Garbage disposals are not garbage disposals

• Posted on February 10, 2020
• by mikew
• in Fix It & Use It
• No Comments.

I have a complicated relationship with garbage disposals. These small appliances installed in kitchen sink drains are a helpful aid to those of us frequently on dish duty, but they often leak and can cause dishwasher issues. Hopefully this will help clear up a few misunderstandings about how to use them.

First, garbage disposals are misnamed. They are intended to help break down small particles and bits of food left over from cleaning kitchen ware so they can exit with the waste water. Egg shells, vegetable skins, chicken bones and leftover food should not be dumped in the disposal. Garbage or compost cans are for those items. All plates should be properly scraped off before rinsing in the sink. It would be helpful to have a sink strainer placed over your garbage disposal. This will help you see the size of particles that should enter a disposal. Dump the strainer in the waste after clearing the sink.

This is entering your waste system so keep in mind that only organic, bio-degradable particles should be washed through the disposal.

If you would eat it, then you can grind it!

HELPFUL RULE OF THUMB

Most recommendations are that disposals should not be installed on septic drain systems. I confess that I do not follow this recommendation and have had no issues these past eight years.

After every use of the disposal the faucet should be run for 10-30 seconds to clear the grind chamber and ensure all solids have cleared the drain pipes below the sink. If items remain water can sit in this stainless steel chamber and rust will set in. Eventually this rust will build up, hinder the blades from turning and rust the appliance out and cause leaks. This will be very important if you are running your dishwasher. Dishwasher drain lines run into these disposals and they can back up if solids block the disposal.

Keep an eye under the sink for leaks. Some people place a plastic bin under this area. If you notice moisture stains, streaking or rust building up on the disposal there is a problem. This is a sign that moisture is not where it should be.

Also, periodically look in the grind chamber and see how things look. These units can be dangerous (like outlet receptacles) so don’t put anything into these while operating! Turn off the unit and gently pull back the rubber flange. Shine a flashlight in to look for rust, build up or obstructions.

Bottom line – don’t use your garbage disposal as a garbage disposal. You may need to rename it to something helpful like Mr. Bird Bits or [Not a] Garbage Disposal or Teeny Tiny and the Tidbits!