The Importance of Maintaining Your Garbage Disposal
A garbage disposal is a device located underneath a kitchen sink that shreds food waste to prevent clogs from occurring in your pipes. It is very helpful when cooking and washing leftover food from dishes. Like many things, garbage disposals need to be maintained and used properly in order for them to effectively work when you need to use them. Learn what should and should never go down your disposal as well as helpful maintenance tips with the professionals at Stephens Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning.
What Can and Can’t Go Down the Disposal
Placing the wrong item down your sink and turning on your garbage disposal can lead to major plumbing issues. To start we will discuss what you CAN put down the disposal. Waste, such as small food scraps and liquids are safe to go down the disposal. Items that should NEVER go down your disposal are egg shells, coffee grounds, large fruit and vegetable peelings, grease, oil, pasta, bones, oatmeal, pits, and glass. It is important to realize that your garbage disposal is not a trash can and only certain waste should go down it to avoid clogs or a malfunction.
Maintaining Your Garbage Disposal
Garbage disposal maintenance is essential for making sure your device functions properly and is clean. After a while, you may begin to notice an odor coming from your drain. This can be solved a number of ways. A vinegar and baking soda solution can be made by mixing a cup of baking soda with a cup of white vinegar. Another way to eliminate the smell is by cutting up small pieces of citrus fruits, like lemons and oranges, and putting them down the drain.
To prevent clogs, we recommend always using water when turning on the disposal to help flush down the food as well as only putting in waste in small amounts. If you find that there is a clog, it is possible to fix it on your own. To do this, you must turn off the disposal to prevent injury. An Allen wrench can be used to manually turn the blades in order to break down any debris or you can use a plunger to pull up clogged waste.
Stephens Is Here to Help
If you’re experiencing difficulties when it comes to your garbage disposal, don’t panic! The professionals at Stephens Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning are here to help and you can count on us to get the job done. Our team is well-versed and equipped when it comes to handling issues regarding garbage disposals and other kitchen plumbing inconveniences. If it comes down to having to replace your disposal, the process can be dangerous and overwhelming if done on your own. Our trained technicians can assist with proper garbage disposal replacement and offer you more helpful cleaning and maintenance tips to prevent further problems. Stephens has been serving local homeowners and businesses for years and we would be more than happy to provide you with quality work and service. To schedule an appointment with us, you can contact us by phone or fill out the contact form available on our website.