Operating Your Garburator the Right Way

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The garburator or garbage disposal is a useful tool in the kitchen –and one of the most commonly used. The garbage disposal certainly comes in handy, allowing you to easily dispose of small amounts of food and liquid that have accumulated in the sink through the disposal. But many homeowners are using their garburators the wrong way –and potentially causing unnecessary wear and tear of the unit, as well as to their plumbing system. Do you really want to fork over all of that cash to call in a plumber when you can easily prevent the problems before they happen? With the proper usage of the garbage disposal, you can prolong the lifetime of the unit and protect your Coquitlam plumbing system.

First Things First

Before operating your garbage disposal, allow cold water to run for about 15 seconds. The cold water should be ran until the grinding noises have stopped and all of the food that you were disposing of has been turned down the drain. Turn the garbage disposal off, but let the water continue to run for another 15 – 20 seconds before turning it off. Do this each and every time that you use the machine. And, make sure that the water is cold so that anything that is inside of the machine can solidity so that it will flow down the drain.

In addition, it is important that you know that your garbage disposal unit is not a trash can. There are many things that should never be disposed of in the unit, and it certainly should not be used as if it were a trash bag. To make it easy, do not put anything into the disposal that is not biodegradable. This includes plastic, metal and glass items. Also, make sure that you do not put vegetable skins into the drain, or any type of fibrous food. This could be a potato, an onion or even a celery stalk. Fibers from these food items can become tangled inside of the blades. Grease should never be poured down your sink. The garbage disposal is no exception. Finally, make sure that you’re not putting any kind of bones down your drain. If you have a problem, please give our Vancouver garburator repair team a call at (778) 227-1119.

Keeping Your Garburator Clean and Working Great

In order to keep your garbage disposal working its best, take a look at these tips and incorporate them into your life.

  • The garbage disposal is make to use, so turn it on and use it frequently!
  • At least once per week, use a bit of dish liquid and water to clean the disposal out. This will prevent funk and gunk build-up.
  • Never toss large amounts of food into the garbage disposal at one time
  • If you notice that your unit is clogged, check to find out if there is something that is preventing the blades from turning. A clogged disposal is usually noted with a humming sound when it is turned to the on position. You can easily free any object stuck to the blades with a wooden spoon.
  • Lemons can work wonders to clean the inside of your disposal and add a fresh smell. It is imperative that you too only about half of a lemon inside of the disposal at once and make sure that it is well cut.

Garbage Disposal Information and Assistance

If you need more information about the correct operation of your garbage disposal, have an issue that you cannot repair on your own, or wish to have a garbage disposal installed in your home, give us a call and we’ll send someone to your home right away! At DJ Plumbing, our goal is to make our customers happy.

  • Hours:
  • Monday 12 a.m.–11 p.m.
  • Tuesday 12 a.m.–11 p.m.
  • Wednesday 12 a.m.–11 p.m.
  • Thursday 12 a.m.–11 p.m.
  • Friday 12 a.m.–11 p.m.
  • Saturday 12 a.m.–11 p.m.
  • Sunday 12 a.m.–11 p.m.

DJ Plumbing & Heating Service
307 Begin St #4, Coquitlam, BC V3K 0C2 | Tel: (778) 227-1119
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