If you have a garbage disposal at home, then you understand just how valuable this can be. Instead of having to deal with disgusting food going bad in your garbage can, you can simply dispose of it in your garbage disposal. On the other hand, if you want your garbage disposal to last for as long as possible, then you have to take care of it.
What are some of the top ways that you can take care of your garbage disposal? Take a look at a few helpful tips for cleaning and caring for your garbage disposal.
1. Don’t Forget About Your Traps
If you have floor drains, there is a good chance that you have trapped underneath them as well. The traps look like u-shaped pipes. Their job is to carry water down, up, and out of your home’s plumbing system. The goal of these traps is to prevent odors and gases from climbing back into your drains, fumigating your home with disgusting odors.
Every once in a while, you need to make sure that these traps are working properly. To do so, or a gallon of water down each floor drain in your home. This water should fill up the trap, forming a barrier between your home and its sewage system. If you notice gross odors making their way into your home through your garbage disposal, there might be something wrong with your traps. In this case, you need to call a professional plumber.
2. Deal with Clogs as Quickly as Possible
Eventually, your garbage disposal is going to get clogged. The culprit could be random food debris, congealed liquids, foreign objects, or anything else that ends up in the drain. If you notice a clog in your garbage disposal, you need to clear it as quickly as possible.
You may think about simply turning on the motor and waiting for it to start spinning again. The only thing this is going to do is burn out your motor. Instead, you need to clear the clog in your garbage disposal. In some situations, it may be helpful to reach out to a professional plumber who can do this quickly and safely. That way, you do not risk breaking your garbage disposal if you try to clear it on your own.
3. Perform Routine Maintenance on Your Garbage Disposal
Just because the blades of your garbage disposal are spinning does not necessarily mean that it is clean. Every once in a while, you should try to knock any debris off of the blades of your garbage disposal. This is important when it comes to garbage disposal maintenance.
For example, you may want to drop a few ice cubes down your garbage disposal and turn it on. These ice cubes are going to knock debris off the blades of your garbage disposal. You may also want to think about using lemon rinds if you want to get rid of odors that may be coming from your garbage disposal.
You may think that you can use liquid drain cleaner to clean your garbage disposal as well. Even though this drain cleaner may be helpful when it comes to clearing clogged, the caustic nature of these chemicals could damage your garbage disposal in the process. Therefore, if you have questions or concerns about cleaning your garbage disposal, you should reach out to a trained professional for help.
Contact a Professional Plumber for Help with Your Garbage Disposal
Your garbage disposal is one of the most important appliances in your home. You have to make sure that you get as much use out of it as possible. The only way this is going to happen is if you keep it clean. If you are interested in learning more about taking care of your garbage disposal, then reach out to a professional plumber today! Make sure that all issues are taken care of quickly and safely.