5 Ways To Maintain Your Garbage Disposal
Garbage disposal is one of the most useful appliances in your home. However, they can either be your best friend or worst enemy. When working, it provides you with a convenient way of throwing out food waste. But when it’s not working, it can cause serious problems.
In many cases, garbage disposal problems can be avoided if you properly use and maintain them. You can avoid calling the help of a professional by making sure your garbage disposal is always in great shape with the following maintenance tips:
1. Schedule Routine Maintenance:
Just like your car and other appliances in your home, your garbage disposal unit also needs to be serviced regularly to ensure that its pipes are clear of any debris and there are no issues with it whatsoever.
You can hire a professional garbage disposal repair in Chantilly to look after your unit and perform service maintenance on it. They’ll be able to clear out the drain and ensure that there’s no buildup or blockage in the pipes.
Take this time to ask the plumber some questions about the current condition of your unit and ask for any advice in taking care of the pipes. Routine service maintenance is essential for disposal and is also relatively inexpensive.
2. Follow the Food Guidelines:
While it can be tempting to discard all kitchen and food waste down the sink to prevent unwanted smells and trash buildup, it’s not recommended as some of them can damage your garbage disposal.
For example, you must avoid putting dense animal bones coming from steaks down the kitchen counter drop sink as they might cause the blades in your unit to snap.
Additionally, there are other food-based objects that you must never go down to your disposal:
- Grease, fats, and oils
- Eggshells and coffee grounds
- Hard food waste such as bones, seeds, and fruit pits
- Celeries, pasta, potato peels, corn husks, and other types of fibrous foods
- Garbage items such as produce stickers and twist ties
The best way to dispose of these items is to toss them into a trash bag or garbage can. By doing so, you can save yourself from plumbing problems while keeping your disposal unit clean and clear. This will also help extend the lifespan of your unit for a long time!
3. Cut Food Waste Into Pieces:
Unless you have a big and powerful garbage disposal at home, you should use it carefully. Don’t expect miracles from your system by feeding it with large chunks of bones, meat, fruit, or other food waste.
You can make it easier for your disposal to grind food waste by cutting them into small pieces before putting them down the kitchen sink.
4. Let It Run:
The most vital part of having a garbage disposal is to use it properly. Keep the water running before, during, and after using it. Water keeps the unit lubricated, which allows it to work smoothly.
When you don’t do this, you risk overloading the unit and damaging it’s motor and blades.
Ensure that you keep the water going through the system to save yourself from potential plumbing problems in the future. And, remember always to use cold water at all times.
Hot water may be better for cleaning, but it can cause the food waste to melt with your garbage disposal is trying to grind, causing them to cling to the sides, which can lead to clogs over time.
You should also avoid turning off the unit until it’s done grinding up food waste. Keep it running for another minute, just to make sure the system is fully empty and all the waste is flushed out of the pipes.
5. Clean It Regularly:
Regular maintenance and cleaning of your garbage disposal can help extend its lifespan and avoid damage to its major components.
When disposing of food waste in the system, some of them can stick within the sides and the blades of the disposal. Cleaning the system is easy and must be done regularly, especially if you’re using the unit frequently.
Recap
So, there you have it! Follow these five simple tips for maintaining your garbage disposal and avoid getting repairs for years. Taking care of this appliance means learning how to use it properly and cleaning it consistently. If you have some questions or concerns about your system, do call a professional right away. You must never attempt to repair the unit yourself because it can be dangerous and you may end up causing more damage to it. Consider the ideas mentioned here as you plan and prepare.
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