Garbage disposals are some of the most overused and even abused appliances in your kitchen. A complete lack of attention to them, as well as trying to grind up too many of the wrong items, could end up leading to anything from blockages to clogs, jams, nasty odors, and some pretty pricey plumbing bills. However, many of these common garbage disposal problems are completely avoidable. With a little bit of care and some routine maintenance, you can easily keep your garbage disposal in good shape while also extending its life and saving on repairs.

Garbage Disposal Dos and Don’ts

Like any other piece of equipment, whether it’s in your kitchen or somewhere else in the home, there are some things you can do to keep it maintained. When it comes to your garbage disposal, you can maintain it by:

• Using cold water while running it
• Slowly feeding food into it
• Waiting for at least 30 seconds after turning it off before turning off the water
• Calling the professionals at Drain Surgeon if your disposal becomes seriously clogged in spite of your efforts

Proper maintenance also requires that you avoid putting anything down the disposal that may lead to issues. These are some common foods (and other things) that should never go into your garbage disposal:

• Asparagus or celery – The fibrous strings can tangle your disposal’s blades.
• Beans and potato peels (or any other starchy veggies) – These can all can end up causing clogged disposals.
• Bones – They tend to spin around and around and even if they go down, they could get stuck in your drain pipe.
• Coffee grounds – Surprisingly, coffee grounds never fully break down, which means they can build up and lead to clogs.
• Eggshells – The membrane linings could stick to the sides of your disposal, wrap around the blades, and cause major clogs.
• Fruit pits – The blades can’t cut through them.
• Grease – All grease and oil could clog your pipes.
• Pasta- Whether it’s spaghetti, linguine, or macaroni, all pasta can keep expanding when it’s exposed to water (even if fully cooked) and clog your garbage disposal trap or cause much bigger problems.

Garbage Disposal Life Expectancy

Just like all other appliances, all garbage disposals have a life expectancy. Of course, that life expectancy is mainly dependent on how it gets used and maintained. If you understand this very basic premise, it can help you avoid problems and plan for any future repairs if they should ever become necessary.

To find out more and increase the life expectancy of your disposal, you can turn to The Drain Surgeon for more tips. Of course, if you run into problems, you can also reach out to us for a full range of plumbing services, including drain cleaning, in Augusta, the city where you can find not only warm weather but also a fairly low cost of living. If you’re having trouble with your garbage disposal, contact us today. We’re here to help you at an affordable price.