Extend the Life of Your Garbage Disposal with These Tips

Posted on: August 22, 2013
By: Alan O'Neill
Posted in: Plumbing

The garbage disposal plays an important role in the kitchen, eliminating scraps and waste quickly and efficiently. However, in order to keep your garbage disposal working properly, you need to take good care of it. We’ve listed a few tips for extending the life of your garbage disposal below. For garbage disposal repair services in Houston, call Abacus Plumbing and Air Conditioning.

Never Pour Grease into the Sink

After cooking, it can be tempting to pour leftover grease down the sink. However, this is one of the worst things you can do for your garbage disposal. Over time, grease deposits can collect inside of the disposal and clog it, causing the disposal to stop working. By throwing away your grease the right away, as opposed to pouring it down the sink, you will keep your disposal running great for years.

Clean Disposal Regularly

Over time, food particles and other items can build up the garbage disposal, causing it to smell and work less effectively. In most cases, the best way to remedy this issue is to clean the disposal often. To do this, pour vinegar into an ice cube tray and let it freeze. Afterwards, take a vinegar ice cube out, put it down the disposal, and then run the disposal for a few seconds. For best results, this procedure should be followed once every few days.

Always Operate Disposal with Water

If you’re like most people, you’ve probably had a plumber tell you to always run your disposal with water. While this is common knowledge to many, it is one of the most important steps for ensuring that a garbage disposal runs for a long time. This is because water acts as a lubricant, allowing the teeth of disposal to grind up waste materials smoothly. When water is not used while the garbage disposal is running, the appliance might overheat and burn out its motor, leading to the need for a replacement.

If you are having problems with your garbage disposal, make an appointment with Abacus Plumbing & Air Conditioning by calling (713) 812-7070. We provide plumbing services for our valued customers in the Houston area and diagnose and repair garbage disposal problems. Contact us today to schedule service, or visit our website to learn more about the plumbing services we offer.