Do You Need a Plumber to Install a Garbage Disposal?

May 6th, 2019 Posted in Garbage Disposals
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If you want to add a garbage disposal to your kitchen sink or need to replace your existing equipment, you may want to hire a plumber. While garbage disposals are simple in design, they do require electricity and must be installed into your plumbing. There are some DIY homeowners that can tackle this job, but considering the possible problems that can occur, most people are better off hiring a professional.

Consequences of Poor Garbage Disposal Installation

Garbage disposal installation is not overly complicated, but it does require meticulous observance of each step of the process. If one aspect is not completed correctly, you could be facing problems down the road. Some of the consequences of poor installation of your garbage disposal include:

  • Improper or failed function
  • Clogs in your plumbing
  • Leaks that can cause extensive water damage
  • Electrical shock

Unless you are confident of your plumbing and mechanical skills, it is best to leave installation of a new or replacement garbage disposal to a plumber. They can ensure you get the right type of disposal for your needs and perform a professional installation. This can ensure that the equipment is properly fitted within your plumbing to prevent leaks and function as needed to help reduce clogs from food debris.

If you are ready to install a new garbage disposal, contact a local plumber to discuss the best options for your needs. They can help you choose the right horsepower, design and model for your kitchen, then install it professionally to ensure that you get the best performance. It can save you time and trouble in the future, a worthwhile investment to prevent plumbing problems.

Posted on behalf of:
Kiddco Plumbing, Inc.
106-M Oakgrove Road
Sterling, VA 20166
(703) 435-4441

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Caring for Your Garbage Disposal

December 5th, 2014 Posted in Garbage Disposals
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Anyone who has a garbage disposal knows how handy these little mechanisms can be for homeowners. They make cleaning up after a meal so much easier, grinding up the little pieces of food that get left behind. While they are nifty devices, they also need special care to keep them working properly. Overworking them or not maintaining them will cause garbage disposals to breakdown, something no one wants in the middle of the holiday season.

3 Ways to Care for Your Garbage Disposal

There are a few ways to care for your disposal to keep it working properly. Most of garbage disposal problems are caused by operator error, usually overworking the motor until it gets clogged or burns out. Here are three rules to keep in mind when it comes to keeping your garbage disposal in working order.

  1. Be careful what you put into your disposal. Garbage disposal are not meant to handle all types of garbage. No non-food substances should ever be put into the disposal, and even the acceptable types of food come with some limitations. Keep hard foods like fruit peels, coffee grounds and tough or fibrous vegetables out of your disposal.
  2. Always run water when using the disposal. If the disposal is on, your cold water should be running, also. Always run cold, not hot, water while running your garbage disposal to flush items down the drain.
  3. Keep it clean. You will need to clean out your disposal occasionally. Make sure the device is off and carefully wipe the blades and seals with a thick cloth. You can also run ice cubes through the disposal with tiny pieces of citrus peel to clean the blades and get rid of odors.

Once you are used to living with a disposal, you’ll want a malfunctioning disposal repaired quickly. If your garbage disposal does jam or stop working, call in your local plumber. They may be able to fix the problem or can install a new device.

Posted on behalf of:
Kiddco Plumbing Inc
Sterling, VA
(703) 435-4441

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Garbage Disposal Repair

September 28th, 2014 Posted in Garbage Disposals
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One of the most popular or all household appliances is the garbage disposer, which is found in almost every home in America.  Garbage disposers are designed to grind up scrap food into small pieces, where it then flows into the sewer system.  One of the advantages of the system is the ability to quickly dispose of organic material, without leaving it in the trash, where it can attract bugs, rodents and other pests.  While garbage disposals are very reliable, they can require periodic repair in order for them to perform as designed. 

Typically garbage disposer repairs are related to either a power issue or something stuck inside the unit. In many cases, electrical problems are related to something being stuck in the disposer, which trips either the main breaker supplying power to the appliance or the breaker within the disposal itself.  In cases where the electrical issue is related to a blockage, the blockage must be removed.  If the disposer is not blocked, the cause of the electrical issue must be determined and corrected before attempting to use the disposer. 

When something is stuck in the disposal it is critical that the item be safely removed prior to the disposer being used again.  Methods of removal vary, but do not include placing your hand in the disposal!   While sometimes it is possible to break free the disposal using the disposal wrench, in many cases it is necessary to remove the disposal from the sink and partially disassemble the disposer itself to safely remove the blockage.

