Simple things you can do, that you may not know.

Garbage disposals -
I have had many experiences with clients who are worried that their garbage disposals are broke. Most times it is something as simple as a lodged/stuck motor. If you turn on your GD and it only hums, quickly turn it off. Every GD comes with an allen wrench, that is used to dislodge materials to free the motor. What I do when I see this issue is to turn on the water (warm water) and insert the wrench into the insert at the bottom of the GD. Simply turn the wrench back and forth to dislodge the material.

Sometimes people don’t react quick enough and the GD’s fuse will pop. The reset button is located on the bottom of the GD, simply push it in, and then use the allen wrench to cycle the motor (with water running) before attempting to turn it on again.

If neither of these work, then it is time to replace your garbage disposal.

Dish washers -

Be sure if you are a person that rarely rinses off your dishes before placing them into the dishwasher, that you regularly check and clean out the food filter that is located inside the dishwasher. Failing to do so, can result in poor draining during the wash cycle and as a bonus could damage the pump. A failed pump usually results in requiring a new dishwasher. So take some time and do this easy maintenance.

Hot Water Heaters -

There are a couple of maintenance ideas for your water heater. The first is doing an annual draining of the tank. This is done to help remove any mineral deposits that form inside the tank. Another way of thinking of it is that your water tank produces a buildup inside of the tank due to the nature of water, heat, and metals. This build-up will cover the surfaces, and over time if the tank isnt drained, will decrease the volume capacity of the tank, and also will decrease the efficiency of the heating.

The second has to do with the first. Many tanks have a sacrificial metal rod called an Anode. The job of this part is to prevent the deterioration of the tank by sacrificing itself to the corrosive nature of water. These anodes should be replaced at least every three years. Without this anode your tank mineral buildup will increase dramatically and could cause the premature replacement of your water heater.