Kitchen Disposal Tips | Plumbing Arlington

It’s important for homeowner’s to understand that kitchen disposals are not industrial grade equipment that grinds anything you can throw in it. If you put too much waste into the disposal, it becomes highly likely of clogging the drain pipe. Clogged drains related to inappropriate garbage disposal use is a common reason for service calls to provide the cleaning of drains in a home’s plumbing in Arlington. It is an easily avoidable problem when you use the kitchen disposal properly. The following kitchen disposal tips will assist you in the proper care and use of the appliance.

For example, when cleaning out the refrigerator don’t dump the leftovers down the garbage disposal to avoid clogging your plumbing in Arlington. Dispose of them in the trash. Overloading the disposal with large amounts of food is almost a guaranteed drain clog.

A continuous feed kitchen disposal is the most common. Its name comes from its operation which allows food waste to be added as the disposal is operated. Higher grade commercial models provide an extra blade that produces a finer cut of the material, and typically includes a reversible motor that allow jams to be cleared.

Operating Basics

The correct way to use your disposal is to first turn on the cold water and let it run for a few seconds. Then, with the water still running, turn the disposal on by flipping the wall switch and slowly feed small pieces of food waste into the unit. When the grinding has stopped and all the food has been flushed down the drain, turn the disposal off. Allow the water to run for a while after it’s stopped grinding food to ensure that the disposal and the drain are clear of food and then turn the water off. This helps to prevent clogs in both the disposal and the drain/sewer pipes of the homes plumbing in Arlington.

Always use cold water when operating the disposal. When the appliance is not in use, hot water can be used, but not while it runs.

Care of the Disposal

Cleaning – Run cold water down the drain after the grinding of food waste is complete. Add a little dishwashing liquid down the drain while the water runs to assist in loosening food particulates. You can use natural products to clean the disposal if you prefer not to use commercial cleaners to clean and prevent odors. Grinding up lemon and/or orange peels will clean the disposal and add a refreshing citrus scent. The grinding of ice cubes helps to clean the appliance. For intensive cleaning freeze vinegar in ice trays for a cleaning that fights bacteria and odor. Just grind a few cubes every few weeks for a fresher disposal and drain in your home’s plumbing in Arlington.

Professional Drain Cleaning Services

Every home would benefit from professionally cleaned drains every few years, and for homeowners who use a kitchen disposal it is especially important to maintain clean and free-flowing plumbing in Arlington.

Tips for Use

• When preparing food, set aside the waste and when ready to use the disposal feed small pieces into it slowly and one piece at a time while the cold water runs. Don’t overload it, or a jam and drain clogs will be more likely to occur, requiring professional cleaning of your plumbing in Arlington.
• Drain cleaners can damage the gaskets of the disposal. Anytime that you call a plumber and have used drain cleaners, inform the plumber in Arlington so he can protect himself from injury.
• Don’t place glass, paper, plastic or metal in the disposal. These materials can result in damage to the disposal, or jams and a clogged drain requiring the services of a plumber on the disposal and the homes plumbing in Arlington.
• Fat, oil or grease poured or scraped into the disposal will solidify and will eventually clog the drain. Dispose of in a closed container in the trash. For effective drain cleaning or other services to your plumbing in Arlington contact Benjamin Franklin’s professionals.
• Don’t place fibrous material into the disposal. Fibrous foods are “stringy” foods; banana peels, celery, corn husks or silks, onions skins and potato peels and others. In addition, pasta and rice should never be placed in the disposal. These are expandable foods and will expand in the presence of water. Furthermore, the starch they contain will cause them to stick and cling to the disposal and drain.
• Pits, seeds and bones can cause damage to the disposal blades, jam the disposal or lodge in the drain pipe. Dispose of them in the trash.
• Don’t place coffee grounds down the drain, they will cause a drain clog requiring drain cleaning of the plumbing in Arlington.

Troubleshooting

• Appliance Will Not Start – The majority of disposals have a reset button, typically located on the bottom. If your disposal isn’t working, first check to make sure that the electrical breaker is on. If the breaker is on and the unit is not functioning, press the reset button, if present.
• Jams of Conventional Disposal – Unplug the disposal or turn the power off at the circuit breaker before you begin. Use slender tongs or other suitable item to remove material. Some disposals provide a mechanism to remove jams. Locate the hex-shaped notch on the bottom of the appliance, typically in the center. Use an Allen wrench or the tool that came with the disposal.
• Insert the wrench into the hex-shaped notch and move the tool back and forth. Keep rotating the wrench until the blades move freely and the jam is cleared.

Kitchen disposals can be a convenience in the kitchen, unfortunately improper use can result in clogged drains and the need for repair of your plumbing in Arlington. We hope you find these kitchen disposal tips useful. Benjamin Franklin’s plumbers in Arlington, Texas ensure the highest standards of the plumbing industry are provided in a courteous, timely and professional manner. We serve Arlington, Fort Worth and the surrounding areas. We are a member of the BBB with A+ rating.