One of the most overworked plumbing appliances in your home is your garbage disposal. Stop and think about it for a few seconds … ever wonder what and how much stuff is dumped daily down your disposal? OK, you probably don’t want to know as the answer would probably shock you. That said, a quality garbage disposal is built to take the punishment, but, like all things mechanical, will eventually break down or need replacement.
To ensure that this happens later rather than sooner, there are ways to maintain your garbage disposal and prolong its lifespan. The first place to start is by remembering that it is a food waste disposal, not a trash can. Paper, glass, plastic, etc. do not belong in your disposal and will damage it.
Here are some suggestions from the pros at Armstrong Plumbing, Air, Electric – your go-to Lubbock, Texas plumbers – that you can follow for the proper plumbing maintenance on garbage disposals:
REGULAR CLEANING
Once a week, take a utility brush and scrub inside the disposal. Sending bits of citrus (orange, lemon, etc.) down the disposal will help keep it fresh, as will vinegar. Remember: never put your hand in your disposal without turning off the power switch first!
NO GREASE, FAT OR OILS
Over time, these items will build up not only in your disposal but your drain pipes, causing clogs and stoppages. The buildup will also result in nasty odors.
NO HARD TO GRIND OR FIBROUS FOODS
The former contains such items as bones, pasta, and potato peels, which can be too hard or starchy, causing clogs. The latter includes vegetables such as celery and onions, which can cause a sinewy obstruction on the disposal blades.
GRIND IT AND FLUSH IT WITH COLD WATER
Make sure you give the disposal plenty of time to grind up waste and also make sure you continuously flush the disposal with cold water. Many folks mistakenly use hot water, which can cause overheating. Also, cold water allows grease and fat to solidify and drain from the home.
Let’s finish where we started: your garbage disposal is for food waste, not garbage. Be nice to it and it will give you many years of great service. If you do need disposal plumbing maintenance or replacement, Better Call Armstrong. We offer a complete line of Insinkerator disposals and also include plumbing in our Armstrong Service Agreement Plan (A.S.A.P.). Don’t forget to visit us on Facebook and Twitter.
