Garbage Disposal: Everything You Need to Know

Garbage Disposal systems effectively remove waste and transport it to ecologically acceptable processing facilities. Many major wastewater treatment plants in the United States use anaerobic digestion to convert the gas produced by food waste into biofuel. The residual materials are composted and used as farm fertilizers. So, if you're thinking about installing or updating disposal but are worried about the environmental impact, check out how your town's wastewater is processed at the sewage treatment plant.

How a Garbage Disposal Works

A Garbage Disposal is a device that attaches to the underneath of a sink and collects solid food waste in a grinding chamber. When you turn on the disposal, a spinning disc, also known as an impeller plate, spins quickly, driving the food waste against the grinding chamber's outside wall. The food is pulverized into little pieces, which are subsequently washed away by water through perforations in the chamber wall. Disposals do feature two blunt metal "teeth" on the impeller plate, but they do not have sharp blades, contrary to popular belief.

Things You Should Never Put in a Garbage Disposal

Your Garbage Disposal is not the same as your garbage pail. Not all food scraps and liquids should be poured down the drain. To avoid clogs and disposal jams, it's necessary to understand what items should be thrown out and what the garbage disposal is intended for. Tough or fibrous food scraps, potato peels, and other tough or fibrous foods should be avoided in general.

Garbage Disposal Troubleshooting

A little troubleshooting of typical waste disposal issues can save you hundreds of dollars in service calls or the purchase of an expensive new machine. The majority of disposal issues are caused by blockages. Jammed disposal is simple to fix, but ignoring a blockage and running the device repeatedly can cause the motor to burn out.

Repair a Clogged Garbage Disposal

Clogs are most commonly caused by unsuitable items going down the disposal, such as fat, potato peels, or hard-to-grind meals. Clogs can form in the disposal, however, they commonly develop in the drainpipe downstream of the disposal. The best approach to avoid blockages is to keep problematic pieces out of the Garbage Disposal and discard them. Also, don't forget to keep it clean.