Commercial garbage disposal tends to make life easier by breaking down leftover food items. These machines will work properly as long as they are maintained by a commercial appliances repair expert and used the right way. Unfortunately, most business owners take it for granted and are not aware of the factors that can cause damage. We have compiled a list of some common commercial garbage disposal mistakes to avoid and what can you do to keep it running without any problems.

Using the Wrong Sequence

Most business owners think that using the commercial garbage disposal is as simple as placing the leftover food items inside for the machine to break them down. In the long run, this is going to damage your machine. Your garbage disposal must be used sequentially.

To begin with, you should always use running cool water. This will flush down any remaining food items inside the machine. Once that is done, place the food items gently instead of grabbing a hand full and throwing it in the machine. Keep in mind that a garbage disposal is designed to break down a limited amount of food at a time.

Furthermore, the food items should not be large enough to become stuck in the blades. This is yet again another common problem when it comes to commercial garbage disposal. Placing large pieces of leftover food items will simply make it difficult for the blades to process.

So, there is always a chance that something will get stuck inside. Make batches of the food items and place them at a time. Then, run warm water for a few seconds to help any remaining items flush out as well.

Not Cleaning the Disposal Correctly

You might have come across smelly commercial garbage disposals that make breathing impossible. The worst part about it is that the odor can spread in the entire house or restaurant and turn a comfortable living environment into hell. This is mostly because commercial disposals are not properly maintained.

Like other kitchen appliances such as refrigerators, garbage disposals need proper maintenance as well. If you ignore it for long, you will have to work harder to get rid of the stubborn food particles and the odor.

So, depending on the frequency of usage, you should always maintain your restaurant equipment. At the end of the day, you should make sure that the garbage disposal is clean by running warm water. If needed, use a pressure washer to remove the blockage.

Some people tend to use harsh chemicals that damage the blades. Instead, simply use baking soda and lemon slices to get rid of the odor. And to remove bits of food stuck inside, grind ice cubes.

Dumping Non-Food Items

Dumping Non-Food items is the single most important mistake that you need to avoid at every cost. While others may not damage your garbage disposal as much, non-food items can lead to expensive repairs and replacements.

Both businesses and homeowners need to understand that not everything is supposed to go inside a commercial garbage disposal. For instance, non-food items such as cigarette buds, rubber bands, and other plastic items should be kept away. The blades inside a commercial garbage disposal are not designed to break down such items.

As a matter of fact, it is suggested to break down larger food items into smaller pieces by hand before placing them in a garbage disposal. If there are bones and other leftovers that you think will make it difficult for the machine to process, simply throw them in the dustbin.

Ignoring Visual Signs & Symptoms

In addition to using the wrong sequence and dumping non-food items, ignoring leakages and other problems is a major mistake as well. If you were not aware, commercial garbage disposals can leak as well and these leakages can occur in several different places. In most cases, the leakage can take place between the disposal and the sink on a component called the sink flange.

The reason could be a bad gasket. Fortunately, replacing the gasket is both easy and cost-effective. However, if you are unlucky, you could end up with ruptured pipes or rotted mounting bolts. If you observe your garbage disposal leaking, you should check these three factors.

If you are not able to identify the leakage, you will need to contact a commercial kitchen appliance repair Fairfax technician. It might be that your garbage disposal has been leaking for a while and caught your attention at its worst stage.

Commercial Garbage Disposal FAQs

What Can You Do About Commercial Garbage Disposal Problems?

The best way to prevent expensive and time-consuming garbage disposal problems is to educate yourself. Keep yourself up to date with the garbage disposal maintenance techniques and pass them down to your employees who use them daily.

Believe it or not, the majority of the garbage disposal problems are a direct result of negligence and lack of knowledge and information. If your employees are not aware of the proper cleaning techniques, do not be surprised if your garbage disposal constantly runs into problems.

At the same time, you should consider having a few spare parts such as bolts, gaskets, and pipes in hand. In case your garbage disposal develops a problem and the cause comes out to be one of these issues, you will be able to replace the parts without hurting your business operations.

Does A Commercial Garbage Disposal Require Professional Maintenance?

Garbage disposals maintained by professionals tend to last longer compared to those that hardly receive a professional touch. Regular inspections and cleaning done by employees is one thing but a professional will go into the details and fix issues you were not even aware of.

This can help prevent expensive repairs and replacements down the road. Most commercial garbage disposal components give up if a problem such as a clog is not fixed. As a result, the motor of the blades heats up and burns, leaving you with a replacement.

Therefore, something might be stuck inside for a while and could be caught by a professional while performing thorough maintenance. This is why you should get your commercial garbage disposal maintained by a professional at least once a year to avoid complications.

Repair Or Replace The Commercial Garbage Disposal?

Although garbage disposals can last years if maintained properly there comes a point where you need to decide whether you are going to continue to pay for repairs or simply replace the unit. Nearing its maximum lifespan, the commercial garbage disposal will begin developing problems.

If you observe that the costs have exceeded the actual value of the unit, you should simply consider replacing it. However, if there are minor issues such as leaky pipes and gaskets etc. you should replace them and see how long it takes for another problem to pop up. If it’s once in a few months, you should stick with repairs for a while until the situation goes out of hand.

Conclusion

Preventing commercial garbage disposal problems is easy. All you need to do is educate yourself, train your employees, and schedule professional maintenance. Make sure to follow a maintenance schedule and be on the lookout for any visual signs & symptoms that may point to a problem and consult commercial garbage disposal repair Springfield services if you detect a problem.