Here is the Proper Way to
Use a Garbage Disposal

Garbage disposals are not usually harmful to a home’s plumbing system if they are used properly.  One of the biggest mistakes people make is overloading the garbage disposal with too much food waste.  This can lead to clogging pipes and overflows that can be messy and costly to clean up.  Another big mistake people make is putting food in the garbage disposal that can damage the appliance.

It can be tempting to treat the kitchen sink like a trash can.  This is, however, a sure way to shorten the life of the garbage disposal.  Most of the food people discard should go into the trash can.  The garbage disposal is only supposed to be used for small amounts of food that are left behind after dishes have been scraped into the trash can.  Whenever the garbage disposal is used, you should always run water because it helps ground up food particles pass through the impellers and move through the pipes.  This can help prevent clogs.

Food that Should Never
Go in the Garbage Disposal

Not all food can be handled by the garbage disposal.  In general, only small amounts of soft foods are safe for garbage disposals.  Certain types of food can damage the appliance, cause clogs, or create unpleasant odors.  Here are some tips about what should NOT be put in your garbage disposal:

  • Foods like celery, corn husks, and asparagus are very fibrous. The long strands can get wrapped up around the garbage disposal impellers.
  • Bones of any type. Whether it is fish bones or something larger like chicken bones, they are both hard and will likely damage the impellers in the garbage disposal.  They can even get stuck and cause a jam.
  • Foods like rice, egg noodles and pasta are sticky in nature and expand in water. They can stick to the inside of the garbage disposal and the drain pipes.  This can contribute to clogs in the kitchen sink as they expand.
  • Grease and oil go down the pipes in a liquid state, but they tend to solidify in the pipes. When this happens, they can cause serious blockages in the kitchen sink or the entire plumbing system.
  • Pits and seeds are too hard for the garbage disposal and can damage the system. They can get lodged within the unit or jam between the impellers.
  • Contrary to popular belief, eggshells do not sharpen the “blades” in the garbage disposal. There actually are no blades, but impellers that grind up the food.  They are intended to be blunt.  In addition, the membrane inside the eggshells can get wrapped up in the disposal.  Finally, broken bits of eggshell are sharp and not good for pipes.

When You Should
Replace a Garbage Disposal

The lifespan of a garbage disposal depends on how much it is used and what type of food is put into the kitchen sink.  Most manufacturers suggest that a garbage disposal under normal circumstances has a lifespan on 10 years.  If a garbage disposal is used properly, it is likely that it will last the full 10 years or even longer.

The signs that it may be time to replace the garbage disposal is when you start to notice a burning smell, strange noises, leaks or frequent clogs.  The key is to stick to soft foods and only small amounts of food waste to minimize or even eliminate problems with the garbage disposal and kitchen sink clogs.  When a garbage disposal needs repaired or replaced, we can handle it through our Homeowner Concierge Repair Service program.