Garbage disposals are one of the most used pieces of equipment the kitchen. Considering how much we cook, we tend to want to get rid of food waste the easy way: down the garbage disposal where it won’t stink up the trash can. However, it is important to treat our garbage disposals right so they work for us for as many years as possible. As professional plumbers in Denver, Bell Plumbing and Heating understands the proper care of garbage disposals and as such has some garbage disposal tips that will keep your sink drain flowing smoothly for quite some time.
3 Tips for Proper Garbage Disposal Maintenance
- The Garbage Disposal Is Not a Trash Can: Sometimes things that get thrown into the garbage disposal can actually be harmful to it, as it was not designed to crush and grind everything we can throw at it. A garbage disposal can handle small bits of food, but not large quantities of food waste. Do not throw any of these into your garbage disposal: egg shells, potato skins, fibrous veggies such as celery and asparagus, bones, liquid grease or harder fat from meat, popcorn kernels, or pits from fruit. And of course never put any non-food items down the garbage disposal; instead dispose of all of these in the trash can!
- Sharpen Garbage Disposal Blades: The most essential parts of the garbage disposal are the two blades which are used to grind the food for proper drainage down the sink drain. By keeping these sharp you will ensure that the disposal works properly and finely chops up food so it does not stick and clog the drain. Sharpen the blades by placing a few handfuls of ice down the drain then run the water faucet and the disposal at the same time. It will make a loud crunching noise, but this just means the ice is doing its job of sharpening!
- Use Lots of Cold Water: Every time any food product goes into the garbage disposal for grinding, the cold water tap should be run at the same time. Water not only lubricates the blades for chopping, but it helps the food to be pushed past the blades and into the drain itself. Only use cold water, as hot water will cause foods to separate and stick to the inside walls of the pipes which can then cause drain clogs.
As you can see, garbage disposal maintenance is important and easy to do. By paying attention to these garbage disposal tips you can ensure your garbage disposal rarely gets clogged or breaks. If your garbage disposal needs a more professional touch, Bell Plumbing and Heating is the plumbing company to call in the Denver area. Contact Bell Plumbing and Heating today!
