Did you know the average American throws away at least 7 pounds of garbage daily?
Garbage disposals help reduce that number by breaking up biodegradable food and flushing it through your plumbing. It’s a great way to reduce your daily waste. You can do some simple things to keep your garbage disposals running like new and prevent needing garbage disposal repair.
Here are some things you will learn in this article:
- How to Extend the Life of Your Garbage Disposal
- Good Garbage Disposal Habits
- Ways to Keep Your Garbage Disposal Smelling Great
- Tricks for Retrieving Dropped Items
- Reasons Your Garbage Disposal Could Be Leaking
- Recommendations for Buying a Garbage Disposal
How to Extend the Life of Your Garbage Disposal
Preventing a problem is easier and more cost-effective than dealing with the hassle of a broken appliance. With busy schedules and commitments, who has time for that?
Here are some easy ways to keep your garbage disposal running in tip-top shape from your favorite plumbers in Sheboygan:
- Make sure you run your garbage disposal regularly.
- Keep your garbage disposal clean.
- Pour some dish soap into the garbage disposal. Then run it with cold water for about a minute. This will keep the blades clean.
- Run a few ice cubes through the garbage disposal. As the ice is chopped, it will loosen built-up grease while cleaning the internal parts! If you want those ice cubes to do double duty, freeze white vinegar and run those cubes through. This will freshen, clean, and sharpen all at once!
Good Garbage Disposal Habits
Just like brushing your teeth helps you maintain good oral health, there are things you can do to preserve the health of your garbage disposal. You wouldn’t ignore your teeth, so don’t ignore your garbage disposal! Here are some good habits to get into for maintaining your garbage disposal:
- Use cold water when grinding food waste. This will help stop food grease and oils from solidifying in your plumbing and causing blockages. Hot water does the opposite and can cause damaging chunks to get lodged there.
- Only use the garbage disposal for biodegradable food. Other things like glass, plastic, cigarette butts, or paper can clog the drain or damage the blades.
- Cut up large items. To avoid clogging, insert small pieces of food into the garbage disposal.
- Avoid pouring straight grease or oil down the drain; it causes clogs! If you have leftover cooking oil or bacon grease, put it in an old can. Wait for it to harden, then throw it in the trash.
- The purpose of the garbage disposal is to dispose of food. Never put coffee grinds, vegetables with fiber, and large animal bones in your garbage disposal.
Ways to Keep Your Garbage Disposal Smelling Great
Who likes a stinky garbage disposal? Luckily, there are natural ways to stomp out the stench:
- Want your garbage disposal to have a citrusy fresh scent? Chop up a lemon, orange, or grapefruit, and run it through. The acidic fruit oil and juice will clean the inside of the garbage disposal and leave you with a sweet scent.
- Do you still have odors? Pour baking soda or drain-safe cleaning products down the drain. Let it sit for an hour, then run the garbage disposal with hot water. This should eliminate the stinkiest smells, like fish or eggs.
Tricks for Retrieving Dropped Items
Have you dropped something down the garbage disposal? Never insert your hand into the garbage disposal opening. Here are some tricks for retrieving items from your garbage disposal:
- Cut the electricity! Always unplug the appliance or turn off the circuit breaker before attempting to retrieve anything.
- Use a flashlight! Look down the drain and try to locate the object.
- Find an object to use! Use something to grab the item: pliers, a bent coat hanger, chopsticks, crochet needles, or long needle-nosed pliers.
What If My Garbage Disposal Is Leaking?
If your garbage disposal is leaking, it is often a sign that wear and tear have taken a toll on the unit. However, garbage disposal can begin leaking over time, just from prolonged everyday use.
Leaking from the Top
When your garbage disposal leaks from the top, water seeps around the joint where the disposal unit joins your sink. Wet items under your sink are a prime indicator you have this problem. The flange and seal connecting your garbage disposal to the sink can erode or loosen, or a blow can cause it to unseal. The seal will likely need replacement.
Leaking from the Side
When your garbage disposal leaks from the side, underneath the flange, it’s likely from the drain lines. The drain tube is the most frequent culprit. The rubber gasket inside the joint becomes worn and will need replacing.
Leaking from the Bottom
Most garbage disposal units do not have lines that connect to the bottom. If your garbage disposal leaks from the bottom, the likely culprit is the internal seals inside the disposal unit. The entire unit must be replaced.
Always Buy Quality Products
We have all heard it before: you get what you pay for, which is no different regarding garbage disposal. We recommend Insinkerator® garbage disposals because they are tough and stand the test of time. They also come with a great warranty.
Your Plymouth Plumbing and Heating plumbers in Sheboygan can help you choose the best home garbage disposal or other appliances. Drop by or contact us for more information and help with your purchase.
Buy Insinkerator Garbage Disposal
Reliable Garbage Disposal Repair in Sheboygan
Although regular maintenance and good practices can prevent many issues, bad things can still happen. These things always occur at the worst possible times, like your septic overflowing on the day of a backyard barbeque or your air conditioning breaking in the middle of a heat wave.
What happens when your garbage disposal just won’t work?
- It may need to be reset. Look for a red or black reset button on the motor and push it. If that doesn’t work, check for electric issues like a tripped circuit breaker or a blown fuse.
- If your garbage disposal seems jammed, look on the side of the appliance for an allen nut head. Using an allen wrench or a garbage disposal tool (many times, this is in a little plastic bag attached to the unit), try to hand crank it free by turning the nut a few times.
When these DIY measures don’t work, Plymouth Plumbing and Heating provides fast, reliable Garbage Disposal Repair in Sheboygan and surrounding communities.
