The garbage disposal in your kitchen can be a lifesaver during the holiday season. Yet, you still want to be careful in what you allow to go down your kitchen drains. Keep reading to learn our tips for how to care for a kitchen garbage disposal this holiday season and all year long.
If you experience any problems and need a little professional help, give our team a call for plumbing service in Rochester. No problem is too small or too big. We are here to help you throughout the entire holiday season with all of your plumbing needs.
Monitor What Goes Down the Drain
Many people think having a garbage disposal means that you can throw any food down the drain without issues. But there are some things that cause problems, even for garbage disposals. Examples of things that should not go into a garbage disposal include fibrous fruits and vegetables, fats and oils, eggshells, coffee, grounds, bones, and meat. This list is not exhaustive, but it’s a good place to start. If you have any doubts about what should or shouldn’t go down the drain, throw it in the trash instead.
Garbage disposals are fantastic, but they will only work well if you take care of them. Before turning your garbage disposal on, take a peek down the drain to make sure a rogue utensil didn’t slip inside. Turning your garbage disposal on with any foreign objects in the drain can cause major problems. If you want, you can invest in a drain cover that protects anything too big from going into the garbage disposal without you realizing it.
Keep it Clean
Garbage disposals are prone to grimy buildup thanks to the food that winds up going down the drain. Pieces of food can stick to the garbage disposal and collect bacteria or allow mold to grow. Clean your garbage disposal regularly with cleaning pods that are specifically designed for garbage disposals. The grime that builds up can cause your garbage disposal to corrode and not last as long as it otherwise would.
If you can’t find any products specifically designed for a garbage disposal, you can use baking soda and vinegar to break down tough residue. Follow the mixture with some antibacterial dish soap, and turn on your garbage disposal to help clean it. If your garbage disposal starts to smell bad, you need to go ahead and clean it sooner rather than later. Plan on a regular cleaning schedule of at least once a week to prevent grime from becoming too significant.
Invest in Professional Care
You should be scheduling professional maintenance for your home’s entire plumbing system whether or not you have a garbage disposal. But having a garbage disposal makes it that much more important that you schedule the annual appointment.
Our team can check your to make sure the appliance is working the way it should. We can do a deeper cleaning and check to make sure that everything is secure and operating at its best. This can prevent any unexpected breakdowns that might otherwise happen. We can also offer care and usage tips to help keep your garbage disposal in the best shape possible.
Contact Potter Heating Cooling & Plumbing today to schedule your plumbing services. Our team is here to help with all of your heating and air conditioning needs.