What’s the best plumbing in the world? Plumbing that doesn’t cause you any problems.
Unfortunately, no such animal exists. That’s why careful home owners – especially those who hate the hassle and expense of plumbing problems – take steps to avoide problems in the first place.
Today, we’d like to help you do exactly that by sharing with you 6 effective ways to maintain your garbage disposal and help keep it in good working order.
1. Less is More
If your home were an industrial kitchen, you’d have a much more heavy duty garbage disposal than you already do. So the point is not to treat your garbage disposal as it it were heavy duty. When possible, put food in disposable containers instead of putting everything through your disposal. And when you do grind up food, a little at a time will help prevent it from jamming.
2. No Fibrous Foods, Please
Fibrous foods are the kiss of a disaster for your average, hard-working garbage disposal. So to help make sure it continues to keep working hard, avoid grinding up any of the following foods: banana peels, sweet potatoes, celery, string beans, spinach, and anything else of the kind.
3. Wash it Down
Just as water makes it infinitely easier for you to swallow a pill, running water helps your garbage disposal more effectively process food. In fact, they’re manufactured to run when wet. So turn on the water before inserting food, and keep it running during operation and for about 30 seconds afterwards, too.
4. If it Ain’t Broke, Reset It
Most garbage disposals are built to give you a second chance before the need arises to call a plumber for professional assistance. So if yours suddenly stops working, first try pushing the reset button. And if that doesn’t work, check to see if the breaker has tripped or the fuse has blown.
5. Something up Your Sleeve!
Hey, nothing wrong with having a trick or two up your sleeve, especially one that works and could end up saving you some money. So here’s one from your friends at Norhio Plumbing: if your disposal jams up and resetting it doesn’t help and you’re sure the unit has power, then grab a pair of tongs, reach in, and pull out what you can. If that doesn’t work, try sticking a broom handle inside the disposal to see if you can rotate the blades. But never, ever put your hands inside a disposal. It’s simply not safe.
6. Fresh as a Daisy?
Garbage disposals are prone to get a little “ripe” from time to time, but by adding in a drop or two of lemon juice and then immediately turning the unit on for a few seconds, you could end up having the best smelling garbage disposal on your block.
When all else fails and your garbage disposal just won’t work, then one call to Norhio Plumbing can quickly rectify the problem. We service and repair all makes and models, and with multiple parts on our trucks at all times, most often we can fix the problem with just one visit to your home. Call today for the courteous and expert assistance that are trademarks of Norhio Plumbing.
