Appliances: Tip for your Garbage Disposal

Homeowners that have never had an in-sink garbage disposal system might wonder what the big deal is. Those who have been using a garbage disposal for years, on the other hand, know that they are one of the handiest kitchen additions around. When preparing food or cleaning up after a meal, rinsing off plates, pots, and pans becomes a snap, as you don't have to worry about clogging the drain with bits of food.

As the industry leader in professional home inspections, our certified inspectors know what is required for a home to function efficiently and properly according to local building standards. This month's Peace of Mind tip is on the topic of appliances; specifically a garbage disposal. You will learn about the following items:

• what to inspect as the agent for a buyer or seller
• how to properly use the garbage disposal
• what items to avoid sending down the garbage disposal

 
 What to inspect on the Garbage Disposal:

• To test a garbage disposal for leaks, turn it on and run water through it. The water load should be great enough so that any leaks will become apparent. A good way to do this is to close the drain and fill the sink with water before releasing the stopper. 
• Note:While testing a garbage disposal, never put anything other than water through it. Before turning it on, check to make sure there are no objects already in the disposal. 

These quick inspect tips should never be used in replacement to having Peace of Mind certified home inspector perform a professional home inspection.


How to properly use your Garbage Disposal: 
To view this informational video from Angie's List on how you should properly use your garbage disposal, please click here.

 
What to avoid sending down the drain: 

The handy kitchen garbage disposal is useful for getting rid of a variety of food scraps and waste that might otherwise create unpleasant smells in the kitchen. However, many foods can actually damage your disposal or render it useless. These tips from Angie's List can help keep your garbage disposal running smoothly.

1. Avoid putting fibrous foods or tough-skinned vegetables into the disposal. The strings of celery, artichokes, asparagus, lettuce, corn husks, carrots, onion skins and potato peels can wrap around the blades, preventing proper operation of the motor. If you feel you must put fibrous foods into your disposal, do so in very small quantities, and run the cold water while you operate the unit. 
2. Don't put extremely hard foods into the garbage disposal. Items such as bones and fruit pits can dull and even break the unit's blades. In a worst-case scenario, hard foods will jam the disposal, preventing blades from turning and causing the motor to burn out. 
3. Keep grease and greasy foods out of the disposal. Greasy foods will distribute a film over the blades, diminishing their effectiveness. Eventually, the grease will begin to decay, causing an unpleasant odor in the kitchen. Pouring grease into a garbage disposal can result in clogged drains when the grease solidifies. 
4. Contrary to popular belief, egg shells have no place in the garbage disposal. Some people claim that egg shells sharpen the blades of the unit, but this is not true. The shell's stringy membrane layer can wrap around the shredder ring, and the shell itself will be ground to a sand-like consistency capable of clogging pipes. 
5. Avoid putting expandable foods such as pasta and rice into the garbage disposal. Even small particles of these foods will swell with water and eventually clog the trap. 
6. Exercise common sense, and don't put non-food items into the garbage disposal. Avoid the example of homeowners who have placed rubber bands, twist ties, cigarette butts, pull tabs, fabric, sponges and plant clippings into their disposal units. These items cannot break down enough to wash down the drain.

The garbage disposal is a sturdy kitchen appliance; however, even the best model cannot handle unsuitable items. If you run into any problems with your unit, you should seek the help of a licensed plumber.