When you think of a home’s complete plumbing system, there are more than a few elements intertwined throughout. From the water heater and faucets to the toilets and so on, each serves a unique purpose. Yet another that serves a particularly important role in the kitchen is the garbage disposal. While garbage disposals likely won’t be used nearly as often as some of the plumbing fixtures (like a faucet or toilet), it’s safe to assume many homeowners appreciate having them available.
In this week’s blog post, we’ll be focusing on a number of different topics in relation to garbage disposals. Whether it be tips for homeowners currently in the market for a new disposal, understanding what causes disposals to fail or anything else, it never hurts to know some added details about this important appliance in the kitchen.
Need a garbage disposal installed or are you experiencing issues with your existing garbage disposal? Our team has plenty of experience working with them and can even provide you with recommendations in regards to deciding which brand/size is right for your home! Give us a call at (816) 348-3481 for a free estimate!
Sizing Your Garbage Disposal
When it comes to purchasing a new garbage disposal, one of the more important attributes that you’ll take into consideration is the amount of HP that the new disposal possesses. With many of the major brands, you’ll notice their available garbage disposals come in a wide range of motor sizes. This provides homeowners and commercial facilities with the ability to find something that fits their situation best and can also avoid overpaying for unnecessary power that you may not need.
For example, let’s take a look at one of our favorite garbage disposal brands, InSinkErator. They offer disposals containing 1/3 HP, 1/2 HP, 3/4 HP and 1.0 HP. For more HP than those, you’ll likely be looking for a commercial garbage disposal (which they also sell). Likewise, although it’s not directly related to HP, InSinkErator also has garbage disposals in their “Quiet Series” that are able to operate at lower noise levels. For some homeowners, this added luxury is worth the investment!
While some people may use their garbage disposal much more frequently than others, you can generally get a rough estimate on the size needed based on the number of occupants of the home.
Maintaining Your Garbage Disposal
Getting the correct garbage disposal installed is a great step in the right direction. However, to ensure you get a solid return on that investment, you’ll need to properly maintain it too. This is no different than with many other household components, including your water heater! One of the best ways to keep your garbage disposal running like normal is to monitor what goes down it. Unsurprisingly, garbage disposals aren’t built to handle everything. When something goes down it that isn’t supposed to, you could soon be facing a clogged garbage disposal. As such, make sure everyone in your household knows of the items that are definite no-no’s. This list includes coffee grounds, potato peels, pasta, fibrous foods and so on! Another tip on the topic of garbage disposal maintenance is to routinely run the disposal. Letting it sit for extended periods of time unused is typically not a good idea, so feel free to make sure you’re periodically running the garbage disposal with some cold water running.
Have you ever had a garbage disposal that gradually developed a stench or funky smell? If so, you’re not alone, but I’m guessing you likely wanted that resolved sooner rather than later! The most likely reason why it suddenly seems to smell bad is because there are probably some food particles stuck somewhere in the drain pipes. Ice cubes are always a useful tool, as they can help clean the disposal’s impellers. Another popular recipe for clearing up a smelly garbage disposal is to pour in some baking soda, followed by white vinegar. Lastly, make sure to use cold water when running the garbage disposal. Likewise, when you’re using cold water, it’s always a good idea to run it for a little bit both before and after you grind up the food particles. All in all, keeping everything clean with your garbage disposal and watching what you put down it will go a long way towards getting the maximum years out of your unit.
Time for a New Garbage Disposal?
How do you know if it makes more sense to repair an existing unit versus having a new one installed altogether? This is a decision that homeowners will likely have to make in regards to several household appliances and plumbing fixtures too! The best plan of action here is to take note of any irregularities you’re experiencing with the disposal and then have an experienced plumber take a look at it. So…with that being said, what are some of the warning signs that you should be looking out for? As you can likely guess, there are a number of things capable of occurring which could signal something isn’t right with your garbage disposal.
Does it constantly get clogged up and require repairs? Does this happen even when you’re following along on the best practices for what can and can’t go down them? This definitely isn’t normal and should instantly raise some red flags!
Have you noticed any strange sounds coming from your disposal? There could be a few different sounds depending on where the issue resides, but one strange sound that occasionally arises is the direct result of something stuck in there preventing the impellers from spinning properly.
What should you do if your garbage disposal starts to leak? Before we dive deeper into this question, it’s important to note that not all leaks under your kitchen sink are going to require the exact same fix. For example, you’ll want to determine where the leak stems from. Is it tied to the drain lines? Is it coming from the bottom or top of your garbage disposal? Some of these can be fixed easier than others, so it’s worth it to have a licensed plumber get eyes on the situation. A leak from the bottom typically results in a new one needing to be installed.
How long can you generally expect a garbage disposal to last? As we wrap up this blog post, a final piece of information that’s worthwhile for homeowners to know is how long a garbage disposal can typically last. Obviously, this is impacted by whether or not you properly maintain it, which brand/size you purchase and if you get repairs taken care of in a timely manner. However, if you’re looking for an average number to use, 10-12 years is a ballpark estimate.
Professional Garbage Disposal Services in Kansas City
As you likely know, garbage disposals can be a useful tool in the kitchen and it’s no surprise why they’re used by so many homeowners. Furthermore, as evidenced throughout this blog post, there are certainly a number of interesting tidbits about garbage disposals that homeowners should be aware of. No matter if you’re currently planning on purchasing a new garbage disposal for your home or if you’re trying to keep your existing disposal running properly, having a general understanding of your home’s garbage disposal can always come in handy!
Here at Stine-Nichols Plumbing, we provide garbage disposal services (both in residential and commercial settings) throughout the Kansas City area. If you’re interested in requesting a free estimate for either repairing an existing disposal or having a new garbage disposal installed, feel free to fill out the form HERE. We look forward to hearing from you!