Are you using your garbage disposal the way it was intended? If you’re like most residents of Carlsbad, California, the answer is probably not. We don’t blame you. We know that these kitchen sink appliances are touted as kitchen magicians, grinding up and whisking away any sort of food waste or scraps you can think of. But the truth is that the average, residential garbage disposal is not used properly, which can lead to mechanical failure.
At Carlsbad Ace Plumbing, we respond to service calls every day that involve inoperable disposal systems. Many times the problem could have been prevented if the customer understood the limitations of their disposal. The following are suggestions that will help you get many years of use out of your garbage disposal no matter what brand it is.
Consider the Food Waste You Put in the Disposal
Not all food waste is the same when it comes to running your garbage disposal. Some scraps are better suited to be thrown away in your trash can or added to your compost pile. Examples of foods that should never be placed in a disposal are the following:
- Onion skins
- Coffee grounds
- Celery stalks
- Grease/oils
- Carrot shavings
- Potato peels
These common food scraps have a tendency to become trapped between the blades of your disposal, making it hard for the flywheel to turn and potentially harming the motor. To make it simple, we tell our customers to restrict disposal usage to any foods that were left on a dinner plate, pot or pan, and cooking utensils.
Safely Prevent Odors
A lot of people run into problems when they try to clean their disposal using harsh, chemical cleaners from hardware stores. A disposal is going to emit odors every now and then, especially if all the food isn’t getting ground up. Instead of using chemical cleaners that can corrode the inside of your pipes and rust disposal blades, go the organic route. Citrus fruits that are quartered and ground up in the disposal will get rid of odors and leave your kitchen smelling fresh. You may also want to consider using vinegar ice cubes to disinfect and sharpen your disposal’s blade.
Garbage Disposal Repair and Installation in Carlsbad
If you run into problems with your garbage disposal, we’re ready to go to work for you. Call us anytime, day or night. We’ll send a local contractor to your home to inspect your disposal for leaks, wiring problems, and installation needs. We make our plumbing service available to you at your convenience.
We also offer several other kitchen and bathroom plumbing services, including replacing underperforming toilets with high-efficiency models and replacing faucets. Call us to discuss your project.
