The garbage disposal, which enables us to get rid of waste quickly, simply, and without having to drag bags of rubbish to the curb each week, is one of the most practical technological achievements. However, the garbage disposal’s function isn’t to take the place of the trash can or recycling bin, and it’s simple to neglect garbage disposal maintenance, which may mean you need a replacement sooner than you anticipated.

Garbage Disposal Dos:

  • Use cold water: Although it may seem counterproductive because hot water breaks down food more effectively, using cold water can damage your garbage disposal drain. Greasy things can break down and flow down the drain with the help of hot water, but those shattered pieces may coagulate and cause a clog farther down the line. Using cold water can help oily items solidify and go more readily down the garbage disposal drain as opposed to clinging to the pipe’s walls.
  • Use it frequently: It can sound strange to be urged to use your waste disposal, but occasionally we could believe that using it sparingly will extend its lifespan. The exact opposite, though, is true. Without consistent use, the garbage disposal is susceptible to corrosion and rust, which may necessitate its replacement earlier than anticipated. Additionally, doing so keeps the disposal’s components moving and prevents waste from building up and clogging the mechanisms.
  • Use your recycling and garbage bins as usual: The presence of a garbage disposal does not permit the removal of a trash can or recycling container. Despite being a useful appliance for any kitchen, a garbage disposal should never be used in place of a traditional trash can and recycling container. The amount of garbage in your recycling containers shouldn’t change, and your trash can is still the ideal location to put anything that isn’t food that can biodegrade.
  • Keep it clean: A clean garbage disposal will continue to function effectively and will keep any unpleasant odors at bay in addition to helping to prevent blockages and clogs. In order to avoid trash building up inside the mechanics, it’s also necessary to keep it clean by emptying it or periodically running some diluted dish soap and water through it.
  • Cut up large foods: Make sure the waste you throw into your garbage disposal is in little pieces to prevent clogging or blocking. Although a garbage disposal’s mechanisms are excellent at dissolving food, they are not intended to dissolve large pieces of food, so it is best to chop or tear up bigger pieces of food before placing them in the disposal.

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Garbage Disposal Don’ts

  • Don’t try to sharpen the blades: Contrary to popular belief, a garbage disposal’s impellers are blunt, so there is no need to attempt to sharpen them with big chunks of ice or eggshells. These things might damage your garbage disposal, causing problems and unneeded repairs.
  • Avoid using hot water: As previously noted, hot water might be able to dissolve any grease or fat that finds its way into your garbage disposal, but the grease and fat will harden as it travels further down the pipe, perhaps causing more trouble in the future.
  • Don’t shut off the motor too quickly: Until all the food has been ground up, you should ideally leave both the motor and the cold water running. It is fine to switch off the motor once the grinding has stopped, but make sure the water is still running for at least 15 seconds. This will decrease the likelihood of buildup and clogs since the garbage disposal will be able to thoroughly break down all the food, and the running water will remove any leftover pieces.
  • Avoid using harsh chemicals: Despite what it may seem like, pouring bleach in a garbage disposal is not a smart idea. Harsh chemicals have the potential to damage your garbage disposal’s internal workings, resulting in subpar performance.
  • Don’t put too much at once down the disposal: Avoid pouring huge quantities of anything into the garbage disposal since, despite their capacity, they are designed to handle lesser amounts of food waste. If you have a lot of rubbish to get rid of, feed it into the garbage disposal gradually, ideally in smaller bits or pieces.

How To Clean Your Garbage Disposal

Depending on the problem, there are three ways to empty your garbage disposal or unclog a jammed garbage disposal:

  • Check for clogs and clear obstructions: If you believe your garbage disposal is clogged, there are several techniques to clear the blockage. Simply shut off the garbage disposal and remove the obstruction using pliers or kitchen tongs — never your hands alone.
  • Clear the drainpipe: If there is an impediment in the drainpipe, a clog in the garbage disposal can result in a clogged sink. Plug the disposal, add some dish soap and water to the sink, and then empty the sink while using the disposal. Any recalcitrant waste particles that may have been attached to the pipe should be removed with the help of gravity and the water pressure.
  • Use a plunger: To remove a really stubborn clog that is too deep to reach with tongs or pliers, try using a toilet plunger. After then, you have the option of pulling it out or letting it fall.
  • Baking Soda and Vinegar: One cup of baking soda should be run via the garbage disposal. It should be pushed through the aperture using a rubber spatula. Pour Pour a cup of vinegar down the garbage disposal.

