Your garbage disposal can be a great help when it comes to disposing of kitchen waste, if it’s used properly. These appliances do have their limitations, and are not the equivalent of your garbage can — not everything should go down the drain.
You will want to avoid three basics types of waste:
- Fibrous material, such as the peelings of certain fruits and vegetables, which can catch on the impeller blades
- Hard material, such as bones, which can break the impeller blades
- Starchy material, such as pasta, which can form a clog
Following are some additional tips on how to use your garbage disposal safely, to avoid clogs and breakdowns.
Tips for Safe Garbage Disposal Use
Never put these things down the disposal:
- Non-food items, such as paper or plastic. No cigarette butts, either
- Anything combustible
- Grease, oil or butter. Not even small amounts of oily or greasy substances are safe, nor is it safe to try to flush grease with hot water. Always wipe dishes and pans out before you wash them in the sink where the disposal is. Grease will congeal down the line when poured down the drain and form a clog.
- Pasta, potato peels or rice. Add water to sticky, starchy substances and they will form a paste that will clog your plumbing.
- Fibrous fruits or vegetables. Banana peels, onion skins, corn husks and artichokes can entangle the impeller blades and cause the motor to burn out.
- Harsh chemicals. You can damage your pipes with caustic cleaners.
- Coffee grounds. These will stop up the drain.
For safe operation, always do the following:
- Feed small amounts of food wastes into the disposal at a time.
- Run cold water whenever you run the disposal.
- Allow water to run at least 15 seconds after you turn off the motor.
- Toss in a few ice cubes now and then and turn on the motor to clean the blades. Vinegar ice cubes are even better for cleaning bacteria.
To learn more about safe use of your garbage disposal, contact Energy 1 Heating and Air Conditioning. We serve Lorain and the surrounding area.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about garbage disposals and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 440-201-2959.
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Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area