3 Tips To Keep the Garbage Disposal Running Smoothly

Take Extra Care of the Garbage Disposal for the Holidays!

For most families, the kitchen becomes the centerpiece of the entire house during the holidays between cooking, baking, and snacking. And, of course, the kitchen sink will likely see more action than any other plumbing fixture in the house, with all the handwashing, food prep, and dish cleanup. So, it should be no surprise that most kitchen sink clogs and garbage disposal issues occur during the holidays! 

A garbage disposal can make quick work of veggie trimmings and food scraps, helping make food prep and cleanup a breeze. But with the extra workload and without proper care, the garbage disposal can get clogged, jammed, or stop working altogether. This article will lay out a few tips to help keep the garbage disposal in great shape and running smoothly through the holiday season!

Never Put Certain Items In the Disposal

A garbage disposal works by grinding food waste against a grinder wheel full of small holes (sort of like a cheese grater) using spinning impeller blades (these “blades” do not cut the food, but merely move it around and press it against the grinder wheel). While today’s garbage disposals can handle a lot, certain items can throw a wrench in the gears and cause various problems. The following items should never be put down the garbage disposal:

• Cooking oil or grease – can solidify and cause clogs in the sink drain or sewer line
• Eggshells and coffee grounds – can get stuck in the system and contribute to clogs
• Fruit pits, large seeds, corn cobs, animal bones, rinds from melons or gourds – are difficult to break down and may jam the impeller
• Celery, corn husks, rhubarb, asparagus – the dense fibers can get tangled in the impeller blades and cause jamming
• Onion skins and produce stickers – can get stuck inside the disposal chamber or drain pipe and contribute to clogs
• Flour or starchy foods – can create a gum-like substance that’s difficult to wash away

Small amounts of some of these items may not lead to a broken or clogged garbage disposal, but minimizing them will go a long way in protecting the disposal and preventing clogs!

Run Water During and After Operation

Another key tip is to always run water down the drain when using the garbage disposal and leave the water running for a few seconds after the disposal is turned off. This will assist in grinding, wash away food particles once broken down, and help keep the impeller blades and grinding wheel clean. Even with a steady flow of running water, it’s also a good idea to grind food waste a little bit at a time rather than stuffing everything down the drain at once. This will help prevent jamming and make things easier on the impeller motor.

Of course, a certain level of food residue will inevitably collect inside the disposal over time. To maintain clean garbage disposal, homeowners can run the disposal with a cup or two of ice cubes inside, which will dislodge food particles and scrape away residue. They can also grind up a little orange or lemon peel in the disposal – the citric acid will help loosen up stubborn residue and eliminate unpleasant odors.

Let a Plumber Handle Garbage Disposal Services

Another way to keep the garbage disposal working long-term is to leave garbage disposal repair and replacement to the professionals. This is partly for safety reasons (electric shock and hand injuries from spinning impellers are surprisingly common among those who attempt DIY garbage disposal repair). But it’s also to ensure that no further issues arise from working on the disposal improperly.

Improper garbage disposal installation can lead to electrical issues and plumbing leaks. Shoddy repairs can shorten the garbage disposal’s lifespan or fail to address the underlying issue. So, beyond pressing the garbage disposal reset button, homeowners would do well to let qualified professionals handle garbage disposal services if the unit stops working.

There are a few ways to tell if it may be time to call a pro for garbage disposal replacement or repair. If the garbage disposal is humming (often indicates a jammed impeller or motor issue), the garbage disposal is leaking (could be a worn gasket or corrosion inside the unit), the garbage disposal breaker keeps tripping, or the disposal won’t run at all, homeowners should call their trusted local plumber to diagnose the issue. But by practicing the above tips, homeowners can enjoy a holiday season free from garbage disposal woes!

About Allore’s Plumbing Services LLC

The veteran-owned Allore’s Plumbing Services LLC has been one of the most trusted and highly-rated plumbers in Stuart, Florida, since 1986. Their trustworthy, licensed, and insured technicians always arrive on time in fully-stocked trucks and leave every home better than they found it. As an award-winning local business, Allore’s is proud to offer competitive up-front pricing, 24-hour emergency service, and a 100% satisfaction guarantee on every job – so don’t hesitate to call them for garbage disposal repair in Stuart, FL!

Contact Information:

Allore's Plumbing Services LLC

3085 SE Dixie Hwy
Stuart, FL 34997
United States

Thomas Allore
(772) 288-0998
https://www.alloresplumbing.com