Junk Food for Drains: The Scoop on Using Water with Your Garbage Disposal

Hello there fellow fix-it fiends and how-is-this-thing-working wonders? It's your friendly neighborhood repairman bringing you some top-shelf advice. You'll find no spanner in the works here, just the answer to that question you've been stewing over: "Do I really need to run water when using my garbage disposal?"

From the trenches of busted pipes and the battlefields of leaky faucets, I'm here to tell you that the answer is a resounding YES. But hold your horses; it's not just any ol' way of running water.

Water: The Unsung Hero in Your Sink

You're on the right track; you need water when using the garbage disposal, but how and when you use it matters just as much. Let's lure the beast from under the sink and into the repairman's spotlight.

Like any other hardworking machine, your garbage disposal thrives on a little TLC. Picture it spending its day grinding away, masticating everything from potato peels to egg shells, old salad, and those pesky tomato stems.

Without water, these food scraps might stubbornly cling to the blades, leaving them dull and unproductive. But with the aid of a steady stream of H2O, the disposal can safely and efficiently wash away the remnants of your culinary adventures.

The Right Way to Run the Water and Use the Garbage Disposal

The key is not just running water — it's running cold water. Most of us might instinctively use hot water, thinking it could help break down the waste faster. However, hot water has a sneaky way of melting fatty residues, which could then solidify further along the drainpipe and cause a clog.

Cold water, the unsung hero, keeps oils and fats hard, allowing the disposal to effectively shred them into tiny pieces that can easily pass through your drainpipe.

Here's your trusty repairman's step-by-step guide for using your garbage disposal in harmony with water:

1. Start the cold water running.
2. Turn on your waste disposal.
3. Gradually add food waste.
4. Keep the disposal and cold water running until the grinding is complete.
5. Turn off the disposal but let the water run for another 15-20 seconds to wash away any lingering debris.

What if the Sink Fights Back?

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, the disposal and water might not play nicely. You might notice your sink draining more slowly than usual or worse ‒ not draining at all.

That's when you've got a classic case of the post-food-fight blues, also known as a potential clog. Fret not - don your DIY armor, and tackle the issue head-on. Try a plunger on your sink, or if that doesn't work, you could try a sink or pipe snake.

If all else fails, it's either time to roll up your sleeves and dissect the disposal (after unplugging it) or call in the professional troops.

Making Peace in Your Kitchen

So, run that water, but make it cold. Be careful, gradual, and watchful while feeding your friendly under-the-sink beast. And if you remember nothing else from today, remember this: Your garbage disposal isn't a fan of bones, fruit pits, fibrous vegetables, coffee grounds, pasta, rice, or non-food items.

With that, you're ready to master your disposal and sink dynamics. Your garbage disposal will be running as smoothly as a ballet dancer. And you, my DIY knights and dames of the sink realm, seize your victory against the menace that threatens harmony in your kitchen. Until the next repair riddle, happy DIY-ing!