Garbage disposals are quite common in kitchens nowadays, and they are pretty useful for those who have the convenience of having them. However, with negligence or improper use, you can have many issues that come about with garbage disposals. We’re going to talk about tips that are effective in maintaining your garbage disposal and avoiding costly plumbing issues.
How Do Garbage Disposals Work?
Garbage disposals essentially work by grinding up food particles into tiny pieces so that they can be flushed down the drain. They use lugs on a spinning plate that force food against the grinder portion. This, combined with the running water, breaks down the food into particles that are small enough to go down the drain without causing any problems. There is usually a switch that can turn on the grinder and break up the food, and then it can be switched off to turn off the grinder.
Common Problems With Garbage Disposal
When it comes to garbage disposals, there are many potential common problems that can come with them. You’ll want to recognize these problems pretty soon so that they can be taken care of before they cause irreversible damage to your garbage disposal. Here’s a look at some of the potential problems with garbage disposals.
Clogs and Slow Draining
If you are improperly putting food in the disposal, like putting in large food scraps, you could find yourself dealing with clogs. You shouldn’t put large particles, bones, peels, grease, or coffee grounds down your garbage disposal. If you aren’t flushing it with enough water, this could also cause a buildup of food particles, which causes it to clog up or causes slow draining.
Jams
Typically, if your garbage disposal doesn’t grind, but instead hums, then this could be an indication that it’s jammed by a foreign object like large food scraps or something else that was put down the garbage disposal.
Leaks
A damaged seal or other damaged parts can cause bottom or top leaks. These leaks can cause water damage under your sink area and cause other problems like mold or mildew if they’re not taken care of quickly.
Bad Odors
Although some odors may be able to be taken care of with garbage disposal refreshers bought in the store, there could be a bigger problem. If food is getting stuck in the disposal and isn’t rinsed all the way out, then this food could start to smell badly and cause bacteria to grow.
Maintenance Tips for Garbage Disposal
You should be doing things for maintenance for your garbage disposal on a regular basis. We’ve broken up some of these tasks by week and by month to give you an idea of what you should be doing to keep up with garbage disposal maintenance.
Weekly Cleaning Tips
Run Cold Water When Using: You should be running cold water when you use the garbage disposal, and keep it running even after use to help prevent buildup.
Use Cleaners: Using natural cleaners like baking soda or vinegar rinse should help to eliminate bacteria and build-up that causes bad odor. All Year Cooling & Plumbing also offers drain cleaning services for our Southern Florida neighbors.
Clean Splash Guard: Make sure to clean the splash guard regularly, as food can get trapped in there as well and cause bacterial growth and a bad odor.
Monthly Deep Cleaning Tips
- Use the ice cube and salt method to scrub the blades clean and remove any buildup
- Use a disposal brush if you need reinforcements to clean off the blades
How to Extend the Lifespan of a Garbage Disposal
In addition to these regular cleaning methods, there are preventative measures that you can take to ensure you don’t deal with any maintenance issues. Here are the preventative measures you can take to ensure that your garbage disposal stays running efficiently.
Avoid Overloading Unit: Make sure that you are not putting too much food or particles into the disposal at one time. This can make it hard to break down and cause problems.
Run it Regularly: Run your garbage disposal regularly, even if you don’t seem to be using it often, to prevent rust or corrosion.
Schedule Inspections: You should be scheduling inspections regularly to check it for potential plumbing issues that aren’t seen on the surface.
When Should You Call a Professional?
When you are using a garbage disposal, you should be using it properly and do all of the proper cleaning and maintenance techniques. However, there are some things that might spike the need for getting a professional to take a look or repair your garbage disposal. If you hear any noises like humming or metal grinding, this could indicate that something is wrong or broken inside. Any leaks, whether at the base or top of the disposal, should be reported to a professional, as it could lead to bigger plumbing issues. Lastly, if your disposal isn’t turning on at all despite multiple attempts, this could be an indicator that something else is going on, and a professional can help you fix the issue.
Keep Your Garbage Disposal Maintained Properly
If you have a garbage disposal, it’s important to keep it maintained properly to ensure that no problems arise. Ultimately, dealing with these issues can be frustrating, and it can also cause a snowball effect of other issues as well. Be sure to keep on top of all cleaning and maintenance, both weekly and monthly, to ensure that you have done everything to keep it running properly. Remember what shouldn’t be put in the garbage disposal and ensure everyone in the household knows how to use it properly.
If you have found that you’re having persistent issues or issues that you can’t solve yourself, then it may be time to contact a professional. At All Year Cooling & Plumbing, we do our best to give the best service and fix any issues related to plumbing in Florida, which includes garbage disposals. As we stated, there are many different things that could potentially pop up as problems where you may want to contact a professional. Remember to contact us immediately so that we can get the problem fixed and get your disposal up and running like new for you!