Garbage Disposal Problems: Myths

A couple weeks ago we talked about some common garbage disposal problems. Today we’re going to talk about one of the biggest garbage disposal problems- myths! We understand that doing research on plumbing and garbage disposals isn’t really a top priority for most homeowners, and understandably so! However, having correct information about your garbage disposal can help you avoid many common garbage disposal problems. The garbage disposal is one of the hardest working appliances in the modern day American home- many of us use our garbage disposal multiple times every day without even thinking about it.

Because spending lots of time reading about your garbage disposal probably isn’t how you want to spend your free time, we’ll keep this short and sweet and help clear up some of those common garbage disposal myths.

Myth #1

You can sharpen the blades with ice cubes. No, no, no! Many of us have heard that if your garbage disposal is having a hard time grinding up food that you should put ice cubes down it and turn it on. This is a very common garbage disposal myth, and I have tons of friends who do this all the time. In fact, there are no sharp blades in your garbage disposal. The “blades” that grind up your food are actually blunt- surprise! Putting ice cubes down your garbage disposal won’t sharpen these blades because they are designed to be blunt. In fact, if you put ice cubes down your garbage disposal you could potentially cause a lot of damage. If your garbage disposal isn’t grinding up food properly, you should call a plumber to check it out to see if you need repairs.

Myth #2

You should run hot water while running your garbage disposal. The thought process behind this myth is that hot water helps to dissolve grease, food, and other organic matter that’s been put down your garbage disposal. However, if you run hot water while you’re running your garbage disposal, you could cause your garbage disposal to overheat! Its true that you should run water while running your disposal, but its important to try and use cold water whenever possible. If your garbage disposal overheats, you could cause substantial damage resulting in a whole new unit.

Myth #3

Your garbage disposal can grind up any food product you put down it. While your garbage disposal is a heavy duty, durable appliance, it can and will break if not treated properly. Your garbage disposal is designed to grind up SOFT food particles, not hard ones! Your garbage disposal is not built to grind up bones, gristle, corn cobs, popcorn kernels, etc. A good rule of thumb to remember is that if you can’t chew it, neither can your garbage disposal!

If you need a professional plumber to help you out with your garbage disposal problems, don’t forget to call a trusted, experienced plumber. At Masterflo Plumbing we can assess your garbage disposal needs. If your garbage disposal can be repaired, we have the experience necessary to make those repairs. If you need a new one, we can install it for you. No matter how careful you are with your garbage disposal, it may still break down at some point, and we’ll be there to help you out 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

For all your garbage disposal needs contact us at (678) 822-7095!