Home Improvement
Electrical
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By
Bob Formisano
Bob Formisano
Bob Formisano is a licensed architect and builder with nearly 40 years of experience building new homes and restoring older homes. One of his specialties is repairing old systems dating back to the 1920s, including galvanized water pipes, knob-and-tube wiring, and more. His home repair articles for The Spruce span more than 10 years.
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Updated on 12/19/22
Reviewed by
Richard Epstein
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Reviewed byRichard Epstein
Richard Epstein is a licensed master plumber with over 40 years experience in residential and commercial plumbing. He specializes in estimating as well as design and engineering for plumbing systems, and he works for one of New York's largest union plumbing construction companies.
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Jessica Wrubel
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Fact checked byJessica Wrubel
Jessica Wrubel has an accomplished background as a writer and copy editor, working for various publications, newspapers and in public libraries assisting with reference, research and special projects. In addition to her journalism experience, she has been educating on health and wellness topics for over 15 years in and outside of the classroom.
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We have come to depend on the garbage disposal as the workhorse of the kitchen. Invented in 1927 by John Hammes, the garbage disposal has remained fairly consistent in its design but has increased in use to the point of becoming a required appliance in just about every kitchen. The following guides will give you all the information you need to select and install new a disposal, use your disposal properly, and even troubleshoot problems and make common repairs to your unit.
01 of 07
How a Garbage Disposal Works
The garbage disposal is mounted to the underside of a sink and is designed to collect solid food wastein a grinding chamber. When you turn on the disposal, a spinning disc, or impeller plate, turns rapidly, forcing the food waste against the outer wall of the grinding chamber. This pulverizes the food into tiny bits, which then get washed by water through holes in the chamber wall. While disposals do have two blunt metal "teeth," called impellers, on the impeller plate, they do not have sharp blades, as is commonly believed.
02 of 07
Things You Should Never Put in a Garbage Disposal
Your garbage disposal is different from your actual garbage can. Not all food scraps and liquids are meant to be poured into your disposal. To prevent clogs and disposal jams, it's important to learn what foods are best left for the trash and what the garbage disposal is meant to be used for. In general, you should not put in tough or fibrous food scraps, potato peels, grease and oil, and pits and other hard objects.
03 of 07
Garbage Disposal Troubleshooting
A little troubleshooting of common garbage disposal problems can save you hundreds of dollars in service calls or an unnecessary purchase of a new unit. Most disposal problems are related to jams. A jammed disposal is easy to fix, but ignoring a jam and repeatedly restarting the unit can burn out the motor.
04 of 07
Repair a Clogged Garbage Disposal
Clogs are most often caused by improper foods, such as grease, potato peels, or hard-to-grind foods going down the disposal. Clogs can occur in the disposal itself, but usually, they appear in the drainpipe downstream of the disposal. The best way to prevent clogs is to keep problem scraps out of the disposal and put them in the trash instead. Also, remember to keep it clean.
Continue to 5 of 7 below.
05 of 07
Selecting a Garbage Disposal
Choosing a new garbage disposal can be as simple or as detailed as you'd like to make it. You can head out to your local home center or appliance store and pick up a standard model that will most likely serve your needs just fine. On the other hand, you can research the latest additional features offered on some disposals, such as fancy stainless steel grinding chambers or extra insulation for sound reduction, and narrow it down to a model with just the right bells and whistles.
The 8 Best Garbage Disposals of 202306 of 07
Garbage Disposal Installation
Installing a garbage disposal is fairly straightforward but does require some very basic plumbing and electrical wiring skills. Most handy-ish homeowners can install a new disposal in a few hours.
07 of 07
Garbage Disposal Removal
Removing a garbage disposal is necessary if you are going to replace a sink or a failed garbage disposal. With many disposal models, you can quickly release the motor unit (the heavy part) from the sink assembly and set it aside to simplify the rest of the disassembly and removal.
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All situations are different, so if you're researching garbage disposals, pay close attention to the outlets, power supply, and other specific details of your sink and kitchen set-up. These details will determine what kind of garbage disposal you might be able to get, and how simple (or difficult) installation and repairs will be.
