Garbage disposals are a handy thing to have in the kitchen. They help you eliminate food, keep your home odor free, and go a long way in keeping the kitchen clean. According to Consumer Reports, over 50% of homes nationwide have them. You can keep yours in good working order with these excellent tips and tricks.

1. Use Cold Water

When putting fats and things that are greasy down the garbage disposal, always use cold water. Cold water makes grease a solid state instead of a liquid. This ensures that it won’t stick to blades or pipes. Using hot or warm water will mean more frequent calls to your local plumbing company.

2. Cut Food Waste

Putting large pieces of food down the garbage disposal can be too much to handle. This can cause damage to the blades and clogs. Instead, cut food into smaller, more manageable pieces before putting it down the disposal. This is a great way to prevent future problems.

3. Avoid Hard Objects

Harder foods and pieces of food, like bones, should never be put down a garbage disposal. The blades will have a difficult time slicing these up. You could damage your disposal or the blades. Then, if they do make it down the pipe, they can clog the line because they will likely be in large chunks.

4. Don't Use Chemicals

When you run into a clog, picking up a chemical drainer is tempting. These are convenient because you dump them down the drain and wait. However, they can cause a significant amount of damage to your pipes. Instead, contact a local plumbing company to fix the clog. They can easily handle the job without harming your plumbing system.

5. Run It Regularly

To properly maintain your garbage disposal, it’s essential to run it regularly. When you don’t, the little water on the blades stays there, which can cause corrosion. The disposal is also more likely to break. Running your disposal regularly will keep all moving parts in better condition.

6. Call the Professionals

When your garbage disposal leaks or makes a weird noise, trying a DIY repair is tempting. However, you can do more damage, which will cost you more money in the long run. Instead, call a local plumbing company if your disposal is not working like it used to, or if it's making an odd noise.

We specialize in multiple plumbing services, including fixing your garbage disposal. Our professional plumbers can make necessary repairs and tell you what caused the problem to prevent future mishaps. Contact Pike Plumbing to schedule an appointment today.