Your garbage disposal is not designed to handle “garbage.” This useful kitchen tool has a misleading product name that causes havoc on plumbing systems in most households.
While the garbage disposal was designed to help with plumbing systems, the name is a misnomer. The disposal was designed to collect solid food waste in a grinding chamber. Then when the disposal is turned on, a spinning disc, or impeller plate, turns rapidly, forcing the food waste against the outer wall of the grinding chamber. This makes the food waste small enough to pass through the plumbing system.
The problem:
Excess food waste and non-food waste are placed down garbage disposals exceeding the limits of its designed capability.
Many of our plumbing service calls are for broken disposals. Something was placed in the garbage disposal that shouldn’t have been, causing drains to run slower, complete pipe blockages, or sometimes major plumbing damage.
The solution:
Don’t take the name of your garbage disposal literally. Your disposal should do the job in which it was intended which is to chop up smaller food particles for ease in passing through your plumbing system. If larger food items need to be disposed of, use your garbage can.
Garbage Disposal No-Nos:
- Rice and pasta
- Leafy vegetables or peels
- Potato peels
- Orange and other fruit peels
- No grease (no draining hamburger meat or bacon grease into the sink)
- No non-food items (no metals, coins, or paper products)
Instead of tossing food scraps into your garbage disposal, scrape your dishes into the trash, or better yet, recycle! If you garden or have a couple of backyard chickens, composting is the perfect option for the disposal of scrap foods.
Keeping Your Garbage Disposal Healthy:
- Once a month, we recommend a HOT flush of your disposal. As long as your disposal is working properly, you should stopper your sink, fill it full of hot water, then drain it. This will flush the disposal and the drain pipes, keeping things in tip-top shape. (If your sink is currently draining slow, call us for assistance.)
- Always use cold water when running the disposal. Never run the disposal dry.
- Grinding ice cubes in the disposal may help dislodge food in the blades, but this practice will not sharpen the blades. Ice cubes in your garbage disposal on occasion is acceptable, but we don’t recommend to do on a frequent basis.
Your disposal should be a help in your kitchen, not a hindrance. Do your plumbing system a favor and don’t take the name “garbage disposal” literally. Dispose of large food items properly and not down your drain. You’ll be saving yourself time, money, and headaches.
We understand that clogs happen and systems fail. If you find your garbage disposal isn’t working properly or you have clogged drains, give us a call.
