Your Flower Mound, TX, kitchen stays busy with food preparation, leaving you with lots of cleaning at times. With a garbage disposal under your kitchen sink, you can save time during cleanup and dispose of much of your food waste efficiently. However, it’s important to understand how your garbage disposal works, how to care for it, and what to avoid so that you can get a long life from your system.
Read on and learn more about garbage disposals. If it’s too late and yours has already broken, call Honest Home Services LLC for trusted and skilled garbage disposal installation and repair from the top kitchen plumbing pros in Flower Mound.
How Does a Garbage Disposal Work?
A garbage disposal attaches to your kitchen sink drain to pulverize food waste before it moves through the system. The device connects to the drain that comes from the sink, then attaches at the other end to the drain leading out of the kitchen. The garbage disposal may be hardwired to an outlet under the sink, which connects to a switch nearby. With this method, you can flip the switch to turn it on and off.
Inside the disposal, you’ll find blades or teeth. These sharp appendages rotate and chew up food waste, churning it into the smallest of pieces to make it safe for your drainage system. Always run water through the drain when using the garbage disposal, as this helps liquify the waste and move it through the drains more efficiently and safely.
Keeping the Garbage Disposal Clean
Caring for your garbage disposal is a relatively easy task. Always run water when rinsing food through the disposal to avoid clogs and dry conditions. Once a week, run hot soapy water through the device to keep it clean. You can also toss a few ice cubes into the drain to keep buildup off the blades and side walls.
Citrus fruit peels, when cut into small pieces, can also freshen your garbage disposal and eliminate foul odors associated with food buildup. Always make sure to cut these peels and rinds into small enough pieces to move through the system easily.
However, the best way to keep your garbage disposal healthy and clean is to follow strict rules on what can and can’t move through it safely. If you install a new garbage disposal, it’s crucial to learn about what items can cause problems for both the disposal and your drainage system.
What to Avoid Putting in the Garbage Disposal
Though your garbage disposal helps with food waste, not everything is safe for the appliance. Take a look at the list below of common food items that should not be put down the kitchen drain, even with a garbage disposal.
Grease, Oil, and Fat
Even in liquid form, grease and oil are harmful to your drains. These substances harden as they cool and can very easily stick inside your drain pipes. As they harden, they may trap other substances and form a blockage. When dealing with hot grease and oil, pour it into a glass container to cool, and then, toss it in the trash.
Eggshells
Though eggshells are not too hard for the blades of your garbage disposal, they have a membrane inside them that can cause problems. This sticky membrane can wrap around the blades of your garbage disposal, causing stress and damage to the blades. The sticky membrane may also stick to your drain pipes, leading to buildup over time. Toss eggshells in the trash or compost pile.
Coffee Grounds
Coffee grounds clump together when wet and can create a hard mass as they dry in this form. They may then stick to the insides of your garbage disposal or drains and build up, increasing the risk of obstruction. Compost coffee grounds or toss them in the trash.
Animal Bones
Animal bones are risky for your garbage disposal and drainage system for several reasons. First, animal bones can damage the teeth or blades in your disposal and go down the drain whole. The second problem with bones is that they often have an irregular shape with sharp or pointed ends. This shape can easily become lodged in the drainage system and could puncture your drain pipes.
Fibrous and Starchy Foods
Fibrous fruits and vegetables may have stringy portions that wrap around the blades of your garbage disposal and damage the motor. Starchy foods often expand with water, leading to a larger mass than when they went down the sink drain. Starchy foods and fibrous produce can also stick inside the drain beyond the garbage disposal, causing blockages and foul odors. Dispose of these foods in the trash or compost. Keep in mind that citrus rinds and banana peels can also be very hard and fibrous. They should also be disposed of separately.
Non-Food Items
If it’s not food, it has no business in the garbage disposal. This includes napkins and other paper products, wipes (even if they claim to be flushable), and even stickers found on fruits and vegetables. These items can jam up your garbage disposal and clog your drains. Always dispose of non-food items in the trash or recycling bin.
Chemicals
Chemicals can corrode your garbage disposal and drains. These should be kept out of the kitchen sink drain to prevent premature damage to your system. Even liquid drain cleaners have harsh chemicals that can actually damage your drains and leave you with leaks and other issues.
When to Call for Professional Garbage Disposal Service
If your garbage disposal isn’t working as it should, give our plumbers a call to schedule service. We can make repairs when your disposal stops operating, makes strange noises, or even emits a foul odor. We can also handle drain issues related to the garbage disposal. This could include clogged drains in the kitchen and burst drain pipes due to pressure caused by buildup.
If you have an older garbage disposal, we may recommend replacing it. Newer garbage disposals work more efficiently and have better technology. This helps protect your drains even more, so you can avoid clogs and other drainage disruptions. If the time is right, we’ll quickly install your new garbage disposal and ensure it’s secure, leak-free, and ready to pulverize your food waste.
Call Us Today for Your Garbage Disposal Needs
At Honest Home Services LLC, we know how important your home’s kitchen is. This is a place you spend a lot of time and like to keep clean and sanitary. With our skilled garbage disposal services, we can help you make cleanup a breeze and promote healthier drains as well.
Our plumbing service has years of experience in garbage disposals, kitchen plumbing, and drain services. Reach out today if you’re ready to get started with a new garbage disposal or if you need help restoring normal function to your existing appliance.
Keep your kitchen tidy and your drains healthy with a garbage disposal in your home. Call Honest Home Services LLC today for expert garbage disposal installation and repair.
