Garbage Disposal Dos and Don’ts

Garbage disposals can make your daily life easier by efficiently eliminating food waste, protecting your drains from clogs, and aiding in environmental efforts. Caring for your garbage disposal may not always be at the forefront of your mind, but it should remain a priority for plumbing upkeep. If you tend to put the wrong things down your disposal, it can lead to a range of issues that could have been avoided by following proper garbage disposal guidelines.

This blog discusses the dos and don’ts when utilizing your garbage disposal and when you should hire a professional for expert plumbing services.

What Not To Put Down a Garbage Disposal

While garbage disposals work hard to safely promote food waste disposal, it does not mean that everything can or should go down your drain. To keep your system in good condition and prevent any issues with your plumbing, you should never run the following through your garbage disposal:

• Starchy foods: Items like pasta, rice, potato peels, and bread are a no-go as they easily expand by absorbing water and can clog your drain.
• Coffee grounds: Once brewed, coffee grounds become almost a paste that can get stuck in your drain, creating a clog.
• Oil, grease, and fat: While they may be liquid when they go down your drain, these substances congeal over time, leading to clogged drains.
• Bones: While garbage disposals are tough, they are not designed to grind up, especially hard items like animal bones.
• Stringy fruits and vegetables: The fibrous strands of fruits and veggies, including celery, artichokes, banana peels, lettuce, and similar items, can tangle around your disposal’s blades.
• Harsh chemicals: You may think cleaning supplies will not damage your disposal, but harsh chemicals can damage blades and pipes.
• Non-food items: Never put items that aren’t food waste, including plastic wrappers and paper towels, down your disposal.

How To Fix a Clog

Should your garbage disposal become clogged, there are some steps to take to try and resolve the solution yourself. Follow along with the below steps:

• Remove clogs by hand: If a clog is at the surface, turn off your disposal completely and remove anything blocking the drain with a gloved hand, tongs, or another tool.
• Run your system frequently: Regularly starting up your disposal will keep its parts running well, prevent rust and corrosion, and help prevent waste from accumulating.
• Baking soda and vinegar: Pour baking soda into the disposal, let it sit for 20 minutes, and then run hot water down the drain.
• Use a plunger: A sink plunger can suction out stubborn clogs.
• Drain snaking: A drain snake is a thin cable designed to snag and pull out items from drains.

When You Should Call a Plumbing Professional

When DIY clog removal fails, it’s time to call in a professional. If you notice some clogs don’t budge or become frequent, foul odors that won’t dissipate, the presence of leaks, or other something, a trained plumber will have the tools and experience needed to target the root of the problem and provide a quick repair solution.

Schedule Garbage Disposal Repair With Verne & Ellsworth Hann Today

Verne & Ellsworth Hann was established in 1907, and we’ve been delivering exceptional plumbing services ever since. One of the oldest family-run businesses in Cleveland Heights, we take pride in establishing long-lasting relationships with our community.

We offer outstanding customer service, and licensed and insured technicians complete our work. We are always committed to professionalism and integrity, ensuring you’ll receive the best results when you work with us!

Learn more about our quality garbage disposal services and schedule an appointment with our team today!