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When the system in your home starts to run continuously, it becomes one of the more frequent causes of a sump pump failure.

Continuous operation can cause a sump pump system to overheat and malfunction. This is particularly true if your sump pump is operating when the pit is dry because the water will help your system cool off while it is operating.

If the problem is addressed quickly, the majority of problems with continuously operating sump pump systems have straightforward causes and straightforward fixes.

Sump pumps typically operate intermittently, as required. However, occasionally they operate continuously, which raises electricity costs, causes them to age much more quickly than they should, and may even burn out the motor.

Why a Sump Pump Is Necessary

A sump pump’s job is to pump water out of a basement. Naturally, there isn’t water in the basement normally. Unless a flood occurs. Or, in some instances, a lot of rain combined with a poor slope that allows water to flow into your cellar.

The sump pump is there to remove the water in case of a flood or a severe downpour even if you don’t have a finished basement because items can still get damaged with water in the cellar or crawlspace.

However, the sump pump is normally off and shouldn’t be running unless there is a high level of water.

What a Sump Pump Usually Does

The majority of typical sump pumps are submersibles, installed in liners within sump pits with gravel bases dug into basement or crawl space corners.

Any water that may leak in is drained into the sump pit. However, if water is coming in too quickly and the pit can’t drain, water rises inside the liner and fills the pump to the point where the float valve on the pump is activated. When that occurs, the sump pump activates to force extra water into a discharge pipe that exits the home foundation and travels to an area outside. The discharge pipe is tilted upward because it is built below grade, which would ordinarily allow gravity to allow the water to flow back in. A check valve stops any water in the pipe from going back into the pit and potentially into your basement in order to avoid this.

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What Causes a Sump Pump to Cycle On and Off?

 Here are a few causes for a sump pump to continue operating:

  • The “on” position of the float switch becomes stuck.
  • The float switch becomes stuck to the side of the liner and is unable to function.
  • The check valve on the sump pump could be malfunctioning or broken. The water that the check valve typically empties into the outlet pipe washes back into the sump pit if it is broken, reactivating the float valve and the pump. Your sump pump will continue to operate as a result.
  • The size of your liner or sump pump is incorrect. If the pump is either tiny or too weak, it must run nonstop to remove water that accumulates in the liner. The pump has to run more frequently if the liner is too tiny since it fills up with water more rapidly.
  • The sump pit is filthy and overflowing with trash. The garbage is sucked up by the sump pump, which causes the mechanical components to get clogged and unclean and stop functioning correctly.
  • There may occasionally be a high water table or an underground spring that supplies the sump pit with water regularly.

Possible Solutions If Your Sump Pump Is Constantly Running

The float switch should be the first place you check if your sump pump won’t turn off. Take these actions:

  • Start the sump pump.
  • Make sure the float switch is not fastened to the liner.
  • Untangle it if it is pinned so that it can readily move with the water level.
  • It probably has to be changed if you discover that it is not tangled and can move freely. One can be bought online or at a hardware shop.
  • Remove the old switch by unplugging it. Put the new switch in its place.
  • To secure the new switch to the sump pump, use a plastic tie. It will be able to float up and down with the water level thanks to this.

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Well, if the sump pump is older than 7 to 10 years, you should probably replace it. Its usable life has likely come to an end, especially if you notice corrosion around the base.

If the sump pit is filled with a lot of debris, clear it out. Shut off the sump pump and do your best to remove any debris. If the sump pump isn’t turning on and off all the time, turn it back and see if that helps.