Kitchen sinks not suitable for pumpkin disposal, warns plumber

30/10/2007

Blocked kitchen sinks are an ever-present problem around Halloween, according to a US plumbing and draining company.

According to Cincinnati-based Roto-Rooter Plumbing and Drain Service, people disposing of pumpkin innards into waste disposal systems results in an epidemic of kitchen sink drainage problems.

This leaves plumbers working around the clock instead of enjoying the night's witching hour revels.

Larry Rothman, plumbing director of Roto-Rooter, told the Cincinnati Post: "[The inside of pumpkins] is stringy and sticky, and when it dries and hardens, it will choke off drain pipes and garbage disposals, creating all sorts of havoc.

"For the past few years we've spread the word that carving pumpkins in the sink is a very bad idea.

"People think that when they shove the (seedy) stuff down a kitchen sink drain that it's gone, but in a little while the sink stops draining altogether."

Mr Rothman recommends that pumpkin flesh is thrown away with other household rubbish.

Heat and Plumb sells an extensive range of kitchen fittings including Franke and Oliver Haffner kitchen sinks.