Garbage Disposal Basics for Homeowners
Garbage disposals have become so standard in kitchens that not having a disposal seems weirdly outdated and unusual. Believe it or not, a lot of people don’t exactly know how to use or care for this appliance. That can result in disposals that jam and pipes that clog. Disposals are actually delicate appliances that need care.
If you don’t know how to keep a disposal in good shape, don’t worry. It doesn’t take long to learn about the basics of owning, operating, and troubleshooting a garbage disposal.
Impellers, Not Blades
First, garbage disposals don’t have blades. The parts that move inside the disposal are L-shaped brackets called impellers, which are bolted to a disc that spins when you turn on the disposal. Those impellers force food against a ring that has sharp points facing inward.
The ring that the impellers push food up against really is sharp, and you need to cut the power to the disposal if you have to reach in there for whatever reason. Most disposals plug into outlets under the sink, but some are hardwired. You have to turn off the corresponding circuit breaker to cut the power to those.
Disposals Can’t Take Everything
Many people think anything can go down into a garbage disposal, but that’s not true. The impellers can jam if they encounter something hard that won’t break down.
There’s a limited number of foods that can head down into a garbage disposal; it’s easier to talk about what can’t go in there. The list includes anything stringy, starchy, super hard (like seafood shells) or splintery like large bones or eggshells. Don’t feed a disposal anything mushy that could harden on the rotating disc and freeze it in place, like oatmeal or coffee grounds, or anything sticky that could do the same, like caramel. All those foods need to go straight into the garbage can.
The Disposal Needs Cool Water
When you run a garbage disposal, run cool water at the same time. The stream of water helps wash ground food particles out of the disposal and into the pipe.
The Literal Key You Need for Minor Repairs
If you turn on the disposal and hear a buzzing but no grinding, the disc and impellers are likely frozen. You can fix this with a special key that looks like a hex wrench with diagonal ends. If you don’t have one, a home improvement store may have some on hand.
On the underside of the disposal, you’ll find a spot where you can insert the hex wrench. Once it’s stable, push it to try to turn it clockwise. If the impellers are jammed, it may take a little effort. Once the key can turn, crank the key for at least one full revolution.
If you don’t hear any grinding or buzzing, the disposal may have become overheated and shut down. On the underside of the disposal, check for a red reset button. If the button has popped out, wait about 15 minutes and then push it back in. If it pops out again, you’ll need to have a plumber look at the disposal.
Give Your Disposal Some TLC
Disposals are handy appliances to have, so treat the one in your kitchen right. If you do so, it should last for many years. If you live in Berkeley, CA or a surrounding area and need garbage disposal services, make your first call to LJ Kruse.