Here’s what you should know…
Your garbage disposal is an integral part of your kitchen plumbing. The disposal aims to grind food so your kitchen pipes don’t get clogged or backed up. If your garbage disposal breaks, you won’t be able to scrape food into the sink, and there is a possibility you may not be able to use your sink at all. Here are some basic dos and don’ts to keep your garbage disposal running correctly.
Do: Use the Disposal
You should begin doing that today if you haven’t regularly run your garbage disposal. Regularly running the disposal ensures all the moving parts in the garbage disposal are functioning correctly. Plus, the more you run it, the more likely you will recognize a problem with it. Like a car, the longer you leave it dormant, the harder it is to start it up when you want it.
Do: Use Water With the Disposal
Using water with the garbage disposal will help soften the food and move it through the garbage disposal easy. Cold water is much easier to safely get items such as grease or oil down through the garbage disposal system. Not using water can make the disposal system work overtime and cause more clogs in the pipes.
Don’t: Put Grease or Oil Down the Disposal
You should NEVER put any grease or oil down your garbage disposal. Doing so causes the grease or oil to act as a lubricant on the blades, thus making them ineffective. Not only will the blades start to lose effect on the waste, but when disposed of with other food, the grease will make the waste very difficult to get through the system and ultimately cause a system failure.
Do: Use Cold Water
When running the garbage disposal, be sure only to use cold water. While it is safe to use hot water when not running the garbage disposal, hot water will only cause blockages while the disposal is running. The hot water acts as an adhesive and binds items such as oils or fats together. This makes it harder on the disposal to break up the food and can damage your garbage disposal motor and blades.
Don’t: Put Food That Expands Down the Disposal
While it may seem tempting, you should not put expandable food such as rice down the garbage disposal. When you put these items down the disposal, they can still expand from the running water as you wash them down the drain. This is a common reason why many garbage disposals get backed up or completely blocked.
Don’t: Use Harmful Chemicals
You should avoid using toxic chemicals such as bleach and Drano to fix garbage disposal. Putting the wrong kind of chemical on the blades may cause corrosion or rust to form on the blades and pipes. Instead, call a plumber to fix the blockage safely and get your garbage disposal up and running quickly.
We are all looking to save some money where we can, but when it comes to plumbing issues, you may need to contact a plumbing service that can save money in the long run. “Small” problems such as floods and dripping faucets can cost hundreds of dollars in damages and bills. To help you decide whether your plumbing issue requires professional help, we’ve compiled a brief list of instances where you can contact us).
Flooding
Unresolved flooding is an obvious sign to many that it’s time to call a plumber. If your flooding is related to a leaking or broken pipe, you may call our plumbing service. The faster you react to a flooding incident in your home, the better. Flooding is known to cause permanent damage to wood, furniture, carpet, and paint, which can cost hundreds of dollars to repair.
Home Repair
Give us a call for the small repair needs that can just be annoying as a homeowner. Dripping faucets not only drives you crazy but can run the water bill up, dripping hundreds of gallons down the drain every year. Low water pressure is another common issue, usually related to the build-up of minerals inside aerators and shower heads. In sporadic cases, low water pressure attributes to a pipe breach that can endanger your home’s infrastructure. If you are experiencing reoccurring clogged drains that will not go away after using a plunger, chemicals, or drain snake, you may consider a professional’s help.
Remodeling
You are looking for a change of scenery within your home or work and may need installation help. We would happily install your new toilet or faucet to give your home the look and feel you want!
Water Heater Issues
So you jump into what you thought was a hot shower and get greeted with cold water! You may have a water heater issue that is too complicated to tackle alone. Many water heater complications are easy fixes, but you may need someone to replace them in a cracked tank.
Contact Lowery Today to Get 24/7 AC Service!
Why wait until something goes wrong? Invest in 24/7 plumbing and HVAC service today. Enjoy the peace of mind of knowing your garbage disposal is in good hands. Contact Lowery today for your 24/7 service today!
