Garbage disposals are highly prevalent. The majority of people cannot envision a kitchen sink without one, and in many areas of the world, more households have them than don’t. Sadly, far too many individuals mistreat their waste disposal, which can cause a blockage.

Plumbers can fix malfunctioning garbage disposals. Disposals can sometimes be unsticked, but other times they need to be replaced. Too often, mistakes made by people are to blame. Here are some pointers from knowledgeable plumbers on how to manage and unclog a clogged garbage disposal.

Your garbage disposal system will last longer with proper maintenance:

Garbage disposal repair can be expensive and clogged drains are a huge hassle. Fortunately, most problems with garbage disposals are easily avoidable, and caring for and maintaining garbage disposals is very simple. If you take good care of your garbage disposal, it will take good care of you. Below, we outline the errors you should avoid and the steps you can take to prolong the lifespan of your garbage disposal and reduce the possibility that you’ll need to contact a plumbing or drain cleaning company. Your garbage disposal’s lifespan will be extended by proper care and use, which will also stop plumbing and drain problems.

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Regular Use and Disposal:

Contrary to conventional belief, your garbage disposal should not be used as frequently as other electrical appliances in order to avoid wearing them out. Even if you don’t intend to use the appliance, switch it on at least once every few days and let the blades spin while rinsing them with a little cold water for around 30 seconds. By doing this, you can keep your garbage disposal from jamming and protect the blades from rust or corrosion. Additionally, by operating your appliance on a regular basis, you may prevent any food residues from hardening and generating an uncomfortable clog by flushing them away.

Using Ice, Water, and Citrus Fruits:

While bleach is undoubtedly useful, you should try to refrain from often running harsh chemicals through your waste disposal. Use cold water instead, run the machine at regular intervals, and then add some ice cubes. Or, freeze some vinegar inside the ice cubes for a more powerful DIY technique of cleaning your tool’s blades and pipes. Combine this with salt and baking soda. Chopping up a citrus fruit, like a lemon, and feeding it via your garbage disposal is another incredibly effective cleaning method. The peel should be included because it contains the most acid. If you do, your appliance will continue to operate at its peak performance level and smell fantastic. Use an old toothbrush to clean the rim to complete the cleaning process. If required, use a little soap, otherwise try the household items we just spoke about: vinegar, salt, and baking soda are all highly effective weapons in the fight against a filthy garbage disposal.

Avoid Using Hot Water When Flushing After Use:

Don’t turn off the garbage disposal right away once you’ve finished slicing your leftovers; instead, let the water run for an additional fifteen to twenty seconds. This will assist in flushing away any tenacious food particles that may be sticking to your garbage disposal system’s pipes just out of sight. Even though you might be accustomed to washing your dishes in warm or hot water, a garbage disposal works best with cold water. Food scraps will be softened and melted by hot water, which will make them stick to your disposal system’s pipes and cause clogs.

Cut Your Waste Up:

Avoid taking any chances. For a quick and effective servicing from your appliance, take an extra few seconds to reduce your food waste.

Avoid Using Any Utensils Near the Grinder:

Consider leaving your garbage disposal off until you have cleaned out the kitchen sink if you are worried about non-food objects getting into it.

Never try to pulverize non-perishable food.:

However, resist the urge to put your main course’s meat or bones in the garbage disposal. Doing so can cause your appliance’s blades to get dull and may even cause a blockage if they slip down the pipe. Throw such leftovers, together with any fruit seeds or hard pits, directly into the garbage can. Although sturdy, your garbage disposal is not impenetrable, and it won’t be able to cut through anything that is too little to be caught.

If you find that your garbage disposal is draining improperly or not draining at all, it’s most likely due to a plumbing issue. If you find that your garbage disposal isn’t grinding the waste as well as it should, it might be a case of changing what you put into it.

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Ladies! You are being warned not to flush feminine hygiene items down the toilet. Tampons advertise flushability right on the box. You’ll reconsider flushing tampons, maxi pads, wipes, and other “flush-friendly” products after learning that they can damage your plumbing or septic tank.

Ladies, take heed—flushing sanitary products could cost you money. You’ll learn in this essay how feminine products can harm your plumbing. We’ll also examine a few additional items that are frequently flushed but shouldn’t be.

What Plumbing System Damage Sanitary Products Can Cause

You have probably seen signs in women’s restrooms asking you not to flush feminine items. Although these warnings are frequently found in public restrooms, it’s a good idea to heed this advice even at home. There are various reasons why sanitary products like tampons shouldn’t be flushed down the toilet.

A tampon’s size may grow after flushing as a result of water absorption. A tampon will expand to roughly ten times its original size once it has absorbed water, which may surprise you. Once the tampons have expanded, they may block drains and sewers, clog toilets, or become stuck deeper down the plumbing system.

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Non-bio-degradable

Tampons won’t disintegrate; they’ll stay in one solid mass. Tampons won’t disintegrate if they become stuck in the plumbing system, instead causing a clog. It’s possible for your toilet to fully clog and overflow if more tampons are flushed. Then you will need to contact a plumber.

Tampons or pads may occasionally be able to pass through your plumbing system, but they may cause an obstruction enroute to the main sewer. If you don’t have a septic tank, your waste will be sent through the sewage system, and if a blockage occurs farther down the line, it can damage your neighbors.

Difficulties with sewage treatment plants

Many tampons do make it to the sewage treatment facility in the city. The pumping station may then be affected, or the filters may become clogged. Chemicals are used in sewage treatment facilities to break down objects that shouldn’t have been flushed. A filtration mechanism is also present to capture non-biodegradable items. These actions are not very ecologically friendly and may be problematic for plant workers. The process of removing hygienic objects from sewage is messy, time-consuming, and expensive.  If these products had been thrown out in the first place, they would have avoided the plumbing system altogether and saved money and potential plumbing damage by going straight to the landfill.

Issues with septic tanks

Feminine products can clog your septic tank if you have one. They will also take up room in the tank because they don’t biodegrade. As a result, the liquid levels will increase and human waste may start to clog the distribution pipes.

Napkins or wipes

Since it will break down once sufficiently wet, toilet paper is made to be flushed. This will make it possible for it to pass through the sewage system without getting stuck. Other paper goods shouldn’t be flushed because they are thicker and more likely to produce a blockage, such as kitchen roll, tissues, or wipes. Even if it says flushable on the packet, never flush any kind of wipe.

Diapers and pads

It’s also usual to flush diapers or maxi pads down the toilet, however doing so is not recommended because they are bulky and expand when wet. After flushing a few pads, a clog can develop quite rapidly. Dispose of pads and diapers in the garbage in a hygienic manner.

Things for personal hygiene

Do not flush anything used for other personal hygiene, such as dental floss, cotton balls, swabs, q tips, bandages, or condoms. Although they shouldn’t be, medications, narcotics, and cigarette butts are frequently flushed. Avoid flushing or letting pet or human hair fall down the drain so that it can enter your plumbing system.

What to Do if Something Shouldn’t Have Accidentally Been Flushed?

If you or one of your family members accidentally flushed a pad, tampon, or another item on the above list, don’t panic! It’s unlikely that there will be immediate repercussions unless you’ve been flushing sanitary items for a long time, and there’s already a blockage. You may need to call a plumber.

The best course of action is to keep an eye on your plumbing system as a whole and how well your toilet flushes. Watch for any indications that a clog may exist in your system. Common signs include slow drains, sluggish flushing, an unpleasant odor coming from the pipes or a gurgling sound after flushing the toilet. If you experience any of these signs, call a plumber.

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