal Gets Jammed
If you accidentally put something down the disposal and it stops working:
Turn it off immediately – Never stick your hand in the disposal while it’s on.
Press the reset button – Most disposals have a small red button underneath.
Use a disposal wrench or Allen key – You can manually turn the motor from the bottom.
Call a professional plumber – If it still won’t work, don’t force it.
At At Your Service Plumbing and Drain Cleaning, we offer fast, reliable service to get your kitchen back up and running—especially when you’ve got company.
Pro Tips for Hosting BBQs Without Wrecking Your Plumbing
You can still enjoy summer cookouts while protecting your plumbing system. Here are a few bonus tips:
🧍♂️ Assign a cleanup helper who knows what goes in the trash vs. disposal
🗑 Place a trash bin and compost bin near the sink to encourage proper disposal
🪠 Keep a plunger and basic tools nearby just in case
📞 Save our number in your phone for emergency plumbing calls
Need Help With Your Garbage Disposal? We’re At Your Service.
Whether your garbage disposal is jammed, making strange noises, or not draining at all, At Your Service Plumbing and Drain Cleaning is just a call away. We proudly serve Murrells Inlet, Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, Garden City, and surrounding coastal areas.
Our licensed plumbers are experienced in diagnosing and repairing all types of kitchen plumbing problems—and we’re happy to give advice before your next big event.
📞 Call us at 843.380.8556
🌐 Schedule online at atyourserviceplumbingmb.com
💧 Emergency service available when you need it most
