Garbage disposals are great for keeping your kitchen free of waste and the bad smells that come with it. Not only that, but they’re also environmentally friendly! But garbage disposals do still need looking after and maintaining properly to keep them in good working condition. To help you avoid malfunctions and other problems with your garbage disposal, follow these tips. 

Know how to dispose of waste properly

Most problems with garbage disposals occur because of misuse. If you know how to use your disposal properly, then you can help keep it in good condition. Turn on the cold water over the garbage disposal before you start using it and leave it running as you are feeding waste into the disposal. You should leave the water running for around 15 seconds after the disposal has finished grinding.

Use it on a regular basis

To make sure all the parts remain functional and in good condition, you should use your disposal regularly. If it’s been a few days since you’ve used it and you still don’t have any waste to get rid of, just turn on the cold water and switch on the disposal to get it moving. 

Don’t put fat or grease down there

You’re told not to put leftover fat or grease down your drains because it will cause a clog, and the same goes for your garbage disposal. The disposal cannot break this down and can get clogged up as a result. There are much better options for disposing of grease, fat, and oil, like throwing it away in a sealed container.  

Clean your garbage disposal regularly

Like any other appliance in your home, your garbage disposal needs cleaning to keep it working properly and stop it from smelling. You can use a degreaser or a specific disposal cleaner to keep it clear of any grease that’s accumulated plus whatever else might be causing bad odors. Putting ice cubes down the disposal can also help to clean the insides of it. 

Have your garbage disposal replaced when necessary 

Problems will become more common the older your garbage disposal is. People often notice more problems when they’ve had their disposal for more than five years. The average lifespan of a household garbage disposal is around seven years, so you should consider a replacement if yours is older than this. 

Are you having problems with your garbage disposal? We can perform maintenance to find out what the problem is and fix it for you. Get in touch for this and other plumbing services around Forsyth, Davie, Davidson, and Guilford Counties.