Is It Time to Replace Your Garbage Disposal? Here’s What to Do.

When you have a garbage disposal, it becomes one of the most important appliances in your kitchen. There’s no way to measure how much it helps with meal prep, cooking, and cleaning. Regrettably, like every other appliance in the house, it gets old and will need to be replaced. There are a few warning signs it’s time to replace your garbage disposal. We’re sharing them below along with some tricks for keeping your disposal in tip top shape.

How Long Do Garbage Disposals Last?

There are a few answers to this question. Generally, garbage disposals can last between 8 and 15 years depending on when they were built and how much care and maintenance is provided. Older disposals have a shorter lifespan, around 8 years or so. Modern models, and the ones used at Moore Home Services, can last up to 15 years with proper upkeep.

Top Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Garbage Disposal

Your garbage disposal can begin to fail in small ways, so you won’t realize it for a long time. What may seem like a minor inconvenience could actually be your whole system failing. To help you recognize the signs early, here are the best ways to tell it’s time to replace your garbage disposal:

• Dull Blades – One of the most obvious signs your garbage disposal is failing is if the blades are starting to dull. You can tell this is happening when food takes longer than normal to break down or you’re experiencing slower than normal drain time.
• Frequent Clogs – Another symptom of dull blades are frequent clogs. If dull blades can’t break down food the way they used to, it could lead to a sizable clog in your sink.
• Unpleasant Smells – Over time, food bacteria can build up in the blades of your garbage disposal, or even in the unit itself. These smells should not be ignored because it could be dangerous to your health.
• Odd Sounds – If you turn on your disposal and hear a rattling sound, it could mean there’s some debris in there or that something is loose. Turn off the disposal, really make sure it’s off, then look into the sink with a flashlight. If you see something get it out of there, if you don’t see something, it could mean there’s a bigger issue with your disposal.
• Leaking – When we say leaking, we mean leaking from the garbage disposal itself. Leaks coming from lines that need to be reconnected are easy to take care of. If the leak is coming from the top or bottom of your disposal, chances are it’s time for a replacement.

Keep Your Garbage Disposal in Tip Top Shape

Want to make your garbage disposal last the full 15 years? There are a few things you can do to help elongate the life of this crucial appliance.

• Use Cold Water – When running anything through your garbage disposal, it’s best to use cold water. Though warm water won’t do any damage, it could lead to some clogging. If you dump cooking oil down your drain, warm water can make them stick to disposal blades. Cooking oil can rust and dull the blades.
• Run the Disposal Every Few Days – Even if you’re not using the disposal, it’s best to run some cold water and turn on the disposal every few days. This ensures everything is working properly, makes sure the blades run so they don’t rust, and cleans out anything that may be lingering.
• Be Mindful of What You Dump – Just because the disposal has “garbage” in its name doesn’t mean you can treat it like garbage can. Being mindful of what you put into the disposal is one of the best ways to take care of it. Be wary of hard seeds (like cherry pits) and bones that can dull the blades. Also, fibrous foods will not break down evenly and can clog your system. Examples of these are onion skins, eggshells, and celery.
• Clean the Natural Way – If you smell something funky coming from your disposal, don’t use chemical cleaners. Instead, turn on some cold water, put a lemon or orange peel down the drain, and grind away. The natural scents in citrus fruits can clean away the worst kitchen smells.

Is it Time to Replace Your Garbage Disposal? Call Moore Home Services

Are you experiencing any of the warning signs mentioned above? If so, schedule an appointment with Moore Home Services. We are a Diamond Certified company proudly serving Santa Rosa, Marin County, and some surrounding areas. To schedule an appointment, call the number at the bottom of the screen, or click here to book online.