A garbage disposal, also known as a garburator, should last for at least ten years with proper maintenance.
After 10 years, the average disposal’s life expectancy drops, and if proper maintenance procedures are followed, they may begin to clog more frequently.
Learn about the variables that can affect the lifespan of garbage disposal and how to perform routine maintenance and garbage disposal repairs to extend the lifespan of your disposal by up to 15 years.
What Impacts Garbage Disposal Lifespan?
Ultimately, three factors can be attributed to impacting garbage disposal lifespan:
- Quality of the Garbage Disposal Garbage disposals that are more recent and technologically advanced have longer lifespans. An inexpensive investment that will pay off, in the long run, is buying a brand-new, powerful garbage disposal as opposed to a less expensive alternative.
- What is Put Down the Disposal Your garbage disposal’s lifespan is greatly influenced by the materials you put in it. For instance, your motor and blades will suffer more if you frequently put grease and fibrous foods down the garbage disposal than if you only choose to put fruit and vegetable scraps down your disposal.
- Garbage Disposal Usage The frequency of use is just as important as what you put in the garbage disposal. The lifespan of your garbage disposal is impacted by how frequently you use it because it uses the motor and blades more frequently.
8 Signs of a Failing Garbage Disposal
1. Abnormal Noises
You may already be aware of how loud garbage disposals can be if you’ve ever let a piece of silverware fall into it unnoticed. Use your hand and a light to look for a clear source, such as a dropped spoon, whenever a new sound appears, especially any metal-sounding noise. If nothing appears to be in the way of the blades, the disposal parts could be out of alignment and grinding against each other as you operate the appliance. The issue can typically be solved with a quick change. New disposal noises should be addressed as soon as possible because obstructions harm the motor.
2. Frequent Resets
Your garbage disposal’s reset button is designed to aid in recovery from unusual circumstances, such as heavy loads or clogs. The reset button shouldn’t need to be used frequently, though, if your garbage disposal is in good condition. If you have to reset the disposal frequently, or even each time you turn it on, your garbage disposal may be getting old. A plumber or electrician will be required to safely fix any loose wiring, which is another common reason for frequent resets.
3. Inexplicable Clogs
You are aware that to prevent the garbage disposal from becoming clogged, you should wash food particles down the drain in small amounts. But if you start to notice that your loads always seem to jam the appliance, no matter how small they are, the issue might not be with the way you clean. Clogs may occasionally be a sign that your model needs to be larger in capacity. These clogs could also be a sign of a device issue in other circumstances.
4. No Power
Examine the connected circuit to see if it has blown if your garbage disposal won’t turn on or tends to shut off on its own while in use. Plan a garbage disposal inspection as soon as you can if your electrical system appears to be operating normally. These mysterious power problems typically point to a failing motor. The motor might be beyond repair or it might have completely blown out.
5. Persistent Odors
Since wet food is usually what breaks down in the garbage disposal, the odors that result from this can be unpleasant. However, the majority of these odors ought to be sensitive to careful and thorough cleaning or rinsing. You might require professional assistance if nothing seems to be able to get rid of the smell. To locate and remove any trapped particles that might be the root of the problem, your plumber can disassemble the appliance. It’s crucial to remember that when using your disposal, you shouldn’t turn to chemical cleaners. The majority of drain cleaners are not only too abrasive for your plumbing, but all of these solvents can also harm disposal blades and other parts.
6. Planned Renovation
If you decide to remodel your kitchen or replace your sink, even if your disposal isn’t necessarily broken, you should think about replacing it. When compared to a brand-new kitchen, an old garbage disposal might not always perform as well. If it has been at least ten years since your last renovation or project to install a garbage disposal, you should particularly think about replacing your disposal. The average disposal has a lifespan of around 10 years, after which time they might start clogging more frequently.
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7. Poor Performance
Your disposal should process most loads quickly. The blades of your garbage disposal may require sharpening or replacement if