The Dos and Don’ts of Your Garbage Disposal:

Your garbage disposal is the unsung hero of your kitchen cleanup crew.

It makes quick work of those scraps left on your plate, but it’s not an "all-access" pass for everything that goes down the drain.

At MAXWELL PLUMBING, we’ve seen our fair share of jammed impellers and clogged pipes that could have been avoided with a little TLC.

To help you keep your disposal running smoothly—and avoid an emergency plumbing call—here is our guide to the essential Dos and Don’ts.

The "Dos":

• DO Use Cold Water: It seems counter-intuitive, but always run cold water while the disposal is grinding. Cold water keeps any fats or grease in a solid state so they can be chopped up and flushed through the pipes rather than coating them. GREASE IS NOT A FRIEND TO YOUR PIPES FURTHER DOWN THE LINE.  Hot water allows the grease to melt and move further down the pipe until it re-solidifies and becomes a problem eventually.

• DO Run it Regularly: Frequent use prevents rust and corrosion. Even if you don't have much to grind, running it with a bit of water helps keep the moving parts from seizing up.

• DO Cut Large Items Down: If you have large vegetable scraps, cut them into smaller pieces before dropping them in. It prevents the motor from overworking.

The "Don’ts":

• DON’T Pour Grease or Oil Down: This is the golden rule. Grease solidifies in your pipes, creating grease bricks that lead to massive clogs. Scrape the grease into a can and toss it in the trash instead.

• DON’T Grind Fibrous Materials: Avoid putting too much celery, corn husks, potato skins, egg shells, or onion skins down the disposal. These fibrous "strings" can wrap around the blades and jam the motor. We are personally guilty of this one and must like to live on the edge, but the truth is, if your disposal isn't strong, even these can cause problems when there's too much for the disposal to handle.

• DON’T Toss in "Expandables": Pasta, rice, and bread expand when they soak up water. Even if they get through the disposal, they can create a thick paste in your trap that stops everything else from draining. We've seen rice mixed with grease that became so hard it felt like a brick!

• DON’T Put Coffee Grounds Down: They might seem harmless, but coffee grounds are heavy and gritty. They tend to settle in the "P-trap" of your plumbing, eventually forming a sediment clog that is tough to clear.

• DON’T Use Harsh Chemicals: If you have a clog, avoid using liquid drain cleaners. These chemicals can be hard on the plastic and metal components of your disposal and plumbing system.

What to do if things go wrong?

If your disposal is making a humming sound but not spinning, or if you see water backing up into your sink, you can try to unclog it and often times may just need to press the red reset button on the bottom of the disposal.  Also, disposals come with an allen key tool that can be inserted into the bottom and used to push a disposal open that's jammed.  However, if you try those things and still have trouble, we are ready to help. At MAXWELL PLUMBING, our legacy of excellence spans four generations. We treat every home as if it were our own, providing the reliable solutions our Camas and PNW neighbors trust.

CLICK TO SCHEDULE A FREE ESTIMATE or call us at 360-209-4048.

If you need to get a new disposal here's what you need to know about the options available: Not all disposals are created equal, and the power you need depends heavily on your household's cooking habits. Garbage disposal motors are measured in horsepower (HP), typically ranging from 1/3 HP to 1.0 HP.

• 1/3 HP to 1/2 HP: These are entry-level models best suited for small households or light use (think soft leftovers and the occasional vegetable scrap). Because they have less torque, they are more prone to jamming if overloaded.

• 3/4 HP: This is the "sweet spot" for most families. These motors are powerful enough to grind tougher scraps like potato peels and small bones without breaking a sweat, and they often come with better sound insulation.

• 1.0 HP: These are the heavy-duty titans of the kitchen. If you cook large meals daily and want a disposal that can handle almost anything with industrial-strength speed—and a significantly quieter operation—a 1.0 HP model is a worthwhile investment.

There's just something about a good working, powerful and quiet disposal that feels luxurious without ever even looking at it! Treat your kitchen to an upgrade and enjoy!