Keeping Your Disposal Running Strong

A garbage disposal is one of those household appliances that is often taken for granted. Many people think that the disposal can take on just about anything. Unfortunately, this is not the case and at JTM Plumbing we have many repair stories that prove otherwise.

‍The role of your disposal

‍The purpose of the disposal is to chop food waste into smaller pieces so that it can move through your plumbing pipes to a sewer or septic system. Generally speaking, a disposal can work its way through most small pieces of food without issues – the key word is “most.”

‍Operating the disposal properly

‍One of the keys to keeping your disposal running strong is water. Before you turn the disposal on, turn on a steady stream of cold water and keep the water on a few minutes after the disposal has been turned off.

In addition, just as it is important to cut your food before you eat it, make sure that you are not putting large chunks down the drain, and do not stuff everything inside the disposal at once. Let it work on a little bit at a time.  One of the best ways to keep your disposal working properly is to dispose of the right kinds of foods. Here are a few that should never be put down the drain.

• Bones – Hard objects such as bones, seeds and pits can be very damaging to your disposal. Throw them in the garbage and never down the drain.
• Coffee – While coffee might be a good pick-me-up for you, over time it could make your sink drainage sluggish. In addition to clogging the drain, it can also wear down the blades on your disposal.
• Egg shells – Fibrous foods such as egg shells, celery or zucchini have the potential to wrap around the disposal blades and clog your drain.
• Potato peels – Starchy foods such as pasta, potatoes and rice are known for backing up drains and creating a huge mess. Dispose of these in the garbage can as well.
• Grease – Even if you don’t have a disposal, pouring grease down the drain is never a good idea. While it will go into the drain liquid, as it gets further into the pipes, grease can harden and create a big headache.

If you have mistakenly put something down your disposal that causes issues, don’t despair, call the experts at JTM Plumbing.