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Putman & Son's Plumbing

What Can You Put Down Your Garbage Disposal?

Besides being a helpful appliance that prevents clogged drains, garbage disposals are fun! We’ve all been tempted to test the capacity of our disposals, just for the satisfaction of watching a big mess magically disappear. However, you can break your disposal if you overload it.

There are two essential rules when it comes to running your garbage disposal. First, you should always be running water in the sink when you turn on the disposal. Second, you should only put biodegradable items into the disposal. Break these rules, and you will probably also break the disposal system.

There are a few food items that you should not put into your disposal. Eggshells, coffee grounds, bones, banana peels, potato peels, fruit pits, and oil and grease belong in your garbage can. Rice, pasta, and starchy vegetables are also bad for your disposal.

Some people feel okay with disposing of paper trash and cigarette butts using their disposal. While you may get away with it for a while, this practice will probably cause you problems at some point. You should never put plastic, glass, and metal into the garbage disposal.

Some people have been shocked by how much damage that paint can cause to garbage disposals. It may seem simple just to run the water and flush the paint down the drain. You don’t even have to activate the disposal. However, the paint residue can dry on the inside of the disposal, locking up the moving parts.

If you want to clean your garbage disposal, ice and lemon peels are the best options. The ice sharpens the blades and knocks off loose debris, while the Lemon peels are antiseptic and smell great. Some people also use rock salt and vinegar for the same reasons.

If you make a mistake and need to repair or replace your disposal unit, we are just a phone call away. A busy household depends on the fast clean-up that garbage disposals provide. We can have your disposal fixed in time for dinner.

 

Leaky Toilet Causes

There are a few common reasons that a toilet might leak. The most common cause is an ineffective flush valve. A tight seal is required for a toilet to flush effectively; however, deterioration may occur over time, causing a leak. To determine if this is the cause, you’ll want to locate the flush valve ball and determine if the seal is still intact. If everything looks good with the flush valve, your next step would be to check the fill valve. This needs to close to stop the flow of water. If the valve is rusted or damaged, the tank may overflow. If this does occur, start by shutting off the water flow and determine if the valve needs to be repaired or replaced entirely. Notice a crack in your toilet tank or bowl? You will want to fix this immediately. Often, cracks appear very small but can quickly get larger and turn into a serious leak. A seal may work to fix the crack, but often the toilet will need to be replaced completely. If the water appears at the base of your toilet, the problem may result from a broken wax seal. Additionally, you could experience a bad odor coming from the bathroom. Both signs that the wax seal needs to be replaced. This part is covered but will experience some general wear and tear that could cause it to deteriorate or dry out. The replacement process is more complicated than other issues, so we recommend calling a plumber immediately. The best scenario for a leaky toilet is simply condensation. Often, bathrooms are humid places, and condensation can form on surfaces, including the toilet. If you do notice water, monitor it first to ensure it is something other than condensation.

What Type of Water Heater Do You Need?

Everybody loves hot water. A warm shower is the most basic of luxuries. However, an underpowered water heater can ruin the experience, leaving you jumping out of a suddenly cold shower as the hot water runs out. For many people, the best part of staying at a hotel is the endless hot water supply. With the right water heater installed in your home, you can have that experience every day.

Most homes have conventional water heaters that heat a storage tank full of water. These water heaters may be run on gas or electric power. They are generally the most affordable water heater to buy and install, but they come with one major drawback. Once the storage tank has been emptied, you are out of hot water.

It can take a long time, up to an hour and a half for some models, to heat a new tank of hot water. You can combat this problem by installing a huge tank, but larger tanks require more operating power. If you don’t often run out of hot water in your home, your current conventional water heater may be all you need. If you constantly find yourself frustrated by a lack of hot water, it might be time to consider other options.

Tankless water heaters heat water on demand as it passes through the device’s heating coils. They run best on natural gas, but tankless water heaters can also be installed in all-electric homes. As long as you choose an appropriately sized unit, you can have an endless supply of hot water.

Whether you go conventional or tankless, we can make sure you get to enjoy your long, hot showers. Give us a call, and we’ll help you figure out the best options for your needs and budget.

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