By ag.plumbing Clearwater and St. Petersburg Garbage Disposal Care
Good garbage disposal care starts with knowing what your unit can handle. Although a disposal helps with small food scraps, it cannot replace your kitchen trash can. Large loads, grease, and unsuitable materials can cause problems in the unit or the drain below it.
Garbage disposal care: foods and materials to avoid
First, check the instructions for your specific model. Grinding capacity varies, so a food that one unit handles may be unsuitable for another. InSinkErator’s operating guidance also stresses using cold water and avoiding fats, oils, and grease.
- Rice and pasta: Avoid sending large amounts into the drain. Instead, scrape leftover portions into the trash or an appropriate food-waste container.
- Stringy vegetables and peels: Fibrous scraps can be difficult for some models to handle. Check the manual before grinding celery, corn husks, or similar material.
- Eggshells: Do not grind large quantities. These can leave particles in the drain, so follow your model’s instructions.
- Bones and hard objects: Keep large bones, utensils, glass, plastic, and metal out of the unit. Also, inspect plates before scraping small scraps into the sink.
- Grease and oil: Let cooking grease cool in a suitable container and dispose of it in the trash. Do not pour it down the disposal or another drain.
Use cold water and small portions
Before starting the disposal, run cold water into the sink. Then, feed suitable scraps gradually instead of packing the chamber full. Continue the water flow during grinding and for the period recommended by the manufacturer afterward.
For example, InSinkErator’s care instructions recommend running the disposer with cold water for 15 seconds after grinding finishes. Your own manual is the best guide for your model. Avoid chemical drain openers in the unit.
When to call a plumber
If the disposal hums without grinding, leaks, or leaves the sink backed up, stop using it. Never put your hand into the disposal. Also, avoid repeatedly switching on a unit that appears jammed. A plumber can check whether the problem is in the appliance, its connections, or the drain.
Plumb Crazy Plumbers offers garbage disposal services in Pinellas County. We can assess your current unit and discuss repair or replacement. Tell us the model, the symptoms, and when the problem began.
For garbage disposal care and service in Clearwater, St. Petersburg, and nearby communities, call 727-729-9400.
