Garbage Disposal Tips

Garbage disposals in New York City are not as widespread as one might think. Did you know that they were actually banned in the city until 1997? Even though disposals have become more common in NYC today, they can still be hard to come by in certain buildings. That said, more and more New Yorkers have them, so the need garbage disposal tips to keep their disposal working well for a long time.

The reason is the age of pipes and plumbing systems and how much disposing they can handle. NYC homes, especially in Brooklyn, tend to have older systems, and special care is needed when upgrading plumbing fixtures. At Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning, we’ve successful installed numerous garbage disposals in New York City and offer these garbage disposal tips to keep yours from breaking or damaging your home.

Garbage Disposal Tips For Long Equipment Life

Do clean your disposal: Periodic cleaning can benefit the disposal, your drainage system and your plumbing overall. Simply pour dish soap inside and let the disposal run for a minute with some cold water. You should also let water run down the drain for a few seconds before you turn the disposal off each time you use it.

Don’t put in non-biodegradable items: A garbage disposal is not a trash can and you definitely shouldn’t treat it as such. Avoid anything that isn’t biodegradable as non-food items like plastic, metal or paper will damage the blades and disposal motor.

Do cut larger items into smaller pieces: Even if your disposal is powerful, it’s wise to avoid putting large scraps of food down the drain. Try cutting or shredding down larger pieces and put them in slowly to prevent any unnecessary damage.

Don’t pour grease down the drain: Food grease, oil or fat can solidify inside a disposal, causing it to slow down, clog or quit working altogether. When grease solidifies inside a drain, it will also create an unpleasant odor in your kitchen.

Do dispose of certain hard materials: Oddly enough, some hard food materials like egg shells, small bones and fruit pits can help keep your disposal clean. They act as scrubs, scoring the chamber walls and cleaning the disposal in process.

Don’t dispose of fibrous foods: Disposals will have a difficult time trying to grind certain fibrous foods like celery stalks, onion skins or corn husks. They can tangle and jam the motor as well as block the drains. It’s best to just toss these pieces in the trash.

Investing in a garbage disposal for your New York City home can add value and convenience to your life. To find out more about NYC garbage disposals, give Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning a call at 718-748-1254.