Holiday Home Maintenance Tip – Garbage Disposals

The average life expectancy of a garbage disposal is approximately 10-12 years.  I’m guessing that most of us have never read the ‘owner’s manual’ for our disposal since it’s already installed when we buy the house. These units typically get a work out over the holiday season and that’s absolutely a horrible time for them to fail.

I’m providing a link to a short (97 second) video, courtesy of American Home Shield, the folks that sell Home Warranties.  This one is about maintaining your garbage disposal and is worth watching.

If interested, you can find the model of your unit on the disposal tag and search online to find the complete manual.  But if you don’t want to do that, here are a few tips to keep it running smoothly. 

DO NOT:

·         Put fats, greases and oils down the disposal or try to grind potato peels and coffee grounds  – you’re almost sure to clog your drains

·         Put large amounts in the disposal at one time – that can clog things up and overwork the motor

·         Grind large bones (beef, pork)

·         Use harsh chemicals like bleach and drain cleaners – they’re corrosive and can damage blades

YOU SHOULD:

·         Run the disposal regularly to keep parts moving and prevent corrosion

·         Cut big items into smaller pieces

·         Use cold water, not hot, when grinding food

·         Occasionally grind citrus peels to keep the sink smelling fresh (avoid using chemical ‘sweeteners’)

There is a range of opinions on using a disposal with a septic system.  These tend to be strictly ‘yes’ or ‘no’, but as long as the items are biodegradable,  don’t have fats, oils, or greases in them, you may be alright – as long as you’re not grinding a lot of material on a regular basis.  A good alternative is to compost most of your food waste and keep the disposal volume low when you’re on a septic system.   

In any case, you should expect that you will need to pump your tank more often if you’re using a garbage disposal even on an infrequent basis.  My County Health Department (Livingston County, Michigan) recommends that you DO NOT use a garage disposal with a septic system. Here’s a link to their guide on using septic systems.

I’m also providing a link to a short article on disposal maintenance and lifespan from the good folks at ehow.com.  If you read these few short items, you’ll have a great idea of how to keep your disposal running well and extending its useful life.

And if you're looking for a home - with or without a disposal - give me a call!