Garbage Disposals: Everything You Should Know
Garbage Disposal Guide: Proper Use and Maintenance
There is a lot of mystery surrounding garbage disposals. Not many people are aware of the proper use and what should and should not be put down them. If you find yourself having questions about garbage disposals, you’re in the right place.
Proper Use of a Garbage Disposal
The key to proper use of a garbage disposal is:
- Running plenty of water
- Turn on the garbage disposal
- Put the food in last
The food should not be going down the disposal before flipping the switch. It’s helpful to run the water for about 1 minute longer than you might initially think.
Like most motors, the more they run the longer they will last. This means that even if you do not have food waste, still turn on the garbage disposal with water and let it run at least once a day.
What NOT to Put Down the Garbage Disposal
The garbage disposal leads to a drain. Yes, it grinds up food but that does not mean that just anything should be going down it. To avoid ruining your garbage disposal and clogging drains, avoid putting the following items down the garbage disposal:
- Coffee grounds
- Egg shells
- Butter
- Oil
- Grease
- Rice
- Starchy foods
- Pasta
- Medication
- Chemicals
What CAN You Put Down the Garbage Disposal?
Here is a list of what should be going through the garbage disposal:
- Soft foods
- Citrus fruits
- Ice
- Liquids
- Most veggies
These items are easy to grind up and have a low chance of clogging your drains. Remember to run plenty of water!
Garbage Disposal Not Working?
A common problem people have is that the garbage disposal stops grinding and starts to hum. Before you decide to call a plumber, try these two steps:
Step 1: Turn the garbage disposal off and find the reset button. You can find this button on the garbage disposal under the sink. Often, this resolves the issue.
Step 2: If this does not work, look in the owner’s manual. Higher-grade garbage disposals come with a tool and directions to fix a jam with auto reverse. Take a quick look and follow the instructions to see if yours has this feature.
If your garbage disposal is still not working, go ahead and call a licensed plumber. If you are in the surrounding Indianapolis, IN area, call 317-283-9368 to have one of HomeSense’s plumbers come solve the problem for you.
What to Look for in a Garbage Disposal
There are a few categories to consider when choosing a garbage disposal: horsepower, sound, grindability, durability, jam prevention, and warranty.
Horsepower
The more horsepower, the better the garbage disposal will grind the food waste. A minimum of 1/2 horsepower is generally recommended.
Sound
The less insulation within the garbage disposal, the cheaper it is and the louder it will be. Less expensive garbage disposals can be quite loud, making normal conversation in the kitchen difficult.
Grindability
It is important that garbage disposals have powerful grinding capabilities to grind the food up finely so it can go down the drain without clogging it up. The best models will have power grinding of 2 or 3 to grind food waste to a fine pulp.
Durability
It is best to choose a model that uses stainless steel. These may be pricier, but less expensive models use pot metal or galvanized steel that tend to rust and pit easier. Spending more money upfront will save money in the long run because they will have a longer lifespan.
Jam Prevention
In less expensive models, the grind blades only go in one direction. This causes issues when there is a jam because there is no way to reverse the direction of the blades to get it unjammed. The higher-end models come with auto reverse and a tool that comes with it to fix a jam.
Warranty
Look for a garbage disposal with a 4-10 year warranty. The less expensive models will typically have less of a warranty because of their shorter lifespan.
If you’re looking for what garbage disposal would work best for you, comparing specs of different models can help you decide. For garbage disposal repair, installation, or drain cleaning in central Indiana, call HomeSense at (317) 243-3581.
