Garbage Disposals: What to Know Before You Install One

October 23rd, 2013 Posted in Garbage Disposals
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A garbage disposal can make quick work of most kitchen scraps, flushing unsavory leftovers down the drain. When your kitchen features a garbage disposal unit, you’re able to keep smelly food waste out of the kitchen garbage. That means fewer offensive odors, less volume in landfills and that your family is generating less garbage for pickup. What you may not realize, however, is that installing a garbage disposal is something you should carefully consider before taking the plunge.

First of all, a garbage disposal may not always be the best option for some homes. If you depend upon a septic tank to dispose of water waste on your property, garbage disposals are not typically recommended. Unless your septic tank system and leach field are designed specifically to accommodate the increased load of organic material and water, you could run into bigger problems down the road with your septic system.

If you’re connected to a municipal sewer line and have no contraindications regarding the use of a garbage disposal in your home, you’ll still want to think twice before you tackle the project yourself. A malfunctioning garbage disposal is just no fun, and you’re likely to spend much more money on corrective attention than you would by simply having the device installed by a professional in the first place.

When you’re considering the addition of a garbage disposal to your kitchen appliance array, be sure that you’re working closely with a licensed and experienced plumber in your area. Contact a plumbing professional in your area to discuss your garbage disposal options, and to make an informed choice regarding the installation of a unit in your home.

Posted on behalf of Kiddco Plumbing

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Things to Know When Purchasing a Garbage Disposal

September 5th, 2013 Posted in Garbage Disposals
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There are basically two types of garbage disposals, with varying features, to choose from. One type is the standard continuous feed disposal that operates with the flip of a switch. It is the cheapest and most convenient, allowing you to continuously feed scraps to the disposal while water runs down the drain. This type also typically comes with a rubber splash guard to cover the drain hole. Another type of disposal is the batch-feed, which costs more but does not require the additional expense of installing a wall switch. The blades on the batch-feed unit are activated when the drain hole is covered; therefore, they are considered safer to operate.

Once you have decided on your preferred type, you need to know what you intend to routinely grind in order to choose adequate horsepower. Higher horsepower (as would be needed for grinding bones) will usually grind faster with less chance of jamming. You should also know what you are considering for longevity when it comes to choosing the quality of the disposal’s parts. For instance, stainless-steel blades will cost more than another disposal of the same horsepower with blades of galvanized steel; however, stainless-steel is superior at resisting corrosion so it will come with an extended warranty. In purchasing your disposal, make sure that you consider the size of your sink area. If space under the sink is limited, your may discover that your only choice is a compact unit.

Don’t be fooled by false advertising for “quieter” units; added insulation has little sound deadening benefit since the grinding noises are escaping through the drain hole, on continuous-feed disposals. Above all, with the installation requirements of plumbing, mechanical and electrical skills, contact your local plumbing professional with any questions or concerns.

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How to Install a Garbage Disposal

August 12th, 2013 Posted in Garbage Disposals
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Installing your own garbage disposal can be a fairly difficult task, depending on your own skills and experience, the size of your sink and cabinetry, as well as whether or not you also have a dishwasher. As with most home appliance purchases, step-by-step instructions, along with all the necessary parts, are usually supplied. Of course, reading and following instructions can be the difficult part for some home installers.

Disconnect and remove the p-trap and horizontal extension pipes under your sink. As your disposal will replace the strainer body in the sink, remove it. Separate the mounting assembly from the disposal, loosening the screws and remove the snap ring. After placing plumber’s putty around the drain opening, insert the new sink flange into place. From under the sink, install the mounting assembly. If you are also using a dishwasher, you will find a knockout plug on the disposal that needs to be tapped out.

Turn off all electrical power before removing the electrical cover plate and make sure that your disposal is grounded. Make the electrical connections and replace the plate to cover the wires. Align the disposal with the mounting assembly and lock into place. Install the discharge tube, turning it until it aligns with the drain trap. If applicable, connect the dishwasher tube to the disposal. Once everything is installed and in position, the disposal should be tested for leaks. Restore electrical power and test its operation.

If you are not experienced with this type of installation or are not comfortable that you have the plumbing as well as electrical skills needed, it is probably your best interests to have your local plumber do the garbage disposal installation.  You can be sure the job is done right and enjoy years of trouble free operation. Furthermore, some local building codes may require a licensed electrician to make the electrical connections.

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Proper Garbage Disposal Usage

March 13th, 2013 Posted in Garbage Disposals
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Having a garbage disposal in your kitchen can make clean up easy, but they get a serious work out in most homes. Disposals are designed to grind up pieces and bits of food so they can be safely disposed of in your waste system and water pipes, but if not used properly, they can become the source of clogs and other blockages.

