Garbage Disposals Maintenance
Maintenance Recommendations
Running the Disposal:
- Regularly running the disposal, even with cold water and no food scraps, helps prevent rust and corrosion, and flushes out any debris.
Using Cold Water:
- Cold water solidifies grease and fats, making them easier for the disposal to grind, while hot water can liquefy grease and cause it to build up.
Cleaning:
- A simple method for cleaning involves using baking soda and vinegar for a fizzing reaction that helps loosen debris and deodorize.
Sharpening Blades:
- Grinding ice cubes or citrus peels can help sharpen the blades and remove any buildup.
Garbage Disposal (Common Issues)
Common Problems:
- Clogs: Clogs are a frequent issue, often caused by food waste, grease, or non-food items getting trapped in the disposal or drain.
- Leaks: Leaks can occur due to worn-out seals, loose connections, or a damaged flange, leading to water pooling under the sink.
- Humming: A humming sound indicates that the motor is running but the blades are not rotating, often due to a jam.
- Not Turning On: The disposal may not turn on due to electrical issues, a blown fuse, or a broken switch.
- Slow Draining: Slow draining can be a sign of a partial clog in the disposal or drainpipe.
- Foul Odors: Foul odors can arise from accumulated food scraps and debris in the disposal or drainpipe.
Garbage Disposals (When to Replace)
- Frequent clogs: If your disposal is constantly clogging, it may be time to replace it, especially if you've tried to unclog it multiple times.
- Leaks: Leaks can indicate worn seals or other internal damage, potentially leading to water damage.
- Persistent odors: If you notice a strong, foul smell coming from the disposal, even after cleaning, it could be due to trapped food particles rotting, indicating it's time for a replacement.
- Unusual noises: If your disposal is making grinding, screeching, or other unusual noises, it could be a sign of internal damage or a failing motor.
- No power/Won't turn on: If your disposal won't turn on after checking the fuse, it's likely the motor has failed and needs to be replaced.
- Poor performance: If the disposal takes longer to grind food or is struggling to handle normal amounts of waste, it might be time to replace it.
- Age: Most disposals last between 8-15 years, but they can fail sooner if misused or improperly maintained.
Garbage Disposals (Electrical Work)
- Here at Unmatched Plumbing Company we do not move or add electrical outlets for garbage disposals. We will replace or install any unit, but any significant electrical work needs to be done by a licensed electrical contractor.
- We do not do garbage disposal installs unless there is already an outlet available.
- We do not do any advanced electrical diagnosis.
- If a unit is not working, but we are called out we will attempt to service and fix the unit, but if it is deemed by our technicians to be an electrical issue. Our time which includes dispatch, diagnosis, consumables, and labor will be billed regardless of a repair being completed or not.