Whether you are a gourmet chef or simply rinse out the Tupperware once a week, your kitchen has multiple opportunities to spill water and damage your home. One area to keep an eye on: your under sink garbage disposal. About 50% U.S. homes have garbage disposals, and the maintenance can be easy to overlook. In general, a unit lasts about seven or less years– then mechanical failure can lead to home water damage.
Over time, water may seep through some of the areas where your disposal connects to the rest of your plumbing system. These leaks may leave puddles under your sink, pool on the floor by your cabinet, or drip from under the garbage disposal itself. It’s easy to mistake a dishwasher or sink leak for a disposal leak so have a water damage restoration team like American Craftsman, located in Santa Clarita, find the cause of any leak that seems like it could be coming from your disposal.
For Best Results–
Honestly, what you can put down the garbage disposal depends on two things: the model and your town. Modern, high-end garbage disposals can grind more types of food than the original older models or the basic replacement unit.
Secondly, most cities’ plumbing systems cannot handle large amounts of food waste. Just because your disposal can grind something down does not mean that your home’s plumbing can handle it or that your cities’ waste system can process whatever you send down the drain.
Run your garbage disposal on a regular basis. Turn on the water and run the disposal every few days. Any leftover food inside could harden, leading to odors and clogs. Use dishwashing detergents that de-grease your dishes.
Run cold water, not hot, when using your garbage disposal. Hot water can melt the food your disposal is trying to grind up, allowing the waste to cling to the sides. Cold water, on the other hand, hardens food, making it easier for the garbage disposal to grind it up and push it out the drain pipe.
Every once in a while grind up peels from citrus fruits like lemons or oranges. The peel will help clear excess waste in the disposal and eliminate any unpleasant odors; natural acidity helps suppress the bacterial growth associated with odors.
To protect the unit and your kitchen:
- Don’t pour bleach or drain cleaner down the disposal, both can damage plumbing.
- Don’t put coffee grounds in garbage disposals. Coffee grounds will not harm the garbage disposal but can accumulate in your plumbing which causes other issues.
- Don’t put excessive amounts of pasta, rice, potatoes, potato peels, or other starchy foods down the garbage disposal. Just like coffee grounds, they won’t harm the garbage disposal but can build up in your home’s pipes and cause clogs.
Signs of Imminent Failure
When any metal-sounding noise, use a light to check for an obvious source like a lost spoon.
If there doesn’t seem to be anything blocking the blades, the disposal components may be misaligned so that they grind together when you run the appliance. Another red flag is the need for frequent resets– a sign of age. Another common cause of frequent resets is loose wiring; have a plumber or electrician to resolve safely.
Over time, water may seep through some of the areas where your disposal connects to the rest of your plumbing system. Often, by the time a disposal becomes large enough to be noticeable, it will require full appliance replacement.These leaks may leave puddles under your sink, pool on the floor by your cabinet, or drip from under the garbage disposal itself. It’s easy to mistake a dishwasher or sink leak for a disposal leak so a water damage restoration team like American Craftsman finds the cause.
Water Damage Restoration In Santa Clarita
Although a garbage disposal is a relatively simple and inexpensive appliance, a leaking or malfunctioning unit can lead to a lot of damage to your kitchen cabinets, walls and floors. We have been providing expert restoration services in homes and businesses for over 20 years. Here in Southern California, they provide expertise, craftsmanship and the highest safety standards to every project.
