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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Dealing With a Smelly Garbage Disposal

May 9th, 2012 Posted in Garbage Disposals
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A garbage disposal is a useful kitchen appliance, but it can develop an unpleasant odor due to food particles remaining on the walls of the grinder.  Bacteria growing in the bits of food left behind create unpleasant odors in garbage disposals.  Here are few simple tips for dealing a smelly garbage disposal.

To get rid of garbage disposal smells you want to do more than just mask the odor.  You need to clean the leftover food particles from inside the unit.  Running a few ice cubes through the disposal will help knock loose stubborn food particles and scour the inside of the disposal and blades.  Making the ice cubes out of vinegar is even more effective.

Flush away the loosened particles by filling the sink with six inches of soapy water, then unplug the sink and run the disposal while the soapy water drains.  A common household plunger works well to stop up the drain to fill the sink with water.

Another method is to cut up a lemon or orange and run it through the disposal.  The citrus juices will help clean the disposal and leave fresh clean scent.

To help keep your garbage disposal clean, be sure to run plenty of water through the disposal when grinding up waste.  Also, be sure to allow the disposal to run long enough to dispose of all the waste.  Not running the disposal long enough is a primary cause of garbage disposal smells.

Finally, avoid pouring grease and oil down the drain.  Grease and oil will accumulate on the walls of the disposal and the drain pipes and cause odors.  If you must dispose of small amounts of grease or oil, run cold water to help prevent the grease and oil from adhering to the drain pipe and the 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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Garbage Disposal Maintenance

March 14th, 2012 Posted in Garbage Disposals
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Most garbage disposals are robust kitchen appliances that work for years with little or no maintenance. However, a jammed, clogged, or otherwise malfunctioning garbage disposal can mean calling your plumber for garbage disposal repairs.  There are  a few things you can do to keep your garbage disposal working great and avoid that expensive repair call.

First, you should always run cold water down the drain into the disposal while the unit is grinding and for five to ten seconds after you turn it off.  Running water helps flush the ground material down the drain and through the drain lines.

Cold water is better than hot water because it will help fats and oils congeal so they can be flushed away.  Hot water will cause fats and oils to liquefy and they can end up lining the walls of your drain line which will eventually lead to a clog.

Avoid putting high fiber waste material like corn husks or celery stalks down the disposal.  These can clog even a heavy duty waste disposal.  Don’t overwork a light duty disposal by putting bones down it or running it continuously for more than a few minutes.  Small disposals are not designed to handle these types of loads.

Never put glass, metal, plastic, or any other non-food material down the disposal.  Not only can it be dangerous, but these materials will jam or completely ruin the disposal.  Finally, you can help rid the disposal of food deposits and odors by grinding egg shells or small amounts of ice.  Your disposal will work better, smell cleaner, and last longer.

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