In fact, the most common issue plaguing garbage disposals is clogs. There are numerous explanations of why clogs are created by using garbage disposals incorrectly. The most common reasons involve putting things into your disposal that won’t belong there, or not running water while using the disposal. Here are some tips to follow when disposing of food:

No coffee grounds. Coffee grounds are a common culprit for garbage disposal issues. The ground up granules can stick to the insides of the pipes and create a blockage over time. Anytime you see grounds in the bottom of your coffee cup or pot, clean them out with a towel and throw them away. 

No food peels. It’s important never to put peels from bananas or potatoes into a garbage disposal. Grinding up these peels can make a mushy, stringy paste which will clog the disposal’s spinning blades. Do not put any peels into your disposal – throw them in the garbage or into your compost pile instead. 

No egg shells. Grinding up egg shells can create a similar effect to coffee grounds. The small pieces can clog your pipes and stop up the drain. 

Always flush your disposal thoroughly. Make sure to run plenty of water while grinding up food, and to make sure to keep the faucet running for a few more seconds to flush out any remaining food particles.

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Proper Garbage Disposal Usage

November 30th, 2012 Posted in Garbage Disposals
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Garbage disposals get a work out in most homes. Although they are meant to grind up food so it can be safely disposed of through your waste system, often they are not used properly or used to dispose of foods they cannot handle. Clogs and damage to the unit can happen, resulting in repair or replacement of the device.

Preventing Clogs

The most common issue with garbage disposals is clogs. This usually happens for two reasons. Either the wrong foods are being put into the disposal or there is not enough water added to flush the system. Some easy ways to avoid clogs are:

No peels. Potato and banana peels often are behind many clogs. These peels can create a mushy, stringy paste that can clog the disposal. Do not put these peels in your disposal, throw them in the garbage or into your compost pile.

Coffee grounds. Probably one of the most common issues are coffee grounds. These granules stick inside the pipes and can quickly cause a clog. If there are grounds in the bottom of a cup or pot, wipe it out and throw the grounds away.

Egg shells. These have a similar effect to coffee grounds. The hard, small pieces get hung up in slug in your pipes and can easily clog the drain.

Flushing. Your disposal needs water to flush the food debris through. Run water while grinding and then for about 30 seconds afterwards to flush out debris.

If your disposal is not used properly, it will most likely end up burning itself out or become clogged. If this happens, a plumber can remove the clog, or if needed, repair or replace the unit.

 

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Buying a New Garbage Disposal

October 16th, 2012 Posted in Garbage Disposals
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Whether you are replacing an old garbage disposal or adding a new one for the first time, you have several things to consider when buying a new disposal.  While you can replace the old one with a new disposal similar to it, you want to make sure it is the correct choice.  You may want to upgrade to a bigger, better one.

The first thing you will want to look at is the type of garbage disposal you want to buy.  They come in two styles: batch and continuous.  Continuous is the more well-known with operation of the disposal being controlled by a switch.  Batch mode garbage disposals only operate when the unit is activated and the lid engaged.

You will also want to look at size since that determines the size and amount of food it can handle.  Most homes will need at least a ¾ horsepower unit to prevent problems with operation.  Weight is another concern since some sinks won’t be able to support a heavy unit.

Replacing a current disposal with a new model should only take you about 30 minutes but installing a brand new device can take up to 2 hours.  You will need an electrical power source nearby for the unit to work.  Installation varies depending on where your drain line is located; it can either be in the wall or the floor.

Installing a garbage disposal takes basic plumbing skills and electrical skills.  Unless you are confident in your plumbing and electrical abilities, it may be wise to hire dependable plumber to handle the project.  This is especially helpful if you are installing a new disposal rather than replacing a current one.

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Garbage Disposal Features

August 14th, 2012 Posted in Garbage Disposals
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Garbage disposals are great to have in the kitchen to help make clean up fast and easy.  Whether you are upgrading your existing garbage disposal or planning a new installation, there are a few features to look for in your new garbage disposal.

The most common problem with garbage disposals is jamming.  Overloading the garbage disposal or trying to grind a hard object can jam the disposal. Many garbage disposals come with features to reduce jamming or to make it easier to free a jammed disposal.  At the most basic level, most disposals have a reset button that trips whenever the disposal jams to protect the motor.  These disposals usually include a tool that is used to turn a jammed grinder manually in order to free it.

More sophisticated garbage disposals have sensors that can sense a jam and reverse the direction of the motor to try to avoid the jam from occurring.  Some garbage disposals also reverse automatically every time they are operated to clear waste and avoid future jams.

If you have a dishwasher, you may be interested in a disposal that allows the dishwasher discharge to be routed to the garbage disposal.  Food waste from the disposal is then ground using the garbage disposal before flushing it down the drain.

