Garbage disposals. Do you have one. Do you know how to use it correctly?

Garbage disposals. Do you have one. Do you know how to use it correctly?

There are a lot of home out there with garbage disposals.

And there are a lot of home owners who don't know how to use a disposal the correct way.

Routinely, while conducting inspections of the kitchen appliances and plumbing piping at the kitchen cabinet, I will run the garbage disposer and check the hot water control location (left) simultaneously.

A homeowner recently became very concerned when she observed me conducting this ritual. I politely asked if something was wrong and she replied, "I've always been told you never run hot water into your garbage disposal."

Well, while there is some merit to what she was alluding to, it deserves further explanation.

Here's the short list of when to use cold water or when not to use hot:

• DO grind food waste with a strong flow of cold water. It will cause any grease or oils to solidify, making them 'choppable', able to be cut up before reaching the P-trap.

• DON'T use hot water when grinding food waste. Hot water causes grease and oils to liquify and accumulate, causing drains to eventually clog.

• It is OKAY to use hot water when cleaning the disposer. We have detailed previously about using equal parts of white vinegar and baking soda, then flushing with boiling water. Also, a sink full of hot water and dishwashing soap (free of food debris) released into an operating disposer is acceptable for cleaning.

• There is no issue with running hot water into an operating disposer, if not grinding food wastes.

 

Clint  McKie

Owner of Desert Sun Home Inspections Carlsbad, New mexico. Serving all of South East New Mexico

When it comes to Quality home inspections. Simply put, we are the best.

1-575-706-5586   www.carlsbad-home-inspector.com Call me for the latest specials.