Garbage Disposal Trouble Shooting

Garbage Disposal Trouble Shooting

Garbage disposals are perhaps one of the most frequently used and most frequently underappreciated of our kitchen appliances! If you’ve ever had a sink without a garbage disposal, you’ll quickly realize how handy the little appliance really is! Even if you take great care of your garbage disposal, leaks can and will develop over time. Garbage disposals, although small, have several parts and it can take some trouble shooting to identify where the leak is coming from. If you tend to be a DIY’er, you may want to investigate the leak before calling a professional plumber. 

garbage-disposal-troubleshooting

 

We mentioned that garbage disposals have several parts. With most garbage disposal leaks, there are four main areas where they may occur-

  • The sink flange- The sink flange connects the top of the disposal to the bottom of the sink drain.
  • The dishwasher connection- This is usually a rubber hose connected to the side of the garbage disposal.
  • The drain pipe- This is usually a plastic or metal pipe that drains water and food away to the sewer.
  • The actual garbage disposal

If you want to try and identify the source of the leak yourself, you can do an easy test. Make sure to dry the outside of the disposal and all of its parts that you can see so that the leak will be easily visible to you. Next, stop up your sink and fill it with a few inches of water. After a few minutes, if you notice water coming from the disposal under the sink, you’re leak is probably coming from the sink flange. If, after a few minutes, the disposal under the sink is still dry, pull the sink stopper and watch the other three parts we mentioned above. You should notice water coming from the dishwasher hose, the drain pipe, or some other area of the disposal. 

Once you’ve identified the leak, you can decide whether or not to try and fix it yourself. Of course, the repair necessary will depend on where you determined the leak was located. Sometimes, fixes are easy and sometimes fixes that seem easy and simple will turn into large, complicated solutions. If the leak is coming from the sink flange, it may just need tightening. If simply tightening it doesn’t work, you may need to loosen it, apply plumbers putty to reseal it, and then tighten it back up.  If the dishwasher hose is the culprit, you may need to either tighten it or replace it depending on whether its just loose or if its cracked. The drain pipe may also be able to be tightened. If tightening it doesn’t fix the leaky drain pipe, you may need to replace the seal. Sometimes, the entire disposal needs to be replaced. 

For help with garbage disposal trouble shooting, repairs, or replacement, call the professionals at Masterflo Plumbing today at (678) 822-7095!

 

 

Frozen Pipes: Part 1

Major home maintenance problems seem to come at the worst time and can often turn into major disasters! Every winter nearly a quarter-million families in the US have their homes ruined and their lives disrupted every winter due to frozen pipes.

Here in north Georgia we’ve had some chilly nights lately, meaning that winter is on its way! Any pipe inside or outside your home can freeze during the frigid winter weather that we get in Georgia. Frozen pipes can turn into an expensive, ongoing ordeal that can end up costing you tons of money. The good news, though, is that frozen pipes are preventable!

Today we’re going to go over a few tips to help out with frozen pipes.

  1. If there are water supply lines in your garage, keep your garage door closed during cold weather.
  2. Open your kitchen cabinet and bathroom cabinet doors. This will allow warm air from your home to circulate around your plumbing.
  3. Let cold water drip from faucets that are served by exposed pipes. Letting water run through the pipes will help prevent them from freezing.
  4. Keep your thermostat set to the same temperature during the day and night.
  5. If you’re going out of town, don’t set your thermostat lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

Come back on Monday to learn how to thaw frozen pipes! In the meantime, if you’ve got a plumbing emergency on your hands, make sure to call the experts you can trust at Masterflo Plumbing! Call (678) 822-7095 today!

 

 

Garbage Disposal Tips

Garbage Disposal Tips

We’ve spent lots of time on our blog talking about your kitchen’s hero- the garbage disposal. You can check out our past posts about problems with your garbage disposal here and here. The garbage disposal is one of the most under appreciated appliance in your home- think about all the food and debris you’d have to fish out of your sink every day without it!

Today we’re going to run through a quick list of things you should and should not put down your garbage disposal so that you can keep your garbage disposal in working order!

Things you should be putting down your garbage disposal include:

  • citrus rinds
  • coffee grounds
  • eggshells
  • cooked meat scraps
  • fruit scraps
  • most vegetable scraps

Things you should not be putting down your garbage disposal include:

  • fruit pits
  • bones
  • shrimp shells
  • banana peels
  • nuts
  • grease
  • corn husks
  • onion skins
  • artichokes
  • potato peels
  • asparagus

These tips should help you keep your garbage disposal in working order! If you do notice that your garbage disposal is making a funny sound, not working, or leaking you should call a plumber right away to avoid further damage. At Masterflo we can diagnose your garbage disposal and repair it or replace it for you if it needs to be replaced. Contact us today at (678) 822-7095 for all your garbage disposal needs in the metro Atlanta area!

