Agnieszka Podemska
The garbage disposal is one of the most useful yet delicate appliances in your household. As the kitchen is the dirtiest place in your home, if not maintained properly, the garbage disposal can become the dirtiest place in your kitchen.
To make sure it functions well without causing harm to the health of the household members, you need to maintain it regularly. Not too many people pay due attention to this appliance until it breaks. However, once the breakdown occurs, it may be tough to repair and replace the garbage disposal.
In this article, we’ll help you get a better idea about one of the most important appliances in your kitchen. These tips from experts at Hartman’s Appliance Repair of Tampa can ensure its longevity and excellent functionality.
1. Know What to Use the Disposal For
While garbage disposal seems to be highly powerful, grinding all kinds of foods, it can’t deal with everything you throw at it. So the first step to making it last long is to give the appliance only what it’s meant to handle.
· Grease and fat from cooking – shouldn’t be put down the disposal since it can solidify inside and prevent the blades from working properly. Collect the grease and allow it to harden. Then throw it into the garbage.
· Hard food waste – extra hard food waste, such as large bones, shellfish, fruit pits shouldn’t go into the disposal since they can break blades or cause a blockage.
· Fibrous food – such food as celery, corn husks, and banana peels must be kept out of the disposal since fibers can get tangled up around the blade and expand when contacting moisture.
· Ground glass – some people believe that ground glass can sharpen the blades. Instead, it clogs the drain and leads to serious breakdowns.
Remember, the garbage disposal is not a trash can. Don’t use it as such. Even though it’s more environmentally friendly, allow the garbage disposal to be a sidekick, not a superhero.
2. Don’t Overfill The Grinding Chamber
As with any appliance, overfilling the garbage disposal could lead to poor function and eventual breakdown. If you have a large amount of food to deal with, insert it a portion at a time or send it to the trashcan.
If you place food inside the disposal, you need to make sure it’s disposed of properly. If any of it stays inside the chamber, it can start to rot, cause bacteria growth and foul smell. Always turn the appliance on after placing food inside.
When you put too much food into the disposal, it’s likely to jam. Dealing with the jam can be frustrating and unpleasant. At first, you need to run a stream of cold water and run the disposal for 40 seconds without stopping. If that doesn’t help, you may want to call professional technicians.
If you need to dispose of large items, cut them into smaller pieces before sending them inside the disposal.
3. Flush the Disposal Weekly
The appliance doesn’t need any daily maintenance, but you should give it a minute of your time at least once a week. Flush the disposal with cold water to ensure all residue is gone.
Fill the sink with cold water (never use hot water since it can melt grease and expand fibrous food to cause jams). Allow the water to drain. You can do it once or twice a week. The sucking movement created by the water when it leaves the sink through the drain can help get rid of any residue inside the disposal chamber.
4. Ice Cube Maintenance
If you want to keep the disposal blades sharp and make sure the chamber is clean, take advantage of the ice cube maintenance once a month.
Send a tray of ice cubes into the sink and turn the appliance on. It will start grinding ice cubes. At first, the ice will clog the drain and you’ll see water backing up into the sink. In a couple of minutes, the ice will melt and the water will leave.
5. Drain Baffle Cleaning
If you have a removable drain baffle, you need to clean it at least once a month to ensure the proper function of the disposal. Make sure the disposal is off. Remove the drain baffle. Clean it with an old toothbrush and detergent. Place it back into the drain and operate the disposal.
6. Removing Clogs and Odors
If your garbage disposal emits a foul smell or appears clogged, you can do the baking soda and vinegar maintenance. Even if everything seems fine, you should still go through with it at least once a month.
Pour a cup of baking soda and two cups of vinegar into the chamber. You’ll see foaming and fizzling inside. Boil some water and pour it down the drain in about a minute. Allow the mixture to stay inside the grinding chamber for several minutes and then flush it with cold water.
If you don’t like the smell of vinegar coming out of your drain, you can throw slices of lemon into the disposal and grind it.
7. Flushing with Water
To prevent clogging, you should always flush the disposal with cold water after it’s done grinding food. Run a powerful stream for at least twenty seconds to ensure that all the residual food is gone.
Finally…
If your garbage disposal breaks down, don’t try to fix it on your own. It’s not just tough to do, it could be dangerous. Find a top-notch appliance repair company in your area and call for help. Most likely, the repairs will be done quickly, saving you time and effort while prolonging the disposal’s lifespan.
