As a homeowner, a garbage disposal unit is likely one of the handiest appliances you’ll own.
It helps dispose of your household garbage safely and quickly. Not only does it enhance convenience, but it also helps to keep your home clean and sanitary.
Unfortunately, the reputation of garbage disposals has been marred by several unfounded myths and false rumours. Due to this, many homeowners still rely on conventional garbage disposal practices, which are inconvenient.
Here, we address some of the most common myths associated with this appliance. Let’s get started!
The Top 5 Myths About Garbage Disposals
Myth 1: Garbage Disposals Have Blades That Need To Be Sharpened Frequently
One of the most common myths about garbage disposals is that they have spinning blades that need to be sharpened. This can be accomplished by dumping materials like ice blocks and solid wastes into the disposal bin.
In reality, garbage disposals don’t have sharp blades. Instead, they’re equipped with small grinding teeth or impellers to shred waste. Because there are no cutting edges, you don’t need to worry about sharpening them.
If you throw solid wastes, like ice blocks, into the disposal, they will wear out the teeth of the disposal’s blades quicker than usual, reducing the machine’s lifespan. Ice cubes might even damage the impellers in some extreme cases, which will cause you a lot more trouble instead.
Myth 2: You Should Pour Hot Water Into The Garbage Disposal
The basic idea behind this myth is that cold water keeps the food solid, and pouring boiling water down the disposal keeps wastes like oil and grease in liquid form. And if they remain in that form long enough, they will easily flow through the drain pipes.
This idea only holds if you’re pouring oil or grease down your drain pipes, which isn’t wise for garbage disposals. These appliances are meant for solid waste, not liquids. You should avoid pouring oils and grease into the disposal altogether.
Additionally, using hot water with oils and grease can harm the machine. It will allow them to pass through the impellers, but they may solidify once they go further down the pipes and cause blockages.
Instead, run cold water through the disposal, which solidifies grease and oil before reaching the grinding teeth. This allows the appliance to crush them efficiently, ensuring smooth waste disposal.
Myth 3: All Food Wastes Can Be Safely Put Into The Disposal
Many believe garbage disposals can handle all food particles and waste materials, but this is only partially true. While a typical garbage disposal unit can handle most waste, it does have some usage restrictions. These restrictions have been put in place so that the machine can function efficiently for a long time.
You should avoid putting hard food waste, such as fish and chicken bones, as they will quickly wear out the grinding teeth. Likewise, avoid putting in fibrous foods or stringy foods like corn husks or potato peels, as they might get entangled in the impellers and clog up the machine.
Myth 4: You Can Use Lemons To Get Rid Of Smells And Residues
Per the myth, you can eliminate odours and clear out residue build-ups if you slice a lemon or put lemon juice in the garbage disposal appliance.
Citrus fruits might make your garbage disposal smell nicer for a bit, but it’s just a short-term fix. The scent simply masks odours instead of eliminating them. So, soon enough, the smell will return.
In addition, this method is ineffective in clearing clogs and residue build-ups. Instead, the citric acid in the lemon will erode the internal components, damaging the machine more than cleaning it.
Myth 5: Garbage Disposals Do Not Clog Easily
Even though garbage disposals are great at shredding food waste, they’re still prone to clogs like any other plumbing part. These clogs can be tough to spot since the moving parts are hidden inside the unit.
Thankfully, you can address this issue if you undertake periodic maintenance measures. These measures can help clear any blockage in its early stages.
The Bottom Line: Separating Fact From Fiction On Garbage Disposals
Of course, many other rumours exist regarding garbage disposal, but the ones mentioned above are some of the most common and disruptive.
Garbage disposal units are a highly efficient method of food waste disposal. So, it would be best not to allow yourself to be swayed by false rumours. Installing and maintaining these appliances can be challenging, so professionals should do the task.
This is where our expert team of plumbers comes in. Fixed Today Plumbing Strathfield will make installing and repairing garbage disposals a breeze. We offer our services round the clock, so you can get in touch with us anytime!
