You’re cleaning up after a wonderful dinner with guests when you turn on the garbage disposal and nothing. Silence. And you’ve just jammed remains from a 3-course dinner down the drain. It’s terribly inconvenient and a smelly mess! Appliances we depend on wear out.
6 Signs Your Garbage Disposal is About to Fail
Be alert for the indicators your garbage disposal is about to fail.
- Age. A garbage disposal should last up to 12 years according to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors. But, like any appliance, how you treat it determines whether it lives longer or shorter than average.
- Abnormal Noises. If you’ve ever had a spoon slip into the disposal unnoticed, you know how loud it can be. This can misalign the blades and damage the motor. Failure to promptly address it will lead to failure.
- Clogs. If you start noticing even small loads taking a long time to go through the disposal, the problem may not be your filling process. Your appliance is close to the end of its life.
- Persistent Odors. Unpleasant odors stem from the breakdown of wet foods as you rinse them. However, if the odor remains, food particles may be trapped and a plumber’s help is needed for removal.
- Poor Performance. Most loads go through a garbage disposal quickly. If it seems to take an excessive amount of time for food particles to break down, the blades may be damaged or deteriorated. Failure may be just around the corner.
- Water Leaks. Over time, water may seep through areas where your disposal connects to the rest of your plumbing. Leaks may leave puddles under your sink, pool on the floor by your cabinet, or drip from under the disposal itself. You’ll need a licensed plumber to distinguish between leaks from a dishwasher, sink, or the disposal.
Be proactive. Checking for these indicators will help ensure your appliance is operating the next time you flip the switch.
Choosing Your Next Garbage Disposal
Today’s home garbage disposal is far superior than their predecessors. They’re fine-tuned, corrosion-resistant, built with stainless or galvanized grinding components, and designed with controls and sensors to maximize efficiency. A wide range of models are available to choose from with ever-increasing horsepower ratings. If you do a lot of cooking and use your disposal frequently, spending a little extra on a ¾ or 1 horsepower disposal will absolutely be worth the money. If you put pasta down the disposal, the extra horsepower, along with going slowly, and using a lot of water is a good equation. The greater power will also shred through food scraps much easier and also handle harder objects such as bones or meat scraps that might jam a smaller, weaker disposal. As a guide:
- 1 and 2 person households = 1/3 or ½ HP motor
- 3 to 6 person households = ½ to ¾ HP motor
- 5 to 8 person households = minimum ¾ HP but 1 HP recommended
- 8+ person household = 2 HP motor recommended
The larger units are usually less noisy. Your licensed consultant from Flader Plumbing can help you evaluate alternatives and choose the proper garbage disposal for your home.
Budget
Prices for garbage disposals vary widely. Quality of materials, horse power, labor costs, and warranty are among the variables. You can find a budget brand disposal for as little as $100 at a do-it-yourself store. Contractors tend to charge in the $250 to $300 range, plus installation. Flader Plumbing can provide a cost estimate for your custom needs.
We Help Homeowners
Flader Plumbing and Heating is uniquely suited to assist you in determining the solution that best fits your home and family’s needs. We’ve been serving your neighbors and our community for over 100-years and 4-generations.
The Flader Difference
Only Flader Plumbing and Heating delivers:
- The most responsive service – 24-hours/7-days a week
- Personal attention from certified and licensed technicians
- Only the most dependable equipment and parts
- Money-saving Maintenance Agreements
- 100% satisfaction guaranteed
Reliability
Flader Plumbing and Heating only recommends equipment, models, and brands proven to have the fewest problems and service calls.
Comprehensive Services
Whether you’re replacing your garbage disposal, water heater, furnace or central air conditioning, adding a clean air system, or replacing your sump pump, we are knowledgeable and expert in delivering the service you need.
Our professional technicians arrive on-time, listen, answer your questions, recommend the right solution, and deliver as promised. Flader technicians average 15-years of experience and are EPA certified.
Expert service, quality parts, and satisfaction guaranteed. That’s the combination you deserve. Don’t compromise. Call us at 847-491-6980.
