You’ve had an extremely hectic day at work, after which you’re just ready to relax. You return home and head to the kitchen to make a delicious dinner. As you go into the kitchen, you smell something putrid! You eye the garbage disposal.
Who was in here last? You flip the switch to turn it on and hear something that doesn’t sound quite right.
Get to Know Your Garbage Disposal
Like all appliances in your home, garbage disposals have a limited lifetime. They will eventually need to be replaced. You’ll usually be clued in when something in the disposal stops working.
When you put food into the garbage disposal, a spinning plate with blades forces the food against a stationary grind ring. It’s this ring that breaks down the food into very tiny particles that are flushed through the pipes with running water.
Hints That It’s Time to Replace
Most of us just take our garbage disposals for granted—until the moment when they no longer work. Then we’re in a panic. Here are some hints that you might be in the market for a new garbage disposal.
Does Your Garbage Disposal Smell Bad?
If no matter what you do the garbage disposal just seems to stink, then it might be time to upgrade. Sludge can build up in the unit, necessitating a good cleaning. One trick to clean is to put a cup of ice into the disposal but if that doesn’t work then you’re ready for the next step.
Will Your Garbage Disposal Not Turn On?
This is a pretty obvious one. If you flip the switch and nothing happens, you know it’s time. Before you call for help, check the reset button beneath the disposal, the breaker, or fuse box to make sure it’s not a simple fix.
Is Your Garbage Disposal Clogged?
The joy of the garbage disposal is that it gets rid of everything pretty quickly. If you find that the disposal isn’t helping much of anything to go down the drain, you could have an issue.
This might be fixable, or it might be time to replace it.
Is Your Garbage Disposal Leaking?
Are you finding puddles in the cabinet under the disposal? Leaks are a sure sign that something’s amiss. The leak might be coming from the seals, which is a fixable problem, or it might be from a crack in the disposal. If it’s the latter, then you definitely need to replace the unit.
Have You Recently Updated Your Kitchen?
Although it’s not mandatory to replace your garbage disposal when you put in a new sink, it’s certainly a good time to assess the age of the unit and if you’re ready to start anew.
Have Your Garbage Disposal Installed Professionally
When you are ready to purchase a new garbage disposal, be sure to have it professionally installed. Instead of risking issues with improper installation, you can trust the plumbers at Forrest Anderson!
We’ll be happy to provide and install your new disposal or if it’s not yet time to replace, then provide maintenance for your existing unit.
Contact Forrest Anderson Today!
