Garbage Disposal Maintenance: Prevent Clogged Pipes and Bad Odor
Many people have a garbage disposal. It’s a great appliance that makes kitchen duties less demanding. Although, if not operated with proper care the garbage disposal can shut down, clog the drains and cause many other extensive problems. I have learned by repeated mistakes and from additional help from my maintenance technician. Now, my garbage disposal and I work together making life simple.
Small Amounts of Food is Preferred
Putting large amounts of food down the garbage disposal isn’t the best idea. This can lead to a number of problems down the way. The food gets chopped up and flows down through small piping before it’s finally freed into larger inch piping. It may have made it that far, but it still has a distance to go. Unfortunately it will often sit in a pile waiting for a force to carry it the rest of the way. If this force doesn’t happen you can have a clogged pipe 100 ft deep like I did.
While feeding your garbage disposal it’s best to do a little at a time while having cold water running from the faucet. This will help the food scraps flow down through the piping.
If you use your disposal regularly like I do you may have food waiting for that force to carry it off on its way. You can create this force by filling up your sink with cold water. Then simply lift the stopper. This will generate enough force to break the food free. Do this once a week to prevent clogged pipes. It would be a good idea to open your cupboard doors to check for leaks as you do this.
At some point an object will fall down the disposal that won’t decompose. This can often dull the blades or jam the disposal. Most disposals nowadays have an emergency shut off built within its self that will prevent prolonged damage.
Never stick your hand down the disposal. I used to do this until my technician informed me that once I free the object a short can occur and could potentially harm my hand. There are safer steps in retrieving the fallen objects.
A few tools on hand can help when such situations arise. You will need a flashlight and a long handled tool to grab the object with. My technician recommended extra long needle nose pliers or an automotive finger gripper.
If your disposal stopped running completely reset the button on the bottom of your disposal. Then try a quick flip on the wall switch. If your disposal worked, peer inside with your flashlight to see if you can see the object. If so remove the item with one of the tools suggested. If not try another quick flip to the wall switch and try again. Repeat this for as many times needed. The idea here is to create a quick jerking movement to dislodge the object and then be able to see the object for proper removal.
If these steps are unsuccessful call your maintenance company, they will be of further assistance.
Ice is an effective method to cleaning your disposal and while sharpening the blades at the same time. Grinding ice in the disposal will act like a scouring blender of sorts. This method will get all the hard to reach areas effectively.
Citrus peels will add a great scent to your disposal and only a tiny piece is needed for this effect.
I’m thankful for the technician to make me aware of these preventive measures. With these basic steps our garbage disposal functions properly, saves money in repairs and frees our time.