Garbage disposals are historically noisy, but some newer models feature noise suppression features to keep noise to a minimum.  If your kitchen is located in an area where noise could be a concern, consider one of the quiet units.

With any garbage disposal, you will get the best results by having the disposal professionally installed by your local plumber.  This is especially true for new installations where drain plumbing may need to be re-routed and an electrical supply may need to be installed.

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Will Your Garbage Disposal Harm Your Septic System?

August 14th, 2012 Posted in Garbage Disposals
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If you are installing a new garbage disposal or replacing an existing garbage disposal, you have a few decisions to make regarding the type of disposal and the horsepower of the motor.  Before you even get that far, consider whether you should install a garbage disposal at all, especially if you are on a septic system.

There is some debate about whether using a garbage disposal harms a septic system.  One argument is that by regularly flushing food waste into the septic system, you are putting  a load on it that the septic system is not designed to handle.  On the other hand, as long as you only dispose of organic kitchen waste material, it should be broken down in the septic tank and not cause a problem.

The answer is probably somewhere in the middle.  If you have a septic system, a garbage disposal will almost certainly add to the load the system is asked to process.  It will also increase the amount of waste water that flows into the septic tank.  However, as long as your septic system in good shape, is not already nearing the peak load it can handle, and you use the disposal with moderation, you will probably not have any trouble using a garbage disposal with a septic system.

Keep in mind that you will need to have the septic tank pumped a little more frequently if you have a garbage disposal.  Before buying and installing a garbage disposal, have your septic system evaluated by your plumber or a sewer-septic professional.  They will be able to help you determine if your system is healthy and has the capacity needed to handle the extra load of the garbage disposal.

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Batch Feed vs. Continuous Feed Garbage Disposals

August 14th, 2012 Posted in Garbage Disposals
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Whether you are installing a new garbage disposal or replacing your existing garbage disposal, you will have the option of choosing either a batch feed disposal or a continuous feed unit.  Understanding the difference between these two types of garbage disposals will help you choose the right disposal for your kitchen.

A batch feed unit grinds food waste in batches.  First, the disposal is loaded with waste, then the stopper or lid is closed, and finally the unit is turned on.  It will not run unless the stopper is in place. The advantage here is that the stopper must be in place for the grinder to operate which makes this type of garbage disposal a little safer than continuous feed models.  The stopper prevents fingers from accidently getting into the disposal and also prevents inadvertently dropping something into the disposal while it is running.

This might be an important consideration if you have children who may not know the danger of putting their hands inside the disposal.  It can also save you from ruining a piece of jewelry, silverware, or some other item that accidently goes down the drain. The downside of a batch feed disposal is that it takes a little longer to use than a continuous feed disposal.

A continuous feed garbage disposal operates without a stopper in place and kitchen waste can be fed into as it is running.  A continuous feed garbage disposal runs continuously as long as the switch is on.  This makes disposing of kitchen waste with a continuous feed garbage disposal more convenient and faster, but there is the increased risk of injury or damage to foreign objects that fall down the drain while the disposal is running.

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Garbage Disposal Troubleshooting

August 14th, 2012 Posted in Garbage Disposals
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A garbage disposal is a handy kitchen appliance, but they get a lot of use and abuse and they eventually jam or break.  If you garbage disposal has stopped working, you may be able to get it going again without having to call the plumber.

First, before you do anything with your garbage disposal, remember to never put your hand into the disposal for any reason.  A garbage disposal can grind up your fingers just as quickly as it can grind up kitchen waste so keep your hands out of your garbage disposal.

If you push the switch and nothing happens – no humming sound from the disposal and no grinding, then you may have an electrical problem.  If the garbage disposal was overloaded, it may have tripped the reset button or your circuit breaker.  Look on the bottom of the disposal for the red reset button.  Press the reset button and see if the disposal works or at least hums.

If not, check your circuit breaker.  If resetting the circuit breaker or reset button does not help, then it’s time to call the plumber.  If you can now hear a humming sound coming from the disposal when you turn it on, then the most likely problem is that the disposal is jammed.

You can try to free a jammed disposal by either of two methods.  You can try to turn the disposal using a special wrench that fits into the hole on the bottom of the disposal.  If you cannot get it to turn using the wrench (or if you don’t have a wrench), use a broomstick through the drain to try to dislodge the jammed disposal.  If you can break the jammed disposal loose, try the switch again to see if the disposal is operating again.  Check to see if the circuit breaker or reset switch tripped.

If none of these techniques fixed the problem, call a plumber who handles kitchen repairs.  Your plumber may be able to repair the problem, or it may be time for a new garbage disposal.

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