Efficient Garbage Disposal Tips from Anta Plumbing

The presence of a garbage disposal appliance in the kitchen certainly makes it much easier to manage household chores. However, proper operation and maintenance is extremely important while using this highly useful appliance. Otherwise, your garbage disposal can cause nightmares for your plumbing system by breaking down, blocking, and eventually clogging your drainage system completely. Fortunately, maintaining and taking proper care of a garbage disposal appliance is not difficult at all. Described below are the dos and don’ts to ensure optimum efficiency of your garbage disposal.

Dos

• The most important job is to keep your garbage disposal clean. After washing dishes, allow your garbage disposal to run for a short duration with a little dish soap and cold water.
• Frequent usage is another important factor. By using the appliance regularly, you can prevent corrosion and rust. This will keep all the parts in proper working condition, and prevent accumulation of obstructions.
• Do not forget to grind all your food waste with a flow of cold water. Use of cold water is recommended because it will solidify any oil and grease that may enter the unit. These solid masses can be chopped before they reach the trap.
• You should also grind hard materials like small fruit pits, egg shells, fish or chicken bones, etc. These particles create a scouring action within the chamber and keep the walls of the garbage disposal clean.
• Large items should always be cut into smaller pieces and put into the appliance one at a time.

Don’ts 

• Never grind materials like metal, plastic, glass, cigarette butts, or paper.
• Never grind any material that is combustible.
• It is not recommended to pour oil, grease, or fat into the garbage disposal or the drain. These materials tend to accumulate slowly and reduce the grinding capacity of the appliance.
• Don’t use hot water during the food waste grinding process. Grease tends to liquefy in the presence of hot water, resulting in clogging.
• Extremely fibrous substances like artichokes, onion skins, celery stalks, corn husks, etc. should not be grinded because fibers from these materials can jam the motor resulting in drain blockage.
• Keep the motor and water on throughout the process of grinding. After the completion of grinding, first switch off the garbage disposal and allow water to run for another 15 seconds so that all the remaining particles are flushed out.
• Never grind large animal bones from pork, beef, etc.
• Avoid putting a large amount of food or expandable foods like rice or pasta in your garbage disposal.
• Hard chemicals like drain cleaners or bleach should never be used in garbage disposal. Instead, consider using Borax to keep away odor-causing mold and mildew.