Garbage disposals are a really important part of your kitchen’s plumbing system. It’s not unusual for people to simply put their food waste down the sink and flush it down the drain. However if you do this, all that food waste can clog your pipes, resulting in backups and other problems. This is where garbage disposals come in. Waste disposals are designed specifically to grind up food waste so it can safely travel through your pipes. If you have any problems with yours, it’s best to call a plumber.
Do all Garbage Disposals fit all Sinks
The answer is no. Waste disposals are available in different sizes, so if you have a small sink, you might need a smaller sized model than if you have a big sink. Nevertheless, there are some universal models that can be installed on any sink. If your sink is bigger than the disposal’s opening, you might need to have your plumber install an adapter or include a second drain.
How does a Garbage Disposal Work
A garbage disposal is an electrically powered device with sharp blades that shred food waste into little particles that can go through plumbing systems. It’s actually pretty simple: Water from your sink flows down the drain and into the garbage disposal. When you turn on a switch, the blades spin around at about 2800 RPMs (revolutions per minute), slicing up whatever you’ve put down the drain. The spinning blades even help to move waste through pipes and back into the sewer system.
You should run your garbage disposal for about ten seconds each time you use it before flushing liquids or grinding food with it. This allows you to make certain that the blades are spinning freely and that there isn’t anything stuck in them. If there is an issue with your garbage disposal, this will help you to learn sooner instead of later.
What Shouldn’t You Put in a Waste Disposal
Garbage disposals are terrific for getting rid of unwanted food scraps and other things you can’t put down the drain. However not everything you put down the disposal is safe for it. According to Consumer Reports there are some things you will want to avoid putting in there.
Here’s a list of the items you ought to never put in your garbage disposal:
- Fats, oils and grease: Fats, oils and grease will congest your pipes and your garbage disposal. They cause bad odors and can make your sink overflow.
- Pasta: Pasta has a tendency to swell up when it gets wet. This is an indication it might get stuck in the drain or clog up your pipes.
- Stringy vegetables: Celery, asparagus stalks and corn husks can wrap around the blades of your garbage disposal and get captured in the drain pipe.
- Rice: Rice is another food that tends to swell when wet, so toss it away instead of putting it down your drain!
- Bits of glass or metal: even small pieces can damage the blades of your disposal and create water leaks. Always wash out any food particles before putting it down a disposal as these particles can wear down the metal parts in time and create rust around them which will block the drain hole beneath your sink if left unattended.
How to Clean Your Garbage Disposal
When you’ve got a garbage disposal and you’re using it frequently, you’ll want to keep it in good working order. Regular cleaning will help keep your waste disposal running efficiently. Additionally, it will prevent odors and leaks, and lower the chance that the blades will get damaged.
Here are five approaches to keep your garbage disposal clean and running efficiently:
- Use baking soda and vinegar
- Run ice through a cold cycle
- Pour salt down the drain
- Use an enzyme cleaner
- Dispose of citrus skins in the sink
When to Call a Plumber Near me in Moore, OK.
Waste disposals are a fantastic convenience. They enable us to quickly and easily deal with food scraps and other items that we don’t want in the garbage. However, they can also be a source of frustration when they get clogged or damaged.
If your garbage disposal is making weird noises or is having difficulty breaking down food waste then there is likely an issue with either the blades or the motor itself. Let the plumbers at Mullin Plumbing Oklahoma City help! Call (405) 943-0009 and have a plumber near me come out and evaluate the situation before it ends up being a bigger issue.
What is Considered a Plumbing Emergency?