Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I make it a point to always run the disposal before or just as I start the dishwasher. We never had a problem for the first 6 months, but now it seems any bits of food will cause it to plug until it has been run.
You are on a septic IIRC - in that case I think the disposal is a *really* bad idea. Just use it to assist the sink when it gets a bit clogged, but don't actively wash food debris into it.
Yes I am on septic. Good memory! I have talked to several septic companies and all said the disposal was fine as long I I don't go nutso using it. I scrap everything clean before washing and the only thing left is usually a little bit of food particles which in my mind is what a disposal was actually invented for and not a trash compactor. I think with my dishwasher situation it is some food particles not getting flushed down and causing the occasional clog.
While at it, check your dishwasher to see if it has a filter screen. If it does, make sure its not damaged. The screens are supposed to keep larger particles out of the disposer but if it gets clogged it can damage the screen causing rips and holes from too much gunk, and thatl let things through that can clog the disposer.
This only happens to me when there is something in the disposal and I have not remembered to turn it on. As you know, your food disposer in the dishwasher drains into the regular disposal, so if you have put something down there and forgotten to grind it up the dishwasher water can't drain as quickly.
PS We lived uneventfully with a disposer and septic for 20 years.
I support the idea of a monthly cleaning of the disposal with baking soda and white vinegar. Let the concoction bubble away in there for awhile. Then wash it away with a kettle full of boiling water (my tap water doesn't get very hot until it's run for a long time -- if yours does, just run it for awhile). I used to have a very smelly dishwasher until I started doing that. Now the dishwasher smells fine and I haven't had a single clog in the regular sink drain or the disposal on the other side.
i just had my kitchen drain unclogged by a professional. now when i run the water at full, without the stopper it fills up the sink about 1/4 full and drains out, quite quickly after i turn off the water. is this normal or should it run out as fast as it comes out of the faucet and not fill up any in the sink. please help my husband is driving me nuts with this he thinks it should empty out as fast as it comes in.,
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
