Garbage disposals, like every other household device, are complex machines. When the device works normally, it is an excellent device. Your kitchen will smell good and fresh, and cleaning up after dinner is simpler. You will not have to deal with a high volume of garbage in the landfills.
When the garbage disposal fails, the decaying food leftovers will leave your kitchen and your entire house stinking. You can prevent this issue by learning about basic garbage disposal care.
Garbage disposal care tips
Avoid expandable foods
Be wary of the types of food you push down the drain. Starchy foods such as rice, pasta, and mashed potatoes continually expand in water even after cooking them. With time, these starchy foods can obstruct the pipes and cause serious plumbing issues.
Cut leftovers into bits
If your garbage disposal cannot break the food down, you should consider cutting the food debris into smaller parts. Even if you think your garbage disposal can handle large chunks, try not to throw in big sized or large pieces of leftovers down the pipe. If you have already done that, reach out to a drain cleaning company to ensure that everything is working properly.
Try cold water
The temperature of the water in the garbage disposal is vital. Coldwater will ensure that grease that mistakenly enters the disposal will stay hardened with the introduction of cold water.
Although hot water will not damage the parts, it will liquefy the fats and grease in the disposal. In the liquid state, the oil will stick to the blades and accumulate.
Keep the garbage disposal clean
Garbage disposals can get really dirty. With time, sludge may accumulate on the blades or sides of the device. You can prevent the resulting odors by icing vinegar into ice cubes and switching on the disposal.
It is advisable to avoid harsh chemicals because they can harm the parts of the device. You can try putting small amounts of citrus fruits, such as lemon and oranges, down the disposal to improve the odor. Pouring baking soda down the drain can initiate a normal chemical reaction.
Alternatively, you can supplement the sharpening with the cleaning by pouring a cup of rock salt into the drain when you break up ice cubes into bits.
Avoid hard or fibrous foods
Disposals are designed for foods that break down into small parts easily. Substances such as hard seeds, peach stones, popcorn kernels, and apple seeds and bones are difficult to grind properly. The small bits can get trapped under the blades, causing a jam. You should avoid fibrous foods too because they could wrap around the blade and cause a jam.
In conclusion
Although there are techniques to fix problems or troubleshoot yourself, you should consider calling professional plumbers to fix garbage disposal issues. As a rule of thumb, use enough water when running the garbage disposal to ensure the pipes are flushed and cleaned properly.
Request an appointment here: https://www.bevillstexas.com or call Bevills Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning at (325) 225-4115 for an appointment in our Abilene office.