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.
