Kitchen Helpful Hints
These helpful hints should help keep the plumbing in your kitchen running efficiently.
- Never put hard-to-grind, stringy or fibrous waste (poultry skins, carrots, celery or banana peels) into the garbage disposer.
- Run cold water down the drain for 15 seconds before and after using the garbage disposer to flush waste through the line.
- Don't pour liquid grease down the drain. Wipe congealed grease from pots and pans with a paper towel and dispose of in the trash.
Cleaning Your Garbage Disposer
Foul odors can occur from a buildup of food debris within the disposer. Try these steps to eliminate odors:
- Grind ice cubes and orange or lemon rinds in the disposer for about 30 seconds.
- While the disposer is still running, pour a small amount of liquid dish detergent into it.
- Rinse any remaining debris away by running cold water for about 30 seconds.
Garbage Disposer Stops Working
Your disposer has an overload protector that senses if the motor is overheating and shuts it off. If your disposer cuts off during operation, it may be this broken electrical connection.
- Turn the disposer switch off.
- Do not put hands or objects down drain.
- Make sure the appliance is plugged in securely at the outlet.
- With power switch turned off, press reset switch on front or bottom of the garbage disposer.
- Restart disposer by turning on power switch.
Cleaning an Aerator
Low water pressure from the sprayer or water leaks from the handle are usually caused by lime buildup and sediment blocking the small openings inside the sprayer head. Clean the head using the following steps:
- By hand, carefully unscrew the aerator from the faucet turning counterclockwise. If it will not unscrew, wrap the jaws of your pliers with masking tape and loosen the aerator with the pliers. Continue by hand.
- Take aerator or spray head apart.
- Use a small brush dipped in vinegar to remove sediment. Plumbing Basics Kitchen Aerator.
- Reassemble the unit and screw back on to the faucet.