It seems as though you can’t own a home with a garbage disposal and never experience a problem with it. This type of issue can be rather frustrating, especially since the device makes it so simply for you to cook and clean without concerning yourself with clogs. Plus, it seems like such a small issue to call a plumber for, right?
Of course if you do have an insurmountable problem, our professional plumbers are more than happy to help. But in the meantime, we’ve shared some tips with you to help avoid common garbage disposal issues and keep this plumbing component in good condition.
Avoid Putting Damaging Items Down Your Drain
The easiest way to take care of your garbage disposal is to avoid damaging it. Of course, to do that you need to know what can and cannot go down the drain. Most things that you can chew with your teeth are acceptable, but there are exceptions. Here are some of the items that you should never put down your disposal unit.
- Hard food such as bones, popcorn kernels, and fruit pits.
- Non-food items like plastic wrappers.
- Stringy, fibrous substances such as onion skins and large pieces of celery, as they can wrap around the unit.
- FOG (Fats, oils, and grease. These items harden as they cool and can cause clogs within your drainpipe.)
Know How to Clean It
In order to keep your garbage disposal working smoothly and to avoid foul odors, you’ll need to keep your garbage disposal clean. We advise against using chemical drain cleaners that you can find in hardware stores, as they can wear down the pipe lining, and are toxic. Instead, you can simply dump some baking soda down the drain, and follow it up with white vinegar.
If you’ve found yourself needing garbage disposal repairs in Ashburn, VA, contact AllTech Services, Inc. today!