The garbage disposal unit is easily one of the most useful appliances you can have in your home. This handy appliance makes your life a lot easier by making quick work of getting rid of all the leftovers, letting you handle kitchen clean-up duty much faster. Garbage disposal units also give you the peace of mind that you don\u2019t have to worry about your plumbing clogging up since it obliterates the food scraps before they go down the drain.<\/p>\n
However, you might not have considered that these garbage disposal units are not entirely impervious to damage. If you fail to take care of them, they might not last more than just a few years before you have to replace them.<\/p>\n
Just like with any appliance in your home, taking care of your garbage disposal\u2019s maintenance can help you keep it running smoothly for far longer. All it takes is a mindful approach to how you use it to get the most out of it without damaging it beyond repair.<\/p>\n
Today, we will share a few crucial garbage disposal tips to help you extend its lifespan. Following these tips can ensure that you won\u2019t find yourself calling a plumber in Tyler, TX, to perform repairs or bring a replacement unit for it frequently.<\/p>\n
It might seem like a strange suggestion to use cold water to pour down with the food instead of hot water. After all, hot water is greater at helping you keep things clean. The problem with using hot water when disposing of food scraps through the garbage disposal is that it softens up the food. Softer food particles are likelier to stick to the blades, making it dirty. Cold water makes it easier for the garbage disposal to grind down the food particles into smaller particles. Cleaning it with ice cubes can also help you remove some of the debris stuck to the blades.<\/p>\n
Using cold water when dumping food down the garbage disposal helps the unit stay relatively clean, but food particles will get stuck to the blades and make them inefficient over time. Hot water works wonders when you are cleaning the dishes. Making it a point to pour boiling hot water without any food particles and running the garbage disposal can help you get rid of the scraps stuck to the blades.<\/p>\n
Garbage disposals are meant to make life a little easier for you, but that does not mean you should overwork them. They are designed to help you get rid of some of the food particles in your dishes as you wash them – not dispose of everything you can cram down there. They are not designed to handle hard items or large quantities of anything. Overworking the garbage disposal can damage the blades and lead to clogs.<\/p>\n
The last garbage disposal tip to extend its lifespan is to keep it running for a little while. Your garbage disposal has blades made of metal, which come into contact with water. If you do not use the garbage disposal regularly, the blades can begin developing rust. Leaving the unit running for a bit before you turn it off also allows it to catch tidbits of food hiding somewhere around there and clear all of them.<\/p>\n