Choosing a Garbage Disposal

A good way to lessen the amount of garbage collected in your home is by adding a garbage disposal to your kitchen. Not only do they reduce the amount of waste accumulated on a daily basis, but also they are usually pretty easy to install. Of course, there are things you have to consider when shopping for a garbage disposal, as not everything may be as black and white as it seems.

First, you have to determine how much waste you generate on a daily basis. Garbage disposals are great for grinding up potato peels, orange rinds and may other types of leftover food products. If you eat out a lot, or normally don’t do a lot of cooking yourself, then a garbage disposal probably isn’t right for you. However if you have a big family, are always in the kitchen, and have lots of leftovers, a garbage disposal may be just the ting you need to help reduce waste.

Once you have decided that yes, a garbage disposal is what you need, then you need to start looking at other factors before installation. For one, make sure your sink is strong enough to handle a garbage disposal. Since they do a lot of shaking and rattling, a thin, stainless steel sink will not prove effective in the long run, and might end up doing more harm than good. Garbage disposals also use a lot of water, which means more use of your septic tank as well. You’ll have to clean it on a more regular basis so you don’t get backed up, which in and of itself is a big mess to deal with, and could cost hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.

In terms of features on a garbage disposal, continuous feed disposals are the most common for the home kitchen. Those are the ones that turn on at the flick of a switch, and run until you turn them off. This is in contrast to the batch-feed models, which operate whenever the disposal lid is engaged. If you have small children, this is probably not the option you are looking for, as they could easily cause injuries. Also, while no garbage disposal is silent, those models with bigger cases are often quieter and better insulated, thus reducing noise.

A typical garbage disposal should take about one to two hours to install. You can get a professional to do it for you, which will end up costing you, but if you have basic plumbing skills, you should be able to do it yourself if you consult the manual. They are not as simple as plug and go, so if you’re not sure, it’s best to spend the extra cash and have someone proficient do it for you.

Once you have your garbage disposal installed, take care of what you put in it. Stringy vegetables like cornhusks or celery stalks are not ideal, since they could wrap around the water seal, clogging and shortening your garbage disposals lifespan. Also, you should clean it after every use to ensure that it doesn’t stink up your kitchen. There are cleaners you can get, but you can also try grinding up some lemons followed by a few ice cubes to keep it smelling fresh.

Once you’ve determined your needs and how frequently you’ll be using your new garbage disposal, choosing the right model for you home should be easy. Weigh the pros and cons in every case, since owning a garbage disposal may not be right for you in the first place. However, if you should go out and get one, you’ll not only be doing yourself a favor, but the environment as well. Reducing waste is something we should all be conscious of, and a garbage disposal in your kitchen is just the first step.