When a garbage disposal clogs, a plumber’s service call in Palmyra can cost as much as $100 just for showing up. A “fix” could add even more to that bill.

To minimize the likelihood of costly repairs, therefore, be mindful of how your disposal works, and where its limitations lie.

Most clogs are the result of how certain food waste reacts with water and there’s some items you should never flush down your sink. This is because everything sent through the disposal eventually must make its way down the waste line and that can include a trap.

Over time, the trap can get blocked.

With that in mind, here’s a short list of food waste that’s better suited for the garbage can than the kitchen sink:

• Rice and pasta : Small particles can never be completely pulverized, and will swell in the presence of water. This can clog pipes and traps.
• Egg shells : Tiny, granular waste can get “bound” with pipe sludge, creating a thick clog.
• Coffee grounds : Same as for egg shells. As a clog thickens, it’s harder for water to pass through.
• Grease : Liquid fats turn to solid when in contact with cold water. Over time, this creates a clog like plaque on an artery.
• Potato peels : Once ground, peels turn starchy like mashed potatoes. This can clog a drain pipe instantly.

With kitchen garbage disposals, the general rule for flushing food should be “when in doubt, leave it out”. Use your disposal for convenience, not for a trash chute substitute.

With the start of autumn comes a chill in the Rhawnhurst air, plus a simple way to drop your home’s energy bill. For homeowners with ceiling fans, it’s as simple as moving a button.

In this vintage video from The Weather Channel, you’ll learn how the blades of ceiling fan are meant to work, and how they amplify a home’s heating and cooling systems. You’ll also learn the optimal settings for blade rotation, and how to reverse your room’s air flow to take advantage.

A quick “cheat sheet”:

• When a home’s heating system is on, rotate fan blades clockwise
• When a home’s cooling system is on, rotate fan blades counter-clockwise

Running a ceiling fan consumes a nominal amount of energy as compared to adjusting your home’s overall temperature. On a warm day, for example, running a ceiling fan creates a “windchill effect”, reducing a room’s effective temperature by 4 degrees — all with the equivalent power of a 100-watt light bulb.

On a cold day, the fan pushes hot air back from the ceiling where it tends to collect.

If your home is without ceiling fans, installing them is inexpensive and easy.  There’s videos online to walk you through the steps, or you can call a qualified electrician. Need an electricians name? Call or email me — I’m happy to offer a referral in Philadelphia.

The front-loading washing machine is a popular home appliance choice.  As compared to its top-loading counterpart, a front-loader can handle larger clothing loads, is gentler on garments, and uses about 1/3 less water. In situations where stacking the washer and dryer is needed, the front loader is the winner.

However, because its design prevents water from fully draining, a front-loading washer can be a haven for mold and bacteria if not cared for properly.  I have a front loader in my second home, and even though I leave the door open after use to dry it out, there sometimes persists and odor.  It’s the story the salesman doesn’t often talk about and is the reason why products like Affresh exist. An all natural product is smellywasher.com which can be ordered online or bought locally.

If you own a front-loading, here’s some steps to keep in-washer mildew at bay and your clothes smelling fresh.

1. Leave the door slightly open after every cycle. This allows water to evaporate.
2. Use low-sudsing, high-efficiency detergent. If your local store doesn’t carry it, try Amazon.
3. Every week, pull back the rubber seal and wipe the inner ring with a cloth.
4. Clean the drain pump filter monthly, at least.
5. Run a bleach-and-hot-water cycle monthly, at least.

Front-loaders are good products, but require special care. Follow the steps above and your washer should remain mildew- and mold-free.