Canton GA Plumber | Masterflo Plumbing

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Garbage Disposal Problems: Myths

Garbage Disposal Problems: Myths

A couple weeks ago we talked about some common garbage disposal problems. Today we’re going to talk about one of the biggest garbage disposal problems- myths! We understand that doing research on plumbing and garbage disposals isn’t really a top priority for most homeowners, and understandably so! However, having correct information about your garbage disposal can help you avoid many common garbage disposal problems. The garbage disposal is one of the hardest working appliances in the modern day American home- many of us use our garbage disposal multiple times every day without even thinking about it.

Because spending lots of time reading about your garbage disposal probably isn’t how you want to spend your free time, we’ll keep this short and sweet and help clear up some of those common garbage disposal myths.

 

Myth #1

You can sharpen the blades with ice cubes. No, no, no! Many of us have heard that if your garbage disposal is having a hard time grinding up food that you should put ice cubes down it and turn it on. This is a very common garbage disposal myth, and I have tons of friends who do this all the time. In fact, there are no sharp blades in your garbage disposal. The “blades” that grind up your food are actually blunt- surprise! Putting ice cubes down your garbage disposal won’t sharpen these blades because they are designed to be blunt. In fact, if you put ice cubes down your garbage disposal you could potentially cause a lot of damage. If your garbage disposal isn’t grinding up food properly, you should call a plumber to check it out to see if you need repairs.

Myth #2

You should run hot water while running your garbage disposal. The thought process behind this myth is that hot water helps to dissolve grease, food, and other organic matter that’s been put down your garbage disposal. However, if you run hot water while you’re running your garbage disposal, you could cause your garbage disposal to overheat! Its true that you should run water while running your disposal, but its important to try and use cold water whenever possible. If your garbage disposal overheats, you could cause substantial damage resulting in a whole new unit.

Myth #3

Your garbage disposal can grind up any food product you put down it. While your garbage disposal is a heavy duty, durable appliance, it can and will break if not treated properly. Your garbage disposal is designed to grind up SOFT food particles, not hard ones! Your garbage disposal is not built to grind up bones, gristle, corn cobs, popcorn kernels, etc. A good rule of thumb to remember is that if you can’t chew it, neither can your garbage disposal!

If you need a professional plumber to help you out with your garbage disposal problems, don’t forget to call a trusted, experienced plumber. At Masterflo Plumbing we can assess your garbage disposal needs. If your garbage disposal can be repaired, we have the experience necessary to make those repairs. If you need a new one, we can install it for you. No matter how careful you are with your garbage disposal, it may still break down at some point, and we’ll be there to help you out 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

For all your garbage disposal needs contact us at (678) 822-7095!

 

 

Garbage Disposal Problems

Garbage Disposal Problems

The garbage disposal is the hero of the kitchen. Think back to the last time you had to dig bits of old food out of a kitchen sink that wasn’t equipped with a garbage disposal- this memory surely makes you appreciate your garbage disposal! We often don’t think of our garbage disposals until they have problems, but your garbage disposal is a hard working plumbing convenience that you definitely don’t want to be without. Garbage disposal problems need to be dealt with quickly and professionally or a small problem could turn into a much larger one. Calling a trusted, professional plumber is your best bet for getting your garbage disposal fixed correctly and promptly.

Here are three garbage disposal problems that are, unfortunately, quite common:

  1. No power. Most of us never stop to think about it, but garbage disposals run on electricity similar to many other kitchen appliances. If the electrical supply to your garbage disposal gets interrupted, it won’t work. Your garbage disposal can also become overloaded by a power surge. If this happens, your garbage disposal will automatically shut off to avoid burning out. Most garbage disposals have a red reset button on the bottom. If you press your reset button and your garbage disposal begins working again, you don’t need a professional plumber. If it doesn’t, call a plumber right away!
  2. A jam. Most of us take full advantage of our garbage disposals by sending anything and everything down them without a second thought. There are some things, however, that should never be put down a garbage disposals. This list includes chicken bones, peach pits, vegetable peelings from carrots and potatoes, and kitchen utensils or other foreign objects. If any of these things make their way down your garbage disposal, you can find yourself with a serious clog that will result in a jam. Although its tempting, you should never try to dislodge a jam yourself because you can seriously injure your fingers. A professional plumber is trained to adjust the masher plate and safely dislodge the jam.
  3. Leaks. Just like any other piping in your home, your garbage disposal can spring a leak! Sometimes these leaks come from breached hoses, loose fittings, or faulty seals. Its imperative to call a plumber right away if you notice a leak coming from your garbage disposal. A small leak can quickly turn into a larger one and can cause major damage to your home resulting in costly repairs.

If you have any of these common garbage disposal problems, call the experienced professionals at Masterflo Plumbing immediately at (678) 822-7095! Continuing to use your garbage disposal if you have noticed a problem can result in the whole unit needing to be replaced, so don’t hesitate to call us! Remember, we’re always available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! We’ve got the skills and experience necessary to restore your garbage disposal to working condition!

