Find Out How to Troubleshoot Basic Garbage Disposal Problems

Most kitchens these days have a garbage disposal. It could make clean up and food preparations a whole lot easier on you. Typically attached underneath a sink drain within the kitchen,it has a chopping type of mechanism, similar in looks to the four pronged blade in a blender. This mechanism chews up scraps of food you feed down the drain. You must run water from the kitchen sink as you utilize the garbage disposal as it'll wash down the food particles chopped up by the blade. There's an arm type of mechanism which forcibly pushes the food particles and water down the drain.

Typically, it is hooked up with the dishwasher water supply. Often times, when the dishwasher drains, it will run through the disposal so that food particles from the plates, pans and glasses will wash away down the drain, just as if you used the disposal itself.

If you shop around for a new one, you will discover some of these appliances that use electric motors to power the grinding mechanism and draining process. However, there is also a new type of garbage disposal which relies on the force of water from the water spout of your sink. If there is no power outlet available for your garbage disposal, the water powered option is your best bet.

Taking care of a garbage disposal will extend its life, lasting over ten years if you do it right. Listed here are a variety ideas for operating your disposal which will prolong its life:

1. Always run water before and after you grind food in the disposal for proper drainage. In case you forget to rinse, food trapped inside the disposal will start to decay, creating a stench in your kitchen.

2. Only use cold water when grinding your food up within the disposal. The reason being that if there are any fats in the foods you grind up, they may melt in hot water, traveling through the pipes while cooling and eventually solidifying, causing a blockage.

3. Never use any chemicals like drain cleaners or bleach in the garbage disposal as they may harm it or reduce its operational capabilities, not to mention pollute the environment eventually.

4. Never put cooked or uncooked rice or pasta in the garbage disposal much less egg shells, coffee grounds, bones or fibrous vegetables and other foods. These can decrease the operating capacity of the appliance.

If something gets stuck within your disposal, never use your hands to remove the item since the blades could harm you. Instead, use a couple of tongs to get the item when possible. If it starts smelling less than fresh, chop up a bit of lemon and feed it down the drain while the warm water is running. Or, it is possible to crush up a handful of ice cubes along with rock salt and baking soda while running the water. Either practice should neutralize the odors in the disposal. If you take care of your disposal properly, you will be able to utilize it for years to come.



By Mark Meng
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4976990