Why Underusing Your Garbage Disposal Is A Mistake

Having a garbage disposal is extremely convenient. But we tend to forget about it if we don't use it for a while. Unfortunately, this can be a mistake. It's not always cost-effective to repair them, and more often, they'll need to be replaced if something goes wrong. One thing you don't want to do is underuse it, as, like anything else mechanical, it can freeze or corrode.

Luckily, the garbage disposal is typically quite hardy and has a reasonably long lifespan. But there are definitely some dos and don'ts. We will discuss these a bit and offer a few more tips for maintaining the equipment and keeping it in tip-top shape. We'll also explain how to know when to repair and when to replace your disposal and the average cost of each. After all, you might be surprised how many problems can be resolved by simply resetting your garbage disposal. If you've been underappreciating yours lately, here are some tips to help you give it the better care it deserves.

Running your garbage disposal every few days will ensure its mechanism is in tip-top shape. It will also prevent the motor from breaking down due to non-use. But it's not just underusing your garbage disposal that can cause problems. Improper usage can also shorten its lifespan, so here are some great tips. If any food particles have gotten stuck in the instrument, running cold water will help knock everything loose. Just remember to clean the disposal every two weeks, and never use bleach or drain cleaner.

Beware of turning off your disposal too soon, or food can get stuck in the mechanism and cause rotten odors to emanate. Always run the disposal for another 30 seconds after it stops grinding. If you notice any foul smells and are in-between cleanings, put lemon or other citrus peelings in ice cubes and run them with hot water until the ice is gone. Avoid stringy, fibrous foods and peelings, bones, pits, eggshells, coffee grinds, and grease. In a nutshell, be smart about what you put in the garbage disposal.

If you take good care of your garbage disposal, you could squeeze 15 years out of it instead of the expected 10 to 12 years. Replacing the disposal will cost anywhere from $150 to $950. But a repair is between $70 and $400, with an average cost of $250. It's often easier to replace it, but let's discuss some things that could go wrong.

If the unit doesn't turn on, despite being connected to power, many resetting attempts, and the repair efforts of an expert, it might need to be replaced. The same can be said of leakages with no remedies in sight. Make sure the mounting bolts are tightened before calling the plumber. If you start experiencing problems with frequent clogging despite putting only the right kind of garbage in it, you might need a more powerful unit.

If you notice the garbage disposal is running too slowly, there could be a problem with the motor. Another sign of motor problems is when it hums but doesn't grind the food. Try resetting it first, but you might need to call the plumber if that doesn't work. A plumber can advise you on whether it's time to replace the equipment or if it can be fixed. Take good care of your disposal; you should have many years of use.