Ways to Help Avoid Garbage Disposal Problems
A properly functioning garbage disposal is one of those household conveniences people often take for granted until it stops working or something goes wrong. This hardworking kitchen companion grinds food waste into small pieces so it can travel through the pipes without forming clogs and causing issues.
However, without proper care and with bad drain habits, it can quickly become a source of frustration, unpleasant smells, sewer line clogs, and costly garbage disposal repairs. So, understanding how to maintain the garbage disposal is crucial. This post will explore some simple yet effective tips that will help keep the garbage disposal working well and save homeowners money on repairs.
Things That Shouldn’t Go Down the Disposal
A garbage disposal is designed to handle certain food scraps. However, many homeowners inadvertently damage their units and cause drain and sewer line clogs by disposing of the wrong items down their disposals. Never put fibrous vegetables like celery, corn husks, artichokes, and more, coffee grounds, eggshells, grease, oil, potato peels, expandable foods like pasta or rice, hard items like pits, seafood shells, or bones, and more down the disposal. These can cause problems for garbage disposal components like the blades or lead to a clogged sewer line.
What people can safely put down the disposal includes small scraps of vegetables and fruits besides the fibrous ones, cooked meats, and citrus peels (which can actually help clean and deodorize the unit). Remember that garbage disposals are meant to handle small amounts of food waste rather than serve as an alternative to the trash can.
Using Cold Water and Ice
Running cold water while operating the garbage disposal is essential for optimal performance and longevity of the unit. Cold water helps solidify any grease or oils that may pass through the disposal, allowing them to be chopped up and flushed away rather than coating the blades and pipes. Always run cold water for at least 15-20 seconds before turning on the disposal, during operation, and for 30 seconds after turning it off to ensure all food particles are properly flushed through the system.
Ice cubes can serve as a natural cleaning agent for a garbage disposal, performing two crucial functions. First, as the disposal grinds the ice, the frozen chunks help scrub away food particles and buildup that have accumulated on the blades and walls of the unit. Second, the ice helps sharpen the disposal's grinding components, much like a sharpening stone works on a knife. For best results, dump ice cubes into the disposal once a month, run cold water, and let the unit operate until all ice is completely ground up. This simple maintenance step can also help prevent odors.
Avoid Putting Too Much Down at Once
When using garbage disposals, it's also crucial to be mindful of both the quantity and size of food waste being disposed of. Overloading the disposal with too much food waste can strain the motor and cause jams, mechanical failures, and even clogs. It needs time to properly process what people put in it.
For optimal performance, break larger food scraps into smaller, more manageable pieces before placing them in the disposal. Feed these pieces gradually into the running disposal, allowing each batch to clear before adding more. This methodical approach not only helps prevent clogs but also extends the life of the disposal by reducing stress on the motor and grinding components.
About RupCoe Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning
RupCoe Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning has been serving South Plainfield, NJ, and the surrounding areas since 1985. They offer upfront pricing, fast turnarounds, and a satisfaction guarantee. Call them for kitchen plumbing and garbage disposal services in South Plainfield, NJ.
