How to operate your garbage disposal correctly, most common mistakes

You would be surprised what we as Appliance Repair Service have found in the garbage disposals. We have seen many items from kids’ toys, sunglasses to car keys. People usually drops those items by accidents, of course little kids probably drop their toys in purpose of experiment.

A garbage disposal unit, also known as a waste disposal unit, garbage disposer, is a device, usually electrically powered, installed under a kitchen sink between the sink’s drain and the trap. The disposal unit shreds food waste into pieces small enough – generally less than 2 mm (0.079 in) to pass through plumbing. The holidays is the busiest time for this units as well as stoves and ovens, with their endless vegetable peels and plate scrapings, these appliances found in almost all American homes and they work overtime during this time.

Our recommendations on how correctly operating your garbage disposal and save money on unnecessary repairs

Get best of your Garbage Disposal, learn how to use your appliance

First, start running cool water.

Second, turn on the disposal.

Third, slowly put food in, do not it put all at once.

Fourth, run the disposal until food is gone, about 20-40 seconds

Fifth, turn it off and let the water run for another 15-20 seconds to flush out the drain.

Cleaning your Garbage Disposal correctly is crucial for its lifespan.

You can use a bit of baking soda or slice of lemon/ lime as cleaners and they can eliminate odors. Also, you can run a water along with a few ice cubes, which will remove some food particles that may be stuck inside the disposal.

If the Garbage Disposal is stuck, not working or making humming noise, then preform the follow steps:

You can try turning the unit off and press the reset button (red color) under your unit.

If that doesn’t reset the appliance, then get your jam key (usually sold with most units) and insert the tool into the hole in the bottom of the disposal housing. You need to rotate it back and forth and see if it would clear the jam. If all these steps won’t help, then call an appliance repairman.

Here are few common mistakes while operating your garbage disposal that can damaged your unit:

Putting food waste and running a hot water at the same time. The cold water allows any grease to move through the pipes intact, on other hand, the hot water could melt fat and clog a pipe that would cause not only issue with your garbage disposal but also lead you to costly repairs on the pipes

Pouring any oil or grease into the disposal unit. The oil/grease would clog pipes very quick and you may see backing up water in your dishwasher and sink, in this case you would need a plumber.

Do not dispose any nonfood related items. As we mentioned above, we found many uncommon items in the disposals. Make sure it would be only food waste and nothing else, no plastic toys, cigarettes, silverware, bones, glass and etc, any hard material items can damage the disposal.

If you have a broken appliance and you are in Atlanta GA areas, please call us today at (404)903-1453 or contact via our 24/7 Online appointment form, and we will send our technician to fix your appliance as soon as possible.