 

Kitchen Plumbing Maintenance

Kitchen Plumbing Maintenance

When you think of your home’s plumbing system, what’s the first room that comes to mind? Probably your bathroom, right? The word “plumbing” often gets associated with bathrooms, but how often do you associate it with your kitchen? Sure, we all know that there are pipes in the kitchen, but most of us don’t realize that the plumbing in our kitchens does a huge amount of work every day! The plumbing in your kitchen brings fresh cold water to your tap, brings fresh hot water to your tap, carries out waste water containing food parts from the sink, and supports appliances like a dishwasher and a garbage disposal.

With all the hard work that your kitchen plumbing does, it should come as know surprise to you that your kitchen plumbing is at a high risk to break down and potentially cause huge problems for you! Problems with your kitchen plumbing can get quite costly. To help avoid a costly kitchen plumbing repair, its important that you schedule a kitchen plumbing inspection and maintenance visit with Masterflo Plumbing. Annual kitchen plumbing maintenance and a check up will help safeguard you from potentially huge problems.

During an annual check up from an experienced plumber, your whole kitchen plumbing system will be thoroughly inspected. This includes checking all pipes for leaks (including small, hard to detect pinhole leaks), sagging or raised spots in your cabinets or floors that could indicate a leak, and a thorough drain cleaning to prevent debris from building up and causing a clog.

Here are some reasons why kitchen plumbing maintenance and an annual check up benefit you-

  • Early leak detection- Some leaks, like pinhole leaks, can be hard for homeowners to detect before they become large, problematic leaks. If a minor leak is not repaired quickly, it can become a huge leak and cause many other costly problems. During an annual maintenance visit, an experienced plumber can catch these small leaks early and fix them before they can cause any more damage or cost you any more money!
  • Clogs treatment and prevention- No matter how careful you are at your kitchen sink, a certain amount of organic debris will make its way down your kitchen sink drain. Over time, this organic debris (fat, grease, food waste, etc.) can build up in your kitchen pipes and cause a major, problematic clog. During a maintenance visit, our plumbers will clean out all the debris in your pipes, leaving you with better water pressure and a much lower risk for those aggravating, and potentially hazardous, clogs.
  • Appliance maintenance- All those expensive appliances in your kitchen- your dishwasher, garbage disposal, sink faucets, etc- are at risk if you don’t have your kitchen plumbing regularly inspected and maintained. By having kitchen plumbing maintenance done, you can drastically decrease the odds that something will go wrong with your appliances and increase their lifespan.
  • Lower water bills- In the end, we all really just want to save some money and have some extra cash in our pockets, right? An annual maintenance visit will keep your kitchen plumbing working efficiently! If your kitchen plumbing isn’t being maintained chances are that its working inefficiently. If its working inefficiently, that means its costing you extra money!

Call Masterflo plumbing today to schedule your annual kitchen plumbing maintenance visit! If you’re having an emergency kitchen plumbing problem, we are available to help you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! We boast a team of highly skilled, experienced plumbers who can find a solution for you right away!

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(678) 822-7095

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Plumbing Tips: Garbage Disposal Repair

Plumbing Tips: Garbage Disposal Repair

We all love our garbage disposals, but none of us truly realize how much until it breaks, right? Without a doubt, the garbage disposal is one of the greatest inventions because it can make your life in the kitchen a thousand times easier. While its not one of the most common plumbing issues people have, your garbage disposal can break just like a toilet or shower head can. Here are some great, simple tips for keeping your garbage disposal healthy and avoiding the need for garbage disposal repair!

  1. Make sure you know what’s safe to put down it and what’s not. There are definitely some obvious things that you shouldn’t be putting down your garbage disposal- namely, plastic and metal. Solid objects like forks, spoons, and serving utensils definitely shouldn’t go down your garbage disposal. Although these things are obvious, there are some other objects that shouldn’t go down your garbage disposal that aren’t so obvious. Fibrous vegetables like celery and onion skins can get tangled up in the disposal. Fats, oils, and grease can also clog up the garbage disposal because as they cool off they solidify. Bones and fruit pits are also not supposed to go down your garbage disposal.
  2. Flush is out with boiling water. Pouring a pot full of boiling water down your garbage disposal every once in a while will flush it out. The boiling water will help break up and loosen and waste that has collected in the disposal chamber or the drain pipe. We recommend doing this once a month to help clean out old waste and prevent future build up.
  3. Don’t push your luck, get it repaired! This one may seem obvious, but we’re ALL guilty of it. How many times has one of your appliances started acting up and you just ignore it and hope it goes away on its own?? If your garbage disposal is making a funny sound or vibrating more than normal, call a plumber for garbage disposal repair! Contrary to popular belief, garbage disposals CAN be repaired- they don’t always have to be completely replaced! Having a garbage disposal repaired quickly can prevent having to have it totally replaced, saving you lots of money!

If you need help with your garbage disposal or need garbage disposal repair help, call Masterflo Plumbing today at [callout add_button=”no” button_text=”Learn More” button_url=”#”]

(678) 822-7095

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