Garbage disposals are found in nearly all modern kitchens these days, and are being installed
in plenty of older kitchens as well. The convenience of a garbage disposal
simply can’t be beaten. However, as with all of our appliances, especially
those used daily, sometimes they develop an odor, and need a good cleaning
to get them back in tip top condition. When you run into this situation,
it’s time to call your plumber.
What Can a Plumber Do to Help?
Your plumber is going to do a few things to rid your disposal of pesky,
odor causing sludge. Ranging from cleaning the blades, to purging the
drain line, and cleaning the trap. By the time the short process is finished,
it will feel like you have a brand new garbage disposal. Not only will
it smell better, it will also run better.
What to Keep From My Garbage Disposal
When your plumber arrives to take care of the pesky odor, you may want
to ask him what you can do to prevent strong odors from forming again.
While your disposal will still occasionally need some basic maintenance
to keep it in good, running, odor free shape, you can drastically cut
down on the frequency of maintenance and severity of an odor when it does
occur. Until you can ask your plumber, here are a things that should NOT
be put into your garbage disposal;
- Plastics, glass, metal, or paper
- Anything flammable/combustable
- Grease, oil, or fat
- Fibrous food waste (corn husks, celery, onion skins, etc)
- Pasta or rice
- Large animal bones
- Coffee grounds
- Harsh chemicals (unless approved by your plumber)
The basic rule is to remember that your garbage disposal isn’t a garbage
bin, and the only thing that it should ever be used for is biodegradable
food scraps. If you are not absolutely sure that it can go in the disposal,
don’t put it in the disposal, and use the garbage bin instead.
Remember when using your garbage disposal for anything to always run it
an extra moment or two to allow any remaining waste to be ground up, and
turn off your disposal before your water. Turning the water off a moment
after your disposal allows any tiny, odor producing particles to be washed away.
By having your disposal regularly serviced by a plumbing professional,
and following basic care procedures, the lifetime of your disposal will
be lengthened and the likelihood of odors will be eliminated. You will
be glad you called the professionals.
If your home is in need of garbage disposal services, call Mark Johnson Plumbing at (318) 257-6167
for the best services in the Ruston area.
