Food scraps create 10% to 20% of household waste and are a burden on the municipal waste system. Garbage disposals are one of the most useful appliances in your kitchen. Chopping up and disposing of leftover food within the existing plumbing system and a minuscule amount of electricity. About 50% or homes in the U.S. have garbage disposals, while only about 6% of the rest of the world does.
However, we at Flood Pro want to warn you that poor maintenance habits can lead to mechanical failure and home water damage. Your garbage disposal unit typically lasts seven years at most. Maximize the use of your garbage disposal by keeping it in good operating condition.
Run your garbage disposal on a regular basis. Turn on the water and run the disposal every few days. Any leftover food inside could harden, leading to odors and clogs.
Use dishwashing detergents that degrease your dishes. Grease is the ‘glue’ that holds bacteria causing odors in your drain pipes and adds to the likelihood of slow draining clogs.
Run cold water, not hot, when using your garbage disposal. Hot water melts the food your disposal is trying to grind up, allowing the waste to cling to the sides. Cold water, on the other hand, hardens food and makes it easier for the garbage disposal to grind it up and push it out the drain pipe.
Your garbage disposal is only so big, and its blades and motor are only so powerful, so cut waste into smaller chunks. Take your time. After your garbage disposal has finished grinding up the waste, keep it and the water running for a minute to ensure that all the food has been flushed out.
Every once in a while grind up peels from citrus fruits like lemons or oranges. The peel will help clear excess waste in the disposal and eliminate any unpleasant odors. Natural acidity helps suppress the bacterial growth associated with odors.
With any metal-sounding noise, use a light to check for an obvious source like a lost spoon. If there doesn’t seem to be anything blocking the blades, the disposal components may be misaligned so they grind together when you run the appliance. Other red flags are:
Whether your damage is from a busted pipe, severe weather, or leaking garbage disposal, Flood Pro in Aliso Viejo is the trusted water damage restoration team when disaster strikes. If you’re experiencing any type of water damage on your property, call for a home inspection.
Flood Pro technicians are trained and certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). They will quickly assess the situation to determine the fastest way of drying your property.