Posted on behalf of Find Local Plumber

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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 Basics

August 14th, 2012 Posted in Uncategorized
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Garbage disposals are a useful appliance that can help make kitchen clean up a breeze.  Before you buy a new garbage disposal, there are a few things you need to know.  First, there are two types of garbage disposals: batch feed garbage disposals and continuous feed garbage disposals.

A batch feed disposal is designed to be loaded with kitchen waste before running.  After it has run, it gets flushed and loaded with the next batch of waste.  Batch feed disposals will only run when the sink stopper is in place.  This feature makes batch feed garbage disposals a little safer than continuous feed garbage disposals. However, it also takes a little longer to dispose of waste.  Also, batch feed garbage disposals are a little more expensive than continuous feed units.

A continuous feed garbage disposal is faster and more convenient to use than a batch feed model because it runs constantly as long as the switch is turned on.  There is no lid or stopper that has to be in place so you can feed fresh kitchen waste into a continuous feed garbage disposal as fast as it can grind it up.

Both types of garbage disposal come in different sizes.  The smallest size uses a 1/3 horsepower motor the most powerful garbage disposers commonly available for residential use have 1 horsepower motors.  The larger the motor, the more kitchen waste the disposal can grind and the less likely it is to jam.  In addition, higher horsepower models are generally quieter and offer more features than smaller garbage disposals.

Make sure your sink can hold the weight of the garbage disposal you are considering.  Thin gauge steel sinks may not be able to support the largest sized disposals.  Professional garbage disposal installation by a reputable plumber will help ensure the disposal works properly and lasts for years.

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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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Garbage Disposal Size

March 14th, 2012 Posted in Garbage Disposals
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Garbage disposals are a useful item to have in the kitchen.  They reduce food waste that would otherwise go into the trash and since they grind food waste into small particles, they reduce kitchen sink clogging.  When shopping for a new garbage disposal, you will need to choose how much power you need.

Garbage disposals are sized by the horsepower of the motor.  Smaller disposals are 1/3 or 1/2 horsepower and larger units are 3/4 or 1 horsepower.  All else being equal, higher horsepower means quieter, faster, and smoother operation.  In addition, since a high horsepower model doesn’t have to work as hard to grind up food waste, it will typically last longer than a lower horsepower model.

Higher horsepower disposals can handle hard to grind waste like bones or fibrous waste (think celery) much better than smaller units that become jammed or clogged by these materials.  Lower horsepower garbage disposals are best suited for smaller households and for light duty use.  If you cook infrequently and don’t plan to grind bones and other tough food wastes, a 1/3 horsepower or 1/2 horsepower disposal will probably do the job just fine.

On the other hand, if you cook frequently at home, have a large family, and want to put almost any type of food waste through the disposal, a 3/4 horsepower or 1 horsepower model would be a better choice.  Not only will the disposal be able to handle the load, but since you will be using it frequently you will appreciate the smooth, quiet, jam-free operation.

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Garbage Disposal Types

March 14th, 2012 Posted in Garbage Disposals
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When choosing a new garbage disposal for your kitchen you will have several options to choose from.  In addition to the size of the motor, you will need to choose between a batch feed model and a continuous feed model.  Each type of garbage disposal has its advantages and disadvantages.

Continuous feed models are the most common type of garbage disposal.  With a continuous feed model the disposal is switched on and keeps running until it is turned off.  While it is running, you can continue adding waste material.  Alternatively, you can choose to add the waste material, switch on the disposal, and then switch it off when the grinding process is complete.  Water should be running while the unit is in operation to help flush away the ground up waste.

With a batch feed model, the waste material is loaded into the disposal and a lid or cover is locked in place over the drain before the unit switched on.  On some units, installing the lid or cover activates the disposal.  On others, the unit is turned on with a wall switch like a continuous feed model.  In either case, the disposal will not operate without the lid or cover in place over the drain.

The main advantage of a batch feed model is that it is safer than a continuous feed unit.  Since a batch feed disposal will not operate without the lid in place, it prevents hands and fingers from accidently getting into the disposal.

Continuous feed models are a little faster than batch feed models, especially if you have a large amount of waste material to dispose of.  Some cooks prefer continuous feed models because they can leave the unit running while they are handling food preparation like chopping and peeling.

Whichever model you choose, your garbage disposal installation is best handled by a good local plumber.  Professional garbage disposal installation helps ensure that the unit will work well, won’t leak, and will provide good service for years.

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