Your garbage disposal loves to do one thing, and it does it well: eat all your table scraps. It’s simple but effective. That is, until it starts having issues. Then you’ll need to call up a plumber in Livingston, NJ. To prevent that from happening, try following these practices to keep your garbage disposal in good care.
Only Put the Proper Things in It
When you turn on your garbage disposal, it may sound like it can take on anything, but that just isn’t the case. The “blades” of the garbage disposal aren’t actually blades at all, but more like teeth that break things down. To keep those teeth working properly, you have to be careful not to put the wrong things down the drain. That includes:
- Onion layers: They can hinder the movement of the blades.
- Egg shells: They won’t sharpen the blades, contrary to popular belief.
- Nuts, shells, seeds, and pits: These are just too hard for the garbage disposal.
- Animal bones: Unless specifically deemed capable of handling them, animal bones will ruin your garbage disposal.
- Stringy Fruits and Vegetables: Stringy vegetables, like celery, will wrap around the blades and cause problems.
Keep it In Good Shape
Unlike humans, your garbage disposal can consume tons of junk without gaining a single pound. Even so, your garbage disposal can get out of shape if you use it the wrong way. Here are some things you can do to help:
- Keep it clean: A little bit of dish soap, cold water, and a minute of running time can go a long way in keeping your disposal clean and free of smells.
- Run it regularly: Keeping your garbage disposal moving frequently prevents rust and corrosion.
- Always run with cold water: Cold water will help solidify any greases and oils, thus allowing them to be ground up before reaching the trap.
- Cut large objects down to pieces: Smaller, bite-sized pieces are better for the disposal than large chunks.
Know When It Needs Repairs or Replacement
The worst thing you can do is to keep your garbage disposal running when it’s crying for help. Here are some of the signs you can anticipate when your garbage disposal needs repairs or replacement:
- Bad, stubborn smells: If you don’t clean your garbage disposal, it can get some nasty smells. But if you have been diligently cleaning and rinsing and can’t get rid of odors, there may be particles of food trapped in the unit. Have a professional come to remove them.
- It makes weird noises: Use a flashlight to check the drain; see if there are any unusual objects like silverware or hard waste. If that doesn’t fix it, then it could be something serious that needs inspection.
- It leaks water: A crack and a leak in your disposal mean it’s time to replace. Repairs just aren’t feasible.
- Always pressing the reset button: The reset button is necessary for rare instances. If using the reset button is a daily occurrence, however, then it’s time to move on and get a new garbage disposal.