

Liquid plumr garbage disposal how to#
How to Clean a Garbage Disposal : 5 Methods When oils, grease, and fats dry, they harden, creating a landing spot for more food to land and form a clog. Hot water spreads fats, oils, and grease around the disposal and into the pipes. The temperature of rinsing water you use to clean the garbage disposal matters - hot water is not the correct type of water. During that time, turn on the water and let it run for one minute to clear away waste stuck inside. Therefore, the correct way to use the disposal is to keep it on after the food grinding process is complete. The waste inside the device eventually builds up and prevents water from passing through. This is the incorrect way to use a disposal.

Not Washing Away Leftover WasteĪfter use, the disposal switches to an “off” mode, only coming back on when it's time to grind more food. A garbage disposal's attempt to grind these items will result in jamming. Fabric, plastic, sponges, and washcloths also don't cut well on the impeller blades. If they get stuck in the pipeline, they will prevent other items from going down the drain. Paper, fabric, foil, plastic, a washcloth, a sponge, and flower plant clippings are noise-free yet contribute to clogs and jams.įlower plant clippings, paper, and foil cut well but contribute to clogs - the wet clumps are not easy to push down the drain. Silverware makes a grating noise sound on contact, causing a jam in the device. When non-food objects come in contact with the garbage disposal, it could damage your disposal. The only thing that should go down the garbage disposal is food. This means larger chunks get through, contributing to disposal clogs and breaking the electrical circuit near the reset switch. When you put too much in the disposal at once, instead of concentrating on chopping only a few items at once, the disposal will do a less-than stellar job at chopping a large portion at once. A second way to tell if you’ve overwhelmed the garbage disposal is seeing a water-food mix backing up into the sink. One way to tell if your garbage disposal is overwhelmed is if no food is moving around inside when you peek inside the disposal with a flashlight. An overwhelmed garbage disposal makes a humming noise. Testing and pushing the unit's limitations will overwhelm it. Too Much Too FastĪnother misconception - the garbage disposal can handle tons of food at once. Starchy vegetables like beans and potato peels create a thick paste similar to grease, fat, and oil when hardened. Coffee grounds and eggshells grind into granules that are tiny and sticky, making it easy to reach small areas and cause issues. Prevent the passage of food and water: Grease, fat, and oil harden and clog the disposal and drain. Wrap around the blades and prevent easy movement: Stringy items like pasta, celery, asparagus, corn husks/silk, lettuce, and banana peels will keep the disposal from properly working. Hard to chop: Bones, pits, corncobs, seeds, and ice cubes are too difficult for a garbage disposal to handle. One common misconception about garbage disposals is they can handle any food you stuff inside, including all food parts.

Food is one reason, but it’s not the only reason.

It's important to understand the cause behind a clogged garbage disposal so you can properly address the issue.
