Everything You Need to Know About Garbage Disposal Installation

Modern plumbing's greatest gift to domestic life truly is garbage disposal. No longer do you have to worry about organic matter rotting away in your trash can, emitting a putrid odor.

Instead, you can toss it down your sink, run some water, and flip a switch. A gentle grinding noise follows, and your garbage disposal has taken care of this potentially odorous problem.

But what do you do when you flip the switch, and complete silence follows? Don't panic when your garbage disposal malfunctions. Instead, just know that you may need to contact an expert in garbage disposal installation. 

By the time you finish reading this article, you will understand everything you need to know about the garbage disposal installation process. 

Do You Need a New Garbage Disposal? 

Before you call in a garbage disposal expert or, even worse, begin taking your sink apart, you need to know if you really need a new garbage disposal. You can preserve your garbage disposal by treating it well. 

If the disposal is just humming but not turning, you may just need to turn the blades manually to unjam the disposal. 

First, unplug the disposal from the wall. Never check your garbage disposal without unplugging it first.

Then, try to turn the blades with a long screwdriver or wooden spoon. If you have an Allen key, look for the Alle-key screw on the bottom of the disposal, and see if you can turn the motor manually. 

Once you get the blades to move manually, plug the disposal back in and see if it works. If it's still malfunctioning, it's time to call in a professional. 

Trust a Professional

You may be tempted to DIY your garbage disposal installation. After all, you can find new disposal at the local hardware store, so how hard can it be to just install one yourself? 

Garbage disposal is an intricate part of your plumbing. Unless you have extensive plumbing experience, you should have a professional install the disposal. If you attempt to tackle this project and fail, you could cause damage that would cost you even more than a basic garbage disposal installation. So call in a plumber. 

Signs of a Failing Garbage Disposal

A garbage disposal should last seven to ten years. So your first sign of a failing garbage disposal is just its age. Once that seven-year mark has passed, keep a close eye on the disposal. 

If you've abused the garbage disposal by stuffing it with egg shells, celery, and chicken bones, then you'll see its life dramatically decrease.

The noises you hear before the disposal completely fails will tell you that it's time to call in a plumber. You should never hear a quiet hum without the grind of the disposal. Here are a few other telltale signs that you need new disposal: 

• The disposal fails to come on at all
• The disposal rattles when it is operating
• Your drain repeatedly clogs

Each of these indicates a potential problem with your garbage disposal. A plumber will tell you best if you need a repair or a replacement. 

Garbage Disposal Installation Tips

When you're picking new garbage disposal, you need to do more than just grab the cheapest disposal on the shelf. You should consider how big of garbage disposal your sink can handle, the material of the disposal, and the overall power of the appliance. 

Here are some basic garbage disposal tips to consider as you look for a new disposal. 

Space

Engineers design garbage disposals to fit all kitchen sinks because all kitchen sinks have a standard drain size of 3.5 to 4 inches. The disposal should be powerful enough to grind material so it can safely enter a municipal sewer system. 

Make sure your sink has enough space under the sink for garbage disposal. If you have an older house, the sink and cupboard may be designed in such a way that a garbage disposal will not fit. Garbage disposals are typically anywhere from 10 to 15 inches tall, 5 to 9 inches wide, and 6 to 13 inches deep. 

Material

Stainless steel lasts a lifetime, and this is why most garbage disposal parts consist of stainless steel. There may be some plastic parts in the disposal. Beware of plastic as it will dry out and crack. 

Avoid garbage disposals with parts made of galvanized steel. These will rust quickly. 

Size

The amount of horsepower in the disposal determines the size of the garbage disposal unit. Base the amount of power you need on how much cooking you do. You should also consider the number of people in the house as that also affects the amount of waste you have. 

Features

Look for the features that you need the most in your disposal in addition to the waste-grinding service it provides. For example, some models have a lefty warranty of 8 to 15 years with them. The more you pay for the disposal, the bigger your warranty should be. 

Also, look for a garbage disposal with low noise. Nylon-coated grinding parts will result in a quieter machine overall. 

You also should find a garbage disposal with a power cord. Cheaper garbage disposals will not have a power cord included. Some models are designed to be directly wired into your system as well. 

If you want to keep your septic system healthy, look for a garbage disposal with a septic system enzymatic reservoir. This will add an additional enzyme treatment to your septic system and keep it healthy. 

Types of Garbage Disposals

When you start shopping for a garbage disposal, look for one with enough power. You can determine the power of the garbage disposal by looking at its horsepower. Here's some fo the most common types of garbage disposal based on their power and their types of feed. 

1/3 Horsepower

The most inexpensive and lowest power garbage disposal you can purchase is the 1/3 hp garbage disposal. While it will cost you less htan $100, know that it does not work as efficiently as a higher horsepower garbage disposal. You will find that it james easily because of its cheaper internal components. 

Additionally, the cheaper components are more prone t o rust, and thus you'll end up replacing the 1/3 horsepower garbage disposal much more quickly than a bigger machine. 

1/2 Horsepower

The 1/2 horsepower is the smaller you should truly use for home use. It will cost around $100 and works well for tight spaces. If you do not use a garbage disposal daily, then this works. 

Because of its lower power, you should use this disposal for smaller scraps. It works best when you do not overfeet it. 

This disposal also typically has stainless steel grind components. These components will last longer than their synthetic counterparts. 

On the downside, the 1/2 horsepower machine will also make more noise than a smaller machine. Yous houdl make sure to run water through the machine to help all of the waste pass more efficiently. 

3/4 Horsepower

The 3/4 horsepower garbage is the ideal size for most kitchens that serve a family of three to five people. This disposal will efficiently eliminate most leftovers and is less likely to jam than smaller units. 

Again, you should look for a garbage disposal with stainless steel components. The 3/4 power is larger than the 1/2 or 1/3 horsepower garbage disposals, so you need enough under-the-sink room for it. Plan on spending around $200 for this garbage disposal. 

1 Horsepower

When you need to grind fruit rinds, coffee grounds, and chicken bones in one setting, you need a bit more power. A 1-horsepower machine will do this efficiently, and oddly, even more quietly than the smaller models. 

The bigger garbage disposals typically have better insulation, and this makes them quieter. The 1-horsepower machine has a greater capacity for waste in its chamber, and thus you cannot easily jam it. 

You need a good quantity of space under your sink for these appliances because they're larger. Yous houdl also plan on finding more room in your wallet since the 1-horsepower model can cost up to $300. 

More Than 1 Horsepower

There are garbage disposals that house more one horsepower. A 2 and 3-horsepower garbage disposal will get rid fo your waste quickly. You'll find it in commercial kitchens or the kitchens that feed eight or more people. 

You will pay significantly more for a bigger garbage disposal. 

Feeds: Batch Feed vs. Continuous Feed

The batch-feed models will operate run intermittently, in batches. It only operates when you put a stopper over the disposal. The stopper turns on the disposal, and thus, when you remove the stopper, the disposal shuts off. 

A batch feed disposal works best when you have small children that you want to protect from the disposal. It also protects anything that could accidentally fall into the disposal, since ehte disposal only runs for a short period of time and only when the stopper is in place. 

A continuous feed model runs when you flip the continuous feed switch. it will run until you turn it off. More complicated models will also have an auto-reverse function that prevents the machine from jamming. 

Whatever unit you have, you should have a splash guard that prevents water and waste from splashing back up. 

Go Pro

No matter what type of garbage disposal you select, contact a professional for garbage disposal installation. A poor DIY job will destroy your plumbing and lead you to call a professional. You will ultimately spend more money having someone fix the problem than you would save by doing it yourself. 

Do you need a great plumber? If so, contact us. Our professionals are ready to help you get rid of your waste.