Garbage Disposal Basics
The Garbage Disposal is a handy tool in your kitchen and with todays technology (disposals that are 1/3, 1/2, 1, or even 2 HP) you may feel fairly confident with what you place into your disposal. However, as with many things in life, just because you can place something in the garbage disposal doesn’t mean you should.
In one of our prior blog posts, we listed a few items not to place in a garbage disposal as well as why. Due to that feedback, we decided to write another post that goes a bit more into the details.
Your disposal may have adequate power to grind up many materials but the waste generated may not easily pass the 1.5 inch piping that connects the disposal to the your plumbing pipe. And that is often the choke point to the system. Items that we would recommend to keep away from the garbage disposal system are:
Seeds / Pits from Fruit and Veggies
Nut and Shells
Veggies like Potatoes and Carrots (while the system may take a small amount, larger quantities may clog the pipe).
Bones. These can get caught in the system at the blades and wedge themselves in. You may need to pop the blade system loose and reset the service button on the disposal to allow for continued operation.
Egg Shells. Similar to bones above, these can cause various issues and are generally recommended for the trash bin.
Pasta, Bread and Rice. These are items that may grind down but will often build up and bind up in the pipes. We would recommend avoiding the plumbing and sending these to the trash as well.
Coffee Grounds. Again, another dense material that will compact further down the system and potentially clog your pipes. When in doubt toss it out.
As we mentioned in our previous blog post, FOG (Fats, Oils, Grease). Avoid these items in any pipe as well as the garbage disposal.
Non Food Items - This shouldn’t really need to be mentioned, but we have seen various items in disposals that are terribly hard to remove. Marbles, anything glass really, as it is not only hard to remove but harder to see and could potentially harm someone trying to clear the blockage it causes. Pens, Pencils, anything wood or metal, and of course paper products (or plastic). Again, when in doubt, toss it out.
(The following can be used at your own discretion, and we are free from any liability for following any directions herein).
We wanted to wrap this article up with suggestions if your system is not functioning and you need to address it. You can make sure the system if off and unplugged. The next step would be to remove any built up water in the sink. Next you will want to check under the disposal to see if there is a hexagonal hole under the device. If so, you will need a small hex tool, (they often come with the disposal, though you can also use a Allen wrench). You will need to insert it into the hex-hole and rotate back and forth, one full rotation until the item is worked loose.
Alternatively, if you cannot find a hex tool or Allen wrench, you can also use the end of a broom handle within the disposal itself. For this method, you can insert the end of a wood broom handle or similar wood handle that fits within the area and pushing the end into the grinding tooth, set it in the opposite direction from the grinding direction, and rotate it with a bit of applied pressure until it breaks free. You will need to be cautious as this you may see the sink rise up and down as you apply the pressure in the attempt to break the grinding mechanism loose. Afterward, you should check the connections to the pipes to ensure that all connections are still tight and no leaks are present.
Once the disposal feels free of issue, press the reset button below on the disposal and if needed reconnect the power or flip the switch and run the disposal with with water (always run water through a disposal when operating and keep hands free from the inside opening of the disposal when in use). If the unit is still not operating or if the water is building up, turn it off as well as the water and check under the sink for any leaks. You can then address the build up of water by checking the P-trap if you are so inclined or call a professional.
Last Items to Keep in Mind
Check Garbage Disposals for leaks. Over time they can develop leaks and may require replacement. You should also check for odors from a disposal. If you are experiencing smells, you can apply some baking soda followed by vinegar (small amounts, think 1/4 cup at most) letting the combination bubble up a few minutes before rinsing out. Alternatively, you can use salt and ice as well as mouthwash to clean the area and remove the bacteria responsible for the odor. Another useful item is lemon / lime juice and or a small amount of rinds. Again, keep the amount to a minimum so as not to choke the pipes but a small amount coupled with running water should suffice.
