TIL my garbage disposal died when I put potato peels down it

So last Tuesday I was making mashed potatoes for dinner and I just dumped the peels down the sink like I always do, ran the disposal for maybe 10 seconds, and then heard this horrible grinding noise followed by silence. The thing just stopped. I tried the reset button on the bottom but nothing happened. Ended up having to call a plumber out from Lakewood who told me potato peels are basically the worst thing you can put down a disposal, they turn into this starchy paste that gums up the blades and motor. Cost me $180 for the service call and he said I need a whole new unit. Anyone else had a disposal die on them from something dumb like this? What model did you replace it with?

2 comments

2 Comments

charles9199d ago

My mother-in-law wrecked hers with rice, which I guess swells up and jams everything solid.

gavin_reed9d ago

Man you probably could've avoided the whole thing by just composting those peels instead. They break down way easier in a pile than they do grinding through metal blades.