“Howe” to Care for and Maintain Your Garbage DIsposal

There are many things you can do to avoid those irritating back-ups in your garbage  disposal. Our San Diego drain professionals recommend to avoid putting anything in the drain, even if you have a disposal, you should use it sparingly and only for small particles left on your dinner plates. Here are some very helpful tips on extending the life and performance of your Garbage disposal.

Run cold water while the disposal is on- Keep disposer and water running for about a minute after the waste matter has cleared your drain. The waste still has a distance to go. Cold water keeps the motor, and shredder assembly from overheating. It also allows the waste go down easier because the water is pushing it down. Don’t use hot water, because it can melt fat and allow it to re-solidify as a blockage further down in the drain.

Clean it regularly- As you’re washing and rinsing dishes, use a little degreasing soap and water down the drain. You can also do this once a week to help clear grease buildup in your kitchen drain, preventing clogs before they happen. If you’re going to place dishes in the sink, make sure to use a drain strainer to capture any large food scraps with the disposal off, clean the inner side of the rubber in the center of the sink leading to the disposal. It gets very dirty, and gives off an odor when not cleaned. Just wipe it with a paper towel.

Throw some ice down once in a while- It’ll knock off any debris buildup on the sharp edges that keeps them from grinding food properly. You can even make special ice cubes from pure lemon juice or vinegar, or alternate with biodegradable cleanser, label them in your freezer! Cover and seal ice trays used in your freezer for cleanser, and do not reuse trays for food or drink after having been used for cleanser. While using the disposal, be sure to run cold water at the same time. Dispose of citrus rinds, to freshen the disposal and keep it smelling clean, but cut them into slices first as large pieces of citrus peel. (You can freeze these pieces first, if you wish.)

Avoid Grease– Do not pour grease, oil or fat into your garbage disposal or drain. Grease will slowly accumulate and impede your garbage disposal’s grinding ability as well as clog drains. Lastly, don’t put too many potato peels down the garbage disposal. The starches in the potatoes will turn into a thick paste and may cause blades to stick. Expandable foods into your garbage disposal like pasta and rice expand when you add water in a pot; they do the same thing once inside your pipes or garbage disposal and are the cause of many jams and clogs.

If you do happen to need a plumbing company, why not try Bill Howe? We have been providing the highest quality at affordable rates for over 35 years, and specialize in San Diego drain cleaning services. Call 1-800 Bill Howe (245-5469) for a quote or to schedule your drain snaking today!