Common Garbage Disposal Questions

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How Long Does a Typical Garbage Disposal Last?

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• Garbage disposals can be a great tool in helping to keep your kitchen clean by grinding up your food scraps, but it can be a real problem when they aren’t working correctly. Your garbage disposal should have a lifespan of about 15 years as long as you maintain it properly over time and don’t overuse it. In addition, you may find that older garbage disposals may not last as long as newer disposals. Abusing it by putting items in it that should be placed in it or not doing proper maintenance can reduce the amount of time it lasts for you.

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Some signs that it’s time to install a new garbage disposal include weird noises, bad smells that won’t go away, leaking water, frequent resets, and the unit not coming on. There are some ways to help extend the life of your garbage disposal. First, you should have it correctly repaired when trouble comes up. Next, clean the blades regularly with a mixture of baking soda and vinegar, followed by a good dose of hot water to rinse them clean. It would help if you also were careful with what you put into your disposal as that can impact the lifespan of the disposal.   

          

Is It Worth Installing a Garbage Disposal?

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• The question of whether or not it’s worth it to install a garbage disposal can be a personal one. Some people love the convenience of having one, while others are happy to do without. Here are some pros and cons to help you make a decision on whether or not you should install a garbage disposal in your kitchen.

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Pros:

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• Easy clean-up after meals

• Protect your pipes from food waste

• Help reduce bad kitchen smells

• Reduce the possibility of pests in your home from garbage smells

• Not an expensive home investment

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Cons:

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• It needs to be properly maintained

• May require repairs

• Can’t overload it

• Some items can’t go into it

• Can result in clogs when not used properly

• Lose out of storage space under kitchen sink

• Not recommended with a septic tank system

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For individuals that don’t have weekly trash pickups, a garbage disposal can be very beneficial in keeping nasty smells out of your trash cans since you can get rid of a lot of your food waste using it. However, that being said, a garbage disposal can be hard on homes that have a septic system as the food particles could become a clogging factor. So, in the end, it comes down to what works the best for your household.

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What Should You Not Put into My Garbage Disposal?

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• Keeping your garbage disposal running correctly in your home often means knowing what you can and cannot put down it. Here is a guideline for what’s safe and what’s not:
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  • Food Scraps

  • Corn Cob

  • Small Bones

  • Cooked Meat

  • Citrus Rinds

  • Small Amount of Coffee Grounds

  • Ice Cubes

  • Not Safe for Garbage Disposals

  • Large Amounts of Vegetable Peels

  • Foods That Expand with Water

  • Eggshells

  • Corn Husks

  • Oysters

  • Nuts

  • Artichokes

  • Oil

  • Grease

  • Anything Metallic or Non-food Items
     

Here are some additional tips on the proper way to use your garbage disposal. You should use cold water rather than hot when turning on the garbage disposal. It ensures that the greasy parts of the food become more solid and makes it easier for them to be disposed of when solid compared to liquid. When in doubt about the size of the food being put down the garbage disposal: cut it up. Reducing the size means that your disposal won’t have to work as hard to chop it up and can help it to last longer. Also, when you’re not sure if something should be put in the disposal, it’s often better to be cautious and throw it out in the trash. You don’t want to clog up or break your disposal because of adding something you’ve never disposed of before, as that could result in a costly repair or even having to replace the whole unit.