FAQ
How long do garbage disposals last?
Garbage disposals typically last between eight to 12 years. To get the longest lifespan of this appliance, use it as directed by the manufacturer.
Do you need to maintain a garbage disposal?
Keep your garbage disposal running great by taking good care of it. Run it frequently, use cold water, any food going down the disposal should be small and not large chunks, and clean it at least every two weeks.
How do you get the smelly odors out of your garbage disposal?
Lemons, and other citrus fruits, such as limes and oranges, are a great way to get rid of those unwanted, smelly odors in your garbage disposal. Cut the fruit up into wedges, place them in the disposal, and run it.
The 8 Best Garbage Disposals of 2023
The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Goldwasser, Samuel. Notes on the Troubleshooting and Repair of Small Household Appliances and Power Tools. University of Pennsylvania. 2018.
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Regarding the article you mentioned, it discusses home improvement related to electrical appliances, specifically focusing on garbage disposals. The article covers topics such as how a garbage disposal works, what should and should not be put in a garbage disposal, troubleshooting common problems, repairing clogged disposals, selecting a new disposal, installing and removing a garbage disposal. It also includes frequently asked questions about the lifespan and maintenance of garbage disposals, as well as tips for getting rid of odors.
Now, let's dive into the details of each section mentioned in the article:
How a Garbage Disposal WorksA garbage disposal is mounted under the sink and is designed to collect solid food waste in a grinding chamber. When the disposal is turned on, a spinning disc, or impeller plate, rapidly turns, forcing the food waste against the outer wall of the grinding chamber. This process pulverizes the food into tiny bits, which are then washed away by water through holes in the chamber wall. It's important to note that garbage disposals do not have sharp blades, contrary to common belief.
Things You Should Never Put in a Garbage Disposal
Not all food scraps and liquids are meant to be poured into a garbage disposal. To prevent clogs and jams, it's important to avoid putting tough or fibrous food scraps, potato peels, grease and oil, and pits and other hard objects into the disposal. These items can cause damage and blockages.
Garbage Disposal TroubleshootingMany common garbage disposal problems are related to jams. If a disposal is jammed, it can be fixed easily, but repeatedly restarting the unit without addressing the jam can lead to motor burnout. Troubleshooting steps can help identify and resolve disposal issues.
Repair a Clogged Garbage DisposalClogs in garbage disposals are often caused by improper foods, such as grease, potato peels, or hard-to-grind foods. Clogs can occur in the disposal itself or in the drainpipe downstream of the disposal. To prevent clogs, it's best to keep problem scraps out of the disposal and dispose of them in the trash. Regular cleaning is also recommended.
Selecting a Garbage DisposalChoosing a new garbage disposal can be as simple or as detailed as you prefer. Standard models available at home centers or appliance stores can serve most needs. However, if you want additional features like stainless steel grinding chambers or sound reduction insulation, you can research and narrow down your options accordingly.
Garbage Disposal Installation
Installing a garbage disposal is a fairly straightforward process but does require basic plumbing and electrical wiring skills. Most handy homeowners can install a new disposal in a few hours. It's important to pay attention to specific details of your sink and kitchen setup, such as outlets and power supply, to determine the type of disposal that will work best for you.
Garbage Disposal RemovalRemoving a garbage disposal is necessary when replacing a sink or a failed disposal. With many disposal models, you can release the motor unit from the sink assembly and set it aside to simplify the rest of the disassembly and removal process. Each situation may be different, so it's important to consider the specific details of your setup when researching garbage disposals.
Frequently Asked QuestionsThe article also addresses some frequently asked questions about garbage disposals. For example, the lifespan of a garbage disposal is typically between eight to twelve years, and proper maintenance, such as running it frequently, using cold water, and cleaning it regularly, can help prolong its lifespan. Additionally, using lemons or other citrus fruits can help eliminate odors from the disposal.
Please note that the information provided above is based on the content of the article you shared. If you have any specific questions or need further clarification, feel free to ask!
