If you really think about it, there’s no denying that plumbing is heavily intertwined with our daily lives. And while it typically is functioning properly 99-percent of the time, it can be incredibly frustrating for homeowners when something goes awry. As a plumbing business that offers both residential and commercial services, we’ve seen a variety of plumbing issues over the years. Some of the time they’re simple fixes, while other times you’re faced with more complex ones. Nonetheless, from the perspective of a homeowner, we completely understand that you just want the issue fixed in a timely manner and to get everything operating correctly. It’s as simple as that!
For those that have followed our blog, you likely know that we like to post a wide range of content to ensure you’re knowledgeable about the different components making up your plumbing system. In this week’s post, we’ll be discussing one that certainly gets its fair share of usage and that is your GARBAGE DISPOSAL. Much like many of the other often-used appliances and fixtures, there are a number of different sizes, types and models to choose from and as such, it’s important to find one that meets your particular needs. Today, we’ll take a look at this and hopefully teach you a thing or two about this focal piece of any kitchen!
Signs of a Failing Garbage Disposal
As can be said about any other appliance or fixture, no garbage disposal is built to last forever. Whether that be simply breaking down from everyday wear-and-tear or having issues when something is put in the disposal that shouldn’t be, it’s important to know the signs of a failing garbage disposal. This will help you determine whether a simple repair will suffice or if you’re going to be best off opting for a replacement. Before discussing a few of the warning signs, it doesn’t hurt to know the general lifespan of a garbage disposal though. While every situation will be different, generally speaking, you can expect to get 10-15 years out of a quality disposal. That being said, what are the signs of a failing garbage disposal?
Constantly Hitting the Reset Button – If you’ve ever experienced a garbage disposal issue, your first thought may have been to hit the reset button on the actual disposal. For a variety of reasons, including being run for a longer time period, you may have to push the reset button to get it back up and running. However, this is not something you should have to do constantly! If you find yourself hitting the reset button just about every time you use the garbage disposal, it may be time to consider a replacement!
Strong Smells – Whenever you start noticing some strong odors arising from your garbage disposal, there is clearly something not right. Now does this automatically signal that a replacement is the answer? Not necessarily and it could very well just need to be unclogged. In any case, for a situation like this, it’s probably worth having a plumber out to get eyes on it.
Water leaks, performance deterioration and burned out motors are a few other warning signs to consider.
What to Look for in a Garbage Disposal
When it comes to garbage disposals, you’ll have a few decisions that you’ll need to make before ultimately purchasing one. If you have a local plumbing company complete the installation, they’ll be able to provide recommendations as well to ensure you get something that makes sense for your particular situation.
Here at Stine-Nichols, we’ve always been impressed by the quality and reliability of the InSinkErator brand. They’re based out of Wisconsin and it’s safe to say they are certainly amongst the industry leaders in the garbage disposal industry. With decades of experience under their belt, you know you’re getting a product that has gradually been perfected over the years. Plus, one of the most beneficial aspects of InSinkErator garbage disposals is the wide variety of products for sale. With varying degrees of horsepower available, you’ll be able to find something that’ll get the job done for your particular household size. Not to mention, they also have their very own Quiet Series for those searching for a disposal capable of operating at reduced noise levels.
Having said that about the industry giant, InSinkErator, you’ve likely already compiled a decent picture of what you should be looking for in a garbage disposal. However, just to sum it all up, here’s a few main points to keep in mind:
- Motor Size – Earlier in the blog, I’d mentioned that one advantage to InSinkErator’s models is their diverse product lines. When it comes to garbage disposals, a major factor in selecting the correct motor size is going to be your household size. Generally speaking, if there’s only 1 or 2 people in your household, then a ⅓ or ½ horsepower disposal should get the job done. However, as you start to add on more people, you may consider the ¾ hp or even 1 hp. Particularly for commercial facilities, it may be wise to consider one of the bigger motors.
- Brand – As is the case with just about every plumbing fixture or appliance, the brand will say a lot about the garbage disposal’s quality. If you can’t already tell, InSinkErator is certainly an industry leader in the garbage disposal world. However, there are a number of other quality options currently on the market from major manufacturers, like Moen and KitchenAid, that’ll surely get the job done too.
- Noise Level – Depending on the garbage disposals you’ve used in the past, you very well may know that they aren’t all quiet machines. It’s safe to say technology has gradually improved over the years and as such, new garbage disposals have hit the market that can truly be called “quiet.” Keep in mind that the less noise emitted from a garbage disposal is considered more of a luxury and generally these units come at a higher price tag. This is in large part to the added insulation.
If you’re looking for the best of the best in garbage disposal technology, then you’re probably searching for InSinkErator’s Evolution. Going off the key points referenced above, it possesses a 1 hp motor, which is more than enough to take care of any food scraps in a residential setting (and possibly some commercial settings as well). It is produced by the always-reliable InSinkErator brand, which you can never go wrong with! By utilizing their SoundSeal technology, you’ll hardly know it’s running when turned on. How does that sound for a premier garbage disposal?
Garbage Disposal Repair and Installation Services in Kansas City
As mentioned at the beginning of this blog, Stine-Nichols Plumbing is a full-service plumbing business. With that being said, we offer just about any residential or commercial plumbing service you can think of, including unclogging, repairing and replacing garbage disposals! We hope this blog helps provide some insight into garbage disposals, so you know how to respond if yours starts acting up. If you’re interested in having one of our technicians out to take a look at your garbage disposal, don’t hesitate to give us a call at (816) 348-3481 or fill out the form HERE. We currently serve the entire Kansas City area, as well as all of the surrounding cities, including Overland Park, Lenexa, Olathe, Kearney, Liberty, Parkville, Lee’s Summit, Independence and more.
We’re happy to help with all of your garbage disposal and plumbing needs!