Hidden Plumbing Problems: What to Look for

This Is Why You Should Get Regular Drain Cleaning Service For Your Garbage Disposal

7 April 2020

Herbert Chambers

Garbage disposals are a common sight in kitchen drains. They provide a neat and easy way to get rid of food debris and other garbage that you don't want in your home. But they can also cause problems for your drains. If you've recently acquired a garbage disposal, you might want to sign up for regular drain cleanings. This is why.

The Good Thing About Garbage Disposals

There are some significant advantages to having a garbage disposal versus having a regular sink drain. The biggest of which is that garbage disposals help to break up food and debris into tiny little pieces that can readily go down the drain. In comparison, if you didn't have a garbage disposal, larger chunks of garbage could potentially clog up your drain and cause a headache for you.

The Bad

The problem with garbage disposals is that your drains are still susceptible to drain blockages — in fact, they may be more so than if you didn't have one.

When you don't have a garbage disposal, you likely actively take steps to prevent food debris from going down the drain. Whether you scrape it into the garbage first or just have a drain cover, this is going to protect your drain from the worst.

With a garbage disposal, food is torn up by spinning blades as it goes down the drain. This sends the food flying all over the drainpipe, where oils coming out of the food can cause it to stick. Before you know it, your drain smells like rot because food is literally breaking down in the drain.

What to Do

If you use a garbage disposal, the best thing you can do is sign up for regular drain cleanings with a plumber. This will prevent your drain from stinking and will also ensure that the debris sticking to the walls of the pipe doesn't become a full-fledged blockage.

Before you reach for a store-bought drain cleaner, keep in mind that it may not be enough to solve this problem. That's because the drain cleaner needs to adhere to the walls of the drain in order to work effectively, which many drain cleaners don't when there isn't an active clog holding it in position. In comparison, your plumber can use non-toxic methods of clearing your drain, like hydro jetting, that clear away anything stuck to the walls of the pipe using nothing more than water.

For more information, contact a drain cleaning service.

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