Keep That Garbage Disposal Running Smoothly!

There are a number of events that signal the end of a garbage disposal. Here’s one of the more common: it rusts out on the bottom, and water starts spewing underneath your sink and onto the kitchen floor every time you turn it on.

Garbage disposals are designed to last about 10 years. Below is some information that will help you extend the life of your current disposal!

Can rust be avoided in the first place? Absolutely, and simply by running the disposal every time you put food in it. Otherwise, the acid and oils from standing food will eventually eat through the seals. Also, when you run the disposal, always use cold water. Hot water dissolves fats and grease, but then it deposits them in your drainpipes where it accumulates before causing a clog.

Here are some additional tips for maintaining your disposal:

• Run cold water for 30 seconds or more after turning the disposal off to thoroughly wash ground-up food down the drain.

• You can grind almost any food waste, but don't try to grind really fibrous foods like onion skins, celery stalks or asparagus. On the other hand, ice and eggshells can actually help clean the disposal.

• If the disposal won’t run, check the circuit breaker or fuse and replace or reset as necessary. Also check to see if the overload switch has tripped. Find the reset button at the bottom of the disposal unit and push it.

• If the motor hums but the disposal doesn't run, you may have a jammed impeller, and that’s a repairable problem.

• If the disposal runs intermittently, the switch or stopper may be defective…if so, you’ll need to replace it.

• A leaky garbage disposal isn’t necessarily a sign of rust. The cause might be as simple as a loose connection, which can readily be tightened.

• How about that all-too-familiar racket a disposal can sometimes make? When you hear it, chances are you’re trying to grind up something your disposal wishes you wouldn’t. The result could be a damaged blade, impeller or motor. But don’t be too quick to repair, since it’s highly likely that it would cost less to replace.

For help with a disposal repair or replacement, call Bonfe’s. We offer regular service from 7 AM to 10 PM 7days a week. We service the entire Twin Cities Metro Area so we’re always close by!