No More Stinky Sink

Even though the garbage disposal is designed to pulverize and remove kitchen waste from food products, food particles often become trapped in the nooks and crannies of the disposal and drainpipe. This provides the perfect environment for mold and bacteria to grow and create unpleasant odors, as well as unhealthy spores - nothing you want in your Oklahoma City home.

At first, the odors may not be noticeable. However, given enough time and lack of cleaning, the unpleasant odors may become stronger as the bacteria and mold continue to grow. Cleaning the garbage disposal at least once a week with one of the following methods will help to keep it free of nasty bacteria and unsightly mold.

Tip: When cleaning your dishes use detergents that break up grease and use hot water. Remember that kitchen grease will harden in your drains and retain odors. Put as little grease down your sink as possible. And always run water while running your garbage disposal to help keep it clear and clean.

Baking Soda and Vinegar

Pour one half cup of baking soda down the kitchen drain. Carefully pour one cup of white vinegar down the drain on top of the baking soda. Place the drain stopper in the sink to close off the drain. If you have a double sink, you should do this for both of them. The mixture will fizz and make a bit of noise. Allow this to work its magic for a few minutes while you boil some hot water. Use a full teakettle or medium size pot of water. Once this has boiled, pour it down the drain.

Water and Bleach

Using a clean container, mix a gallon of water with one tablespoon of liquid chlorine bleach. Carefully and slowly, pour the solution down the drain and allow it to sit for several minutes. Flush the drain thoroughly with water for several minutes.

Tip: Do not use too much bleach in your solution. While bleach kills germs and helps smells it also will harden any grease in your drains.  Flush the drain with warm to hot water instead of cold. This will help to loosen the grease and not solidify it.

Ice and Citrus Peels

Maintaining a clean garbage disposal using one of the above methods will help to keep it smelling fresh and odor free. You can encourage this by grinding ice cubes in the garbage disposal to clean the cutting blades. Simply place several cubes in the drain and grind. If you want to add a little bit of scent to the area, you can add rinds from any of the citrus fruits in the drain with the ice cubes.

Tip: Always disconnect the power to the garbage disposal before putting your hands inside it.

Should bad odors persist despite your best efforts, you may need to call your Oklahoma City plumber who can determine whether there is a more serious problem causing the odor.

The ABCs of Garbage Disposal Repair

Garbage disposals offer Oklahoma City homeowners and renters alike the convenience of ridding themselves of unwanted items quickly and easily. It’s a simple fix for various types of waste and a staple in most every Oklahoma City home. But what happens if this handy device breaks down? In this article we will outline some simple plumbing tips and techniques to help you potentially fix your garbage disposal before deciding whether to call in your professional Oklahoma City plumber.

1. Keep Your Hands Out of the Drain

Fixing a broken disposal is not worth losing a hand over. Keep in mind that there is a motor and a blade underneath the drain which can cause serious injury if you’re not careful. Be sure to unplug all parts prior to attempting any sort of repair.

2. Tighten All Connections

Check for leaks by running water through the removal and tighten any connections where leaks are apparent. You may also try taking the entire unit apart and replacing the seal. If the leak persists, you should replace the drain gasket. If all of these methods fail, it’s time to take the unit in for servicing.

3. Check Breakers

As the garbage disposal is an electrical device, it has been known to trip circuit breakers in some instances. Thus, it’s a good idea to check and see whether the panels have been turned off. In this case, all that is needed is to flip the switch and reset the disposal.

4. Freeing the Flywheel

The flywheel is the piece of the disposal that spins the impeller, which cuts up the waste. This piece may have become stuck, in which case you’ll need a hex wrench to free it. Find the hex hole under the unit, apply the wrench, and rotate it until the piece is loosened.

5. Maintaining the Impellers

If you suspect the issue is that the trash is not being properly shredded, you may need to sharpen the impellers. In this case, you’ll need to remove the entire unit. Once this is accomplished, remove the flywheel and take the impellers out the sharpen them. Based on the type of unit, you may even be able to leave the impellers in place while sharpening.

6. Clog Removal

Remove the bolts on the drain pipes and inspect for any readily apparent clogs. Remove anything that is stopping the passage of waste and replace the pipes.

If you’ve tried each of these possible solutions and still find you have a problem on your hands, if just may be time to call in a professional Oklahoma City plumber. The damage you could potentially do by experimenting may end up costing you more in the long run. Play it safe, and when in doubt, ask for help.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anna_Woodward

If you are looking for a professional Oklahoma City garbage disposal contractor, then please call us today at 405-802-7769 or complete our online request form.