The under sink garbage disposal is a wonderful appliance that most of us take for granted. It will keep grinding away food waste for many years without complaint. How long your disposal last will depend on a number of factors. One of the most important factors is the quality of the unit. Some brands are just made better than others. This is often reflected in the cost of the disposal. Going with a proven brand, such as InSinkErator the company that invented the disposal, and you can expect to get around 8-15 years of service with regular use.
Another important factor is the horsepower rating of the unit. Most disposals designed for home use start at 1/3 horsepower. If the disposal is not powerful enough it may have to run longer and work harder than a more powerful unit to accomplish the same amount of work.
Another important factor in the lifespan of the garbage disposal is how it is used. Here are 5 tips you can follow to ensure your disposal lasts as long as possible.
- Run cold water. Cold water keeps the food waste as hard as possible, making it easier to grind up and force down the drain pipe.
- Keep food waste as small as possible. A garbage disposal isn’t designed like a food processor, there are no blades to cut up larger pieces. It works best when you feed smaller pieces that can be efficiently passed through the grinder.
- Don’t put starchy foods down the disposal. This includes potatoes, rice, pasta etc. Starchy foods can create a thick paste that can gum up the disposal, and clog your drain.
- Avoid grinding hard foods. Bones, pits, and seeds will dull the grinder, shortening the lifespan of the unit. They are also more likely to jam the disposal.
- Use the disposal frequently. When not used regularly garbage disposals can rust, corrode, collect hardened food, and in some cases even seize up. That’s why it’s important to run the disposal regularly, even for a short period while running cold water. This will keep the surfaces clean by reducing food residue buildup and corrosion.
Time to replace your garbage disposal? Call Superior Plumbing & Heating. We install high-quality disposals designed to provide many years of reliable service.