Garbage disposals effectively mitigate the threat of a clogged kitchen sink. When you are washing dishes, it’s nearly impossible to prevent every bit of food from going down your drain. Without a garbage disposal, the food will accumulate in your drain and eventually result in a clog. If you do own a garbage disposal, it’s tempting to assume that its powerful motor will continue to grind food waste indefinitely. That is not the case.

The average life expectancy of a garbage disposal is 10 years. After that, on average, the motor may still spin, but your garbage disposal will be running at a significantly reduced efficiency. There are, however, ways to help extend the life of your disposal. 

It’s fairly simple: consider your garbage disposal’s limits. Don’t just throw a baby carrot down your drain because you want to “see what happens.” Some people assume a garbage disposal can handle anything thrown down it, but every bit of food waste that goes down your disposal causes a small amount of wear and tear, which adds up over time. 

How to Tell That You Need to Replace Your Garbage Disposal

Even if you have had your garbage disposal for less than 10 years, you may still need a replacement. Some of you have probably run that baby carrot experiment a time or two. Here are four ways to determine if your garbage disposal needs to replaced.

• Frequent Clogging. Always keep the water running long enough to wash down all the food waste when you are using your disposal. If you’re doing this and still facing clogs, it is likely that you will soon need a new disposal.

• Strange Sounds. If you’re hearing a metallic sound when running your garbage disposal, and you’re sure that you haven't accidentally had some non-food go into it, your grind rings are likely misaligned. Like any mechanical device, strange sounds are never a good sign.

• Frequent Resets. The reset button on the bottom of your disposal is an electrical breaker switch that trips to ensure that your motor doesn't overheat. A couple resets over the life of your disposal is normal. If you’re resetting it every couple weeks, though, then your disposal is not running efficiently and likely needs to be replaced.

• Foul Smell. If a bad smell is coming from your disposal, and remains no matter how much vinegar or baking soda you put down it, your garbage disposal probably isn’t doing its job properly. A foul odor indicates that it is trapping too much food waste.

If your garbage disposal is afflicted with any of these ailments, or you want one installed for the first time, contact Dan’s Plumbing Services today! With over 20 years of experience, Dan’s Plumbing Services is equipped to ensure your commercial building’s plumbing system is in top shape. Contact us today by phone at (779) 529-5100, or on our website. We can’t wait to hear from you!