Tips to Help You be Careful With Your Fall Cooking Habits

Fall means that the holidays are coming. Thanksgiving is the start of a busy and full season with lots of family and friends. One of the best parts of the holidays is getting to have many big meals with loved ones.

However, special meals mean lots of time in the kitchen and lots of time in the kitchen can mean problems for your pipes. Today we’ll talk about some easy things you can do to help protect your kitchen plumbing this fall and to avoid having plumbing problems during the busy holiday season.

Remember Grease Traps

When you’re busy cooking and dealing with lots of pots and pans, more often than not some grease and oil get down the drain. You do your best to avoid it, but it’s hard when you’re moving lots of dishes around and making a fancy meal.

Protect your kitchen plumbing from this inevitability by using grease traps. Grease traps go in your drain or waste pipe and keep grease from going through your plumbing system and into the sewer system.

This simple trap can avoid troublesome blockages and foul odors. Plus, it will give you peace of mind knowing that even in the most chaotic cooking days your pipes are protected.

Hot Water Every Week

Keeping your pipes clean is one of the best ways to protect them and to avoid having blockages or issues. An easy way that you can regularly work to keep your pipes clean is by pouring boiling water down the drain each week.

Once a week, fill a tea kettle with boiling water and, once the drain is clear, pour the boiling water down your sink. This will clear small blockages and buildups and will help to keep your pipes clean. It’s a small thing to add to the routine, but it can make a big difference for your pipes.

Garbage Disposal Reminders

During busy seasons, there can be a major strain on your disposal. This can lead to problems both for the disposal and for your pipes. To avoid a plumbing emergency, keep a few garbage disposal dos and don’ts in mind this fall:

• • Only put small food scraps down the garbage disposal; remember that it is not a trash can.
  • Never put grease or fats in the disposal.
  • Always use cold (not hot) water when running the garbage disposal.
  • Never put coffee grounds or starchy foods down the sink - while these might not hurt the disposal, they can cause clogs in your pipes.

• Be cautious about fibrous foods (i.e., banana peels, celery, eggshells) as they can wrap around the disposal and cause it to stall.

You don’t want your drain to clog or your disposal to go out in the midst of cooking a big meal, so keep these tips in mind to help ensure that your disposal and kitchen plumbing are working as they should. We hope these tips will help you to protect your kitchen plumbing this fall and that you have a wonderful fall season filled with many great meals!

 

Have you ever really stopped to consider the many benefits of having a garbage disposal in your kitchen? They increase the value of your home and help the environment because of how they compact your garbage. They help you to manage your waste more effectively and cut down on household chores.

They are easy and cost-effective to install, so don’t represent a big time or financial investment. There is even more upside. Read on below to learn more about how a garbage disposal can help you.

1 - Clear Pipes Without Clogs

It is inevitable that some food scraps and other debris will fall into your kitchen sink when you are cleaning your dishes and tidying your kitchen.

Unfortunately, as this debris gathers in your sink (where it doesn’t belong), it will eventually bind to your pipes and drains, causing troublesome clogs.

This can cause your sink to back up and overflow, creating huge messes to clean up and potential water damage to repair. That is in addition to the possibility that your kitchen sink would be out of commission for a while- which isn’t good for anyone. The simple solution is to install a garbage disposal, which means that when debris falls down the kitchen sink, it is going where it should-into the garbage disposal.

2 - Easier to Clean Your Dishes

Chances are that you scrape your dishes into the garbage can and then walk across your kitchen to your sink to rinse the dishes before you put them in the dishwasher or wash them by hand.

Not only does this waste your time, it means that you are probably tracking food and garbage all over your kitchen. Want a better solution? Put in a garbage disposal to unify your task stations and make your life easier.

3 - Fresh Clean Smell

With the food debris and scraps that gather in your sink, you will inevitably get bad smells in your kitchen as that food begins to decompose. You can try to freshen the drains with baking soda and vinegar, but that isn’t always effective.

Also, when you are storing big bags of trash in your kitchen, it is going to smell bad, naturally. Even if you use scented bags that may not take the edge off.

If you have a garbage disposal, you can reduce garbage stored in your kitchen and the food scraps in your sink drains. The end result is a fresh smelling kitchen. Are you curious to learn more about how a garbage disposal can make your life easier? Call us for more information today in Apple Valley, MN.

So you're ready to install a new refrigerator for your Apple Valley, MN home. Congratulations. Many newer fridges now come with standard features that were once considered luxuries, including devices such as water dispensers and ice makers. These, in particular, require a plumbing connection to function.

But don't worry; you don't need a degree in kitchen plumbing to set them up. Installing a new fridge requires a small amount of labor, but it's nothing most homeowners can't take care of themselves. Here's a guide on how to connect your new refrigerator.

Installing the Water Dispenser

Off the bat, you need to find the nearest cold-water supply. Kitchens normally have these under the sink.

If you're lucky, there may be a supply ready to go in the area behind where the fridge is being installed, in which case all you have to do is connect it to the appliance directly.

After finding the water supply, follow these steps.

Step 1: Map Out Where the Piping Goes

It's best to get an idea of where the piping will run before getting started. This entirely depends on your kitchen's layout. You may be able to install piping through the cabinets, or you might have to run it underneath the floor from the supply to the fridge. Take precise measurements and make sure you have enough piping to complete the job. If there are any corners, you need to make sure the piping goes around them comfortably.

Step 2: Shut Off the Water

Turn off the water at the supply valve. Run a faucet until all of the water cycles through. This will prevent leaking while you make the connections.

Step 3: Attach an Adapter to the Water Supply

There are three types of adapters you can use to connect your fridge with the water supply: a soldered tee-fitting, a compression tee-fitting, and a saddle valve. If you buy a DIY kit, it probably comes with a saddle valve. We insist you don't use them. Saddle valves aren't designed to last long and are often subpar quality.

In many states, licensed plumbers are forbidden from installing them. Instead, we recommend using a tee-fitting. Soldered tee-fittings, which are made by hand, are stronger than pre-made compression tee-fittings, but either one will serve its purpose.

Disconnect the kitchen sink faucet from the water supply, connect the tee-fitting to the supply and then connect the faucet to the tee-fitting. This allows both the fridge and faucet access to the water.

Step 4: Connect Piping to Tee-Fitting and Refrigerator

It's time to link the water supply with the refrigerator itself. Attach the piping to the final connection on the tee-fitting and run it along toward the back of the fridge. Make the final connection with the appliance. Turn the water back on and check for any leaks at the tee-fitting and along the piping. If everything seems okay, run a few gallons of water and make a bunch of ice to determine if the water line is working properly.

Installing the Ice Maker

Modern fridges with built-in water dispensers and ice makers actually only need a single water line.

If you followed the instructions above, you have access to both devices.

Advantages of Expert Installation

If you're confused about kitchen plumbing, don't worry; you wouldn't be the first person. Asking for professional help when installing a new appliance such as a fridge can actually be beneficial.

It ensures the job is completed right the first time and gives you peace of mind that everything will go smoothly. Enjoy everything your new fridge has to offer more quickly.