Garbage disposals have really changed the way we cook and clean. They make things a lot more convenient—until they clog up. And if you’ve got a lot of guests coming over for Thanksgiving or throughout the holiday season, there are a lot more opportunities for your garbage disposal to jam up, or for food that didn’t belong in the disposal to clog up your drains.

Make sure that your family members are aware of what items do or do not belong in the garbage disposal. Keep your pipes clear for the holidays by doing your best to keep these items out of the garbage disposal.

We hope that most of your guests already know this, but it’s certainly worth a reminder for all of the kids enjoying Turkey Day with you. Make sure they know that plastic wrappers, twist ties, and other small pieces of trash always go into the garbage!

That includes big things like meat bones, but also popcorn kernels, seeds, fruit pits, corn cobs, and more. It’s easy to dump the entire plate into the sink without really thinking about what’s on it, but make sure hard food items do not jam up the garbage disposal motor.

Fibrous, or stringy, foods can wrap around garbage disposal’s impellers and cause the motor to jam. This includes foods and food items like corn husks, celery, and onion skins. We recommend throwing these items into the trash instead.

Fats, oils, and grease are infamously known as FOG in the plumbing world. These substances seem to be harmless, unless you know about their properties. FOG can clog up the drains easily because it solidifies as it cools. Although you may pour it into the drains as a liquid, it clumps into a gooey mess in the drains. It could cause problems for the disposal as well.

Make sure to leave out a separate container to store FOG while you’re cooking, like a recently-opened can. Or, put tinfoil in a mug and pour it in there. Toss it in the trash once it cools.

We all know how important electricity is. Our lives wouldn’t function as well, or if at all, without it. Whether it is watching the news on television and surfing the internet, or playing games on consoles and ironing clothes, even tasks as simple as cooking would be a problem should electricity go out. It is important to have a clear understanding of everything that could go wrong and to have emergency kits near electricity sockets. Because as they say, with great power comes great responsibility. Pun intended.

But just because there are so many things that could go wrong when electricity is in question, doesn’t mean you should panic. Statistics show 80% to 90% people panic and are unable to stay calm when there is an electrical emergency.

The people who refuse to panic and keep their cool will assess the situation in a calm sensible manner which will enable them to think clearly and pick a correct action plan. We all have seen disaster movies and know that the first guy to be killed is the one who panics the most, whereas the one who stays calm and takes control makes it through to the end.

Now, do not make the error of thinking that those who stay calm are not afraid: they are. Fear and panic are two different things. It depends on your ability to stay calm and not let the situation overwhelm you into not thinking sensibly and in turn making rash decisions that have consequences. Here are some examples of electrical emergencies that could occur:

We shouldn’t take electricity for granted and should be aware of the dangers it brings. We all know that electrical shocks are not to be taken lightly as everything depends on its severity. A light shock can cause slight discomfort and a severe shock can cause severe burns to the heart causing heart failure.

Modern electrical circuits are well fitted with circuit breaker fuse systems. Should a fault develop, the switch automatically trips itself. Most homes have trip switches, and they are located either on or near fuse boxes and fuse boxes are near electricity meters. Should a switch trip itself, it is in your

best interest not to panic. The first thing that you need to do is to find the trip switch and switch is back ON. That should do the trick. And if the problem still persists, you should call a certified electrician. In fact, calling in an electrician is better than taking a risk yourself.

In case of a power cut, check the trip switch, as well as wiring and appliances. If you think everything is OK with these things, it is clear that this is a problem beyond your control and calling in a certified electrician is the best course of action. It is important to keep in mind that you shouldn’t try to fix this problem and wait for the electrician to come in and deal with the problem, so that you and your family stay safe.

These are a few basic electrical emergencies which can occur unannounced. Being mentally prepared for them is important so that you don’t panic. Most importantly, keep the number of a certified electrician on hand to ensure you can place the call the moment the emergency occurs