It’s Almost Thanksgiving: Don’t Underestimate the Value of a Functional Garbage Disposal.
Thanksgiving is here, and everything looks great, except maybe the kitchen. Bowls and utensils are piled high in the sink, and someone spilled cranberry sauce all over the floor.
It may look like a wreck, but at least this family can get rid of the food residue down the drain with the help of the ever convenient garbage disposal.
An Ounce of Prevention: Clogged Drains and Garbage Disposals
Any home’s drainage system is an intricate network of various pipes that remove wastewater from the home and take it either to a septic tank or to the local sewer system and then to wastewater treatment. Though people associate all this with the bathroom, the kitchen plumbing is likewise connected to the system.
The addition of a garbage disposal to the kitchen sink plumbing can help prevent clogs and keep a home’s drains flowing freely. Garbage disposals use rotating blades to shred food trash into minuscule pieces, allowing these already biodegradable materials to be easily flushed down the pipes.
Disposal Maintenance
As is true with other appliances, one should take care of garbage disposals to keep them in excellent condition. Here are a few tips on how to best maintain a home garbage disposal:
- Use Often: Even if nothing needs ground up, running the disposal every couple of days helps flush it and keep it clean. Remember to flush it with generous amounts of water.
- Avoid Certain Foods: Potato peelings, banana peels, and other starches can seriously clog up the works of a garbage disposal and lead to buildup in the pipes and eventual blockage.
- Avoid Chemical Drain Openers: If things seem to be running slowly, don’t reach for that bottle of chemicals. It can cause serious damage to the appliance as it attacks everything in its path, not just the clog. This can lead to corrosion, leaks, or worse.
- Clean Regularly: Throwing a citrus peel and ice cubes to grind works to clean and deodorize the disposal. A baking soda and vinegar combination is also an effective cleaner.
Symptoms of a Broken Disposal
- It won’t turn on.
- It is making horrible high-pitched whining or grinding noises.
- It leaks water.
- It often needs to be reset.
- There is a foul persistent odor.
- There are inexplicable backups, clogs, or slow draining in the kitchen sink.
About A & W Plumbing and Heating, Inc.
Family-owned and operated A & W Plumbing and Heating, Inc. has served the Murphysboro, IL area since 2005. Their friendly and knowledgeable techs provide same-day service when possible and fast turnaround times. Call today for all commercial and residential plumbing needs.
