With so many holidays around this time of year that involve family get-togethers with lots of food, that means in-sink garbage disposals will be getting a serious workout – often too much of a workout. One of the most common reasons that residential plumbing services get called during the holidays is due to the garbage disposal or lower sink pipes getting clogged up.
There is a right way and a wrong way to use your garbage disposal, and using it the wrong way will just cost time and money. After all, residential plumbing services in Hesperia, CA, aren’t always cheap, especially if you’re trying to save money for celebrations.
So, we wanted to give a few tips on how to best use your garbage disposal.
Ease the Burden on Your Garbage Disposal with These Handy Tips
Minimize the Amount of Food Sent Through
It’s not a good idea to send large amounts of food through a garbage disposal. Most of it should still go in the trash, with the disposal handling small bits of food left over on the plate. This is particularly true if you have a septic tank – large amounts of food can harm it.
Run Cold Water When Grinding
One of the most common pieces of garbage disposal misinformation is that you should use hot water when grinding. Avoid this! Hot water can melt fat or grease, causing it to stick to the pipes. Cold water encourages the fat and grease to flow through.
Keep the Water Running
If you’ve just sent a large amount of material through your disposal, keep cold water running afterwards for another 30 seconds. This helps push all the food and debris through. Shutting off the water immediately after grinding will almost always leave some material in the pipes, where it can cause clogs.
Freshen Your Disposal Naturally
Harsh cleaners or cleaners can damage your garbage disposal, and potentially the pipes as well. If you think there’s some food stuck in it, grind up some ice cubes – they’ll usually knock the food loose. If you’re getting bad odors, try sprinkling in some baking soda or grinding up a couple lemon\lime slices.
Never Grind Non-Food Items
You honestly wouldn’t believe some of the things we’ve pulled out of garbage disposals. Nothing should go in it besides food, or else you’re asking for a clog… or a broken disposal.
Need More Help with Your Garbage Disposal?
Sometimes simple solutions don’t get the job done. In that case, call in Roto Rooter High Desert – Hesperia’s top choice in residential plumbing services. We’ll get your disposal fixed and ready for your next family gathering!
