6 Do’s and Don’ts to Protect Your Garbage Disposal
Owning garbage disposal makes life in the kitchen that much easier. Simply scrape the contents of your plate into the sink—the garbage disposal will do the rest, right?
According to plumbers, this is the wrong way to use a garbage disposal. Disposals are designed to take care of the small bits left on the plate after you’ve tossed the larger chunks into the garbage bin.
Lots of homeowners need garbage disposal repair because of clogs or other issues. That is because garbage disposals aren’t for the removal of actual garbage. That may be confusing because garbage disposal marketing promotes misuse.
We put together a list of six do’s and don’ts for protecting your garbage disposal system.
The 6 Garbage Disposal Do’s and Don’ts
If you want to use your disposal the way it’s designed, keep reading for our six garbage disposal do’s and don’ts.
Garbage disposal repair can be costly, and to avoid it, you can follow these do’s and don’ts.
1. Don’t Dump High-Volume Waste
When we say “high-volume waste,” we mean the leftovers you’ve had in the fridge for a while. The disposal and your pipes can handle some scraps. However, they’re not meant for large amounts of waste.
For example, your disposal cannot handle a plateful of food. Dumping an entire plate of leftovers down the drain is extremely ill-advised. Doing that will result in the need to schedule garbage disposal repair immediately.
2. Don’t Dump Starches
Potato peels, pasta, rice, and even mashed potatoes do not have a place in your garbage disposal. That’s because starches turn into a goo-like substance when in the drain. When this happens, they tend to clog the pipes. You should schedule garbage disposal repairs if you’ve been dumping your pasta down the drain.
3. Don’t Dump Hard Substances
It might seem like a surprise, but your garbage disposal doesn’t have actual blades. That being said, the disposal won’t be able to break down bones or corn cobs.
Without blades, the disposal just moves things around. So, dumping hard food waste down the drain will likely cause issues with your disposal. You may want to schedule garbage disposal repairs sooner rather than later.
4. Do Regularly Clean it
If you want to avoid costly garbage disposal repairs, you’ll want to clean the disposal regularly.
Over time, your disposal is susceptible to a buildup of grime and gunk. This can make it smelly and reduce efficiency. The best way to clean your disposal (as long as there’s nothing majorly wrong with it) is to drop a few ice cubes down the drain along with a small amount of dish soap.
5. Do Avoid Dumping Granular Bits
This category includes seeds, coffee grounds, and pieces of plastic or glass. These items can wedge themselves between the shredder and the wall of your disposal.
When you switch on the disposal, but nothing happens, this is likely why. Granular bits of food and other waste gets caught, and the shredder can’t move.
6. Do Run Water, but Don’t Stress over the Temperature
Many plumbers and homeowners argue over which temperature is best for the disposal—hot or cold. While each one does have sound logic, it doesn’t matter too much in the end. All that matters is that the disposal stays clean and free of clogs.
Do You Need Garbage Disposal Repairs?
Stith Plumbing & HVAC serves Springdale, AR. We also provide services for the surrounding areas, such as Johnson and Elm Springs.
For garbage disposal repair you can trust, contact the Stith Plumbing & HVAC today.