The Sunny Plumber Blog : Posts Tagged ‘Garbage Disposal’

Think Garbage Disposals Can Handle Everything? Think Again

Monday, November 19th, 2018

sunny-plumbersThe Sunny Plumber Tucson has responded to a lot of calls about broken garbage disposals. We have also responded to a lot of calls about clogged drains. Do you know what we have discovered over the years? That a lot of these problems were caused by homeowners holding a bit too much faith in their garbage disposals. We suppose that’s a nice way of saying user error can cause a lot of garbage disposal problems. You need to know your system’s limitations.

That’s what we are going to be focused on today. Don’t get us wrong. There are instances in which drain clogs will develop no matter how careful you are. There are also garbage disposal problems that are going to come up no matter what. There is no reason to invite them along any sooner or more frequently than is necessary, though! Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll be able to protect your garbage disposal in Tucson. 

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Enjoy the Holidays—But Not at the Expense of Your Plumbing!

Monday, December 4th, 2017

mom-and-daughter-cookingThe holiday season is a time of the year that many of us look forward to for, well, all the rest of the year. Seeing families and friends that maybe we don’t see as much as we’d like to, indulging our appetites a bit more than maybe we should—it’s all great fun. Not everyone loves the holidays, though, and it’s not just curmudgeonly uncles that we’re talking about. If your plumbing system could talk, it may express some concerns regarding this time of the year to you.

With the additional people in your home, the increased level of food production, and the sometimes overwhelming amounts of dishes that need to be done, it should really come as no surprise to hear that the holidays can be quite taxing for your plumbing. The good news is that the plumbers at The Sunny Plumber Tucson are here to help. We want to give you some tips to help protect your plumbing in Tucson, AZ during this festive time of the year. 

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Why Use a Garbage Disposal?

Monday, May 22nd, 2017

stainless-sink-drainThere are many different appliances we use these days to make our lives as convenient and pleasant as possible. Some of them, such as our water heaters or washing machines and dryers, we cannot imagine living without. Others, including the garbage disposal, may not seem quite as necessary to some homeowners. Sure, you can get by without a garbage disposal more than you could without a water heater–but why put limits on the convenience with which you live?

Using a garbage disposal in Tucson, AZ can have a greater impact on your convenience than you may realize. We have to remind you, though, that a garbage disposal installation really is not a job for an amateur to tackle. It may not be the most complex system in your home, but a garbage disposal will definitely benefit from professional services. Consider the following benefits of using a garbage disposal, and leave your plumbing services to us.

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Get More from Your Kitchen Plumbing System

Monday, April 24th, 2017

water-draining-in-sinkThe first room in your home that you may think of when you hear the word “plumbing” is probably the bathroom. This is completely understandable, but we’re guessing that you value your kitchen plumbing system just as much as you do your bathroom plumbing. The uses may vary, but both of these systems share one thing in common: each is an essential part of your day-to-day life.

Now, you may think that a kitchen sink that is not cracked and a faucet that doesn’t drip too badly is all you need to enjoy a great performance from your kitchen plumbing system. This could not be further from the truth, however. You deserve a truly outstanding experience when you turn to your kitchen plumbing system in Tucson, AZ, and we’re here to see that this is what you get. 

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Garbage Disposal Tips for the Holiday Season

Monday, November 28th, 2016

Garbage disposals have become so common in kitchens that most of us can’t imagine living without them. Though disposals have a reputation for being quite sturdy, they can still develop issues if put under enough demand or exposed to the wrong thing. Stress on garbage disposals tends to be especially bad during the holiday season. If you want to keep your disposal in good shape this winter, read on for a few things you can do.

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How to Help Your Garbage Disposal Last Longer

Monday, July 4th, 2016

Garbage disposals may seem tough, but you can break one pretty easily if you expose it to the wrong materials. Many homeowners have been quite surprised to find that their systems have broken down, seemingly without warning. If you know what to do, however, you can help your garbage disposal last quite a bit longer. Let’s take a look at some of the steps you can take.

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What Not to Put Down Your Garbage Disposal

Monday, November 16th, 2015

It may seem like your garbage disposal is an invincible engine of destruction at times. That is not the case, though. A garbage disposal’s lifespan can be cut pretty short if it isn’t treated properly, and unfortunately far too many homeowners damage their garbage disposals without thinking about what they’re doing. In order to help your garbage disposal last as long as possible, take a look at some materials you should keep away from it.

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Things You Need to Stop Putting Down Your Garbage Disposal

Monday, September 7th, 2015

It can seem, sometimes, as though your garbage disposal is some sort of invincible engine of destruction, capable of handling even the most stubborn loads of food waste. While it is tempting to think this way, however, your garbage disposal can actually be broken quite easily if exposed to the wrong materials. Unfortunately, some of these materials are frequently put into garbage disposals across the country. Let’s take a look at two of the things that you really need to stop putting down your garbage disposal.

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Will Putting Ice Cubes into My Garbage Disposal Improve Its Performance?

Wednesday, March 4th, 2015

You probably use your garbage disposal on a daily basis to help clean up in the kitchen. With an effective disposal in the kitchen sink, you can easily get rid of food particles without the hassle of putting them into a composting receptacle and then removing them to the trash. The disposal also helps keep large food debris out of your drainpipes, and this in turn gives your plumbing a longer life with fewer clogs.

At times you may feel that your garbage disposal isn’t living up to expectations, and that it no longer seems to grind food the way it should. What should you do in this case? The best option is to call for a professional plumber to look into the trouble and see if you need repairs, or possible a unit replacement. Count on The Sunny Plumber when you need work for your garbage disposal in Vail, AZ.

But won’t pouring ice cubes into the disposal sharpen the blades?

This is one of the most persistent myths about garbage disposals. It won’t necessarily lead to serious problems with your disposal if you do this, but discussing why the ice cube (or eggshell) solution actually isn’t helpful will give you a better idea of how your garbage disposal actually works.

The fallacy with the concept of “sharpening” the “blades” of a garbage disposal is that a garbage disposal doesn’t use blades at all. If you view a cross-section of a standard kitchen garbage disposal, you will see that inside the upper hopper chamber (the location where food particles first enter) is a flywheel with impellers on it. The impellers are responsible for grinding down the food when the disposal turns on and the flywheel rotates. These impellers are not sharp, but blunt. (Please take our word for it; don’t reach down into the garbage disposal to feel them.) The speed of the disposal takes care of grinding, not the sharpness of any blades.

Although a few ice cubes going down the disposal shouldn’t do any damage to it, don’t make a habit of pouring a whole tray full of cubes into the hopper, since this can cause too much wear on the flywheel.

If your garbage disposal seems to no longer be able to “cut it,” something else is wrong, and you will need to call on professional plumbers to investigate. Just contact The Sunny Plumber, and we will see that your garbage disposal in Vail, AZ gets back to working the way it should, or we can offer you options for replacing the unit.

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Signs You Need to Replace Your Garbage Disposal

Wednesday, August 27th, 2014

The garbage disposal in your kitchen is tasked with breaking up food into smaller pieces so that it can safely travel into the sewer system with the rest of your home’s wastewater. This is vital for several reasons. For one, this process helps to eliminate unwanted food odors from your sink. Using the garbage disposal for certain foods also lightens the load on your trash bag. Furthermore, the garbage disposal actually protects your pipes from dangerous clogs that may harm your plumbing.

So when your garbage disposal in Green Valley isn’t working quite as well as it should, you may wonder whether you need to call for replacement. Garbage disposals are meant to last for several years. While the lifespan depends on the quality of your system and the level of maintenance it receives, most last about 10-12 years. If your garbage disposal is not working but it has not reached this lifespan, the solution may be simple. Check the reset button at the bottom of the disposal unit underneath the sink. If this is popped out, pressing the button may do the trick. Or, if you hear a humming noise after pressing this button, it means the flywheel is stuck and you should call for repairs.

However, if your older unit will not work, or if it has surpassed its life expectancy, it may mean that replacement is the best option. It’s important to have a working disposal to protect your plumbing, and a new system will give you that peace of mind. One other reason you may choose to replace your garbage disposal is if you simply want a new one. If you do a lot of cooking in your home and feel as though your current garbage disposal just doesn’t do the job as quickly as you’d like, you may be able to find a model with a greater horsepower.

If you’re still unsure whether it’s time to replace your unit, talk to the experts at The Sunny Plumber. Our technicians have many years of experience, so we can help you make the right choice as to whether repair or replacement is right for your garbage disposal in Green Valley. Give us a call today!

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