Garbage Disposals

How To Choose The Right Garbage Disposal

Picking the right garbage disposal for your kitchen isn't just about grabbing the cheapest one at the store - you need something that'll handle your family's food waste without constantly jamming up or breaking down. Most folks do well with a 3/4 horsepower unit, which has enough power to grind up everyday food scraps without struggling or making a racket. If you've got a big family that cooks a lot, or you tend to put tougher items down the disposal, stepping up to a 1-horsepower model gives you extra grinding power and durability. Smaller households or folks who don't use their disposal much can often get by with a 1/2 horsepower unit and save some money. Features to consider include stainless steel grinding components that last longer, sound insulation to keep things quieter, and auto-reverse functions that help prevent jams. Some newer models have multiple grinding stages that break food down more thoroughly, which helps prevent clogs in your drain pipes. We'll help you figure out what size and features make sense for your household's needs and your budget, then install it properly with all the right electrical and plumbing connections.

Listen Close - DON'T Put These Items Down Your Garbage Disposal

It's easy to believe a garbage disposal would be powerful enough to grind anything down to dust, but that's not the case - there are some things you should never put into your garbage disposal, such as:

• Grease, Oils & Fats: These solidify in your pipes and cause major blockages that are expensive to clear out.
• Bones & Hard Items: Even small chicken bones can damage blades and jam up your disposal motor.
• Fibrous Vegetables: Celery, corn husks, and onion skins wrap around blades and cause jams.
• Coffee Grounds: They clump together and create sludge that clogs your drain pipes downstream.
• Eggshells: The membrane can wrap around blades, and shells don't break down properly.
• Rice & Pasta: These expand when wet and can create thick, gummy clogs in your pipes.
• Fruit Pits & Seeds: Hard pits from peaches, avocados, and cherries will damage your disposal blades.
• Non-Food Items: Cigarette butts, rubber bands, glass, metal, and other trash don't belong in any disposal.