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First: The “Don’ts”

One of the more common mistakes made with a garbage disposal is simply knowing what you should and shouldn’t put into it. Large bones may be obvious, but grease, oil, fat, and even substantial, medium-sized bones should be avoided. Also, food that expands, such as rice and noodles, which can ‘grow’ and clog your disposal, are better off discarded in the trash. For larger food scraps like meat or fruit rinds, which can be put down most disposals, you can make your disposal’s job easier by cutting the scraps into smaller pieces, and methodically feed the unit, as opposed to cramming it full, all in one monumental disposal effort.

Another potential pitfall to absolutely avoid: NEVER put any chemical drain products through your disposal. These products are not compatible with most residential garbage disposals. If you want to help keep your disposal clean and safely break down small food debris that remains behind in your drain line and the disposal, consider periodically using a natural, bacteria/enzyme type of drain cleaning product. Your disposal will thank you.

The “Dos” of Disposals

>The first step in disposal care should always be to read through the entire manufacturer owner’s manual and store it in a convenient location to access later for refresher reading. After all, the people who designed your disposal know best how to care for it. Always strictly follow all safety instructions and warnings contained in the owner’s manual, as improper use of a disposal can be extremely dangerous.

>Second, make sure to always run COLD WATER down the drain when operating your garbage disposal, and right after turning the disposal off. This is the best way to help the disposal discard food particles and flush the drain line. Once all is clear, hot water is fine. And never run the unit without the water running; running water helps lubricate the disposal, and without it the unit may soon fail and need replacement.

>Consider occasionally grinding a small amount of citrus peel such as orange or lemon – always with cold water running! – to help keep the disposal and drain line fresh.

>Be sure to keep smaller items that often end up around or in the sink – such as silverware, bottle caps, straws, or any other glass, plastics or metals – from entering the disposal. We all know the sound, and it isn’t pretty!

If there are children in your household, take the time to teach and impress upon them the importance of safety around the disposal, per the manufacturer’s owner’s manual (for many younger ages, ‘hands-off!’ is the best policy). If you’re considering performing any service on the disposal yourself, be sure to follow the specific directions in the owner’s manual, and always unplug the disposal from the power source before doing anything. When in doubt, play it safe and contact a professional plumber like our team at Save Home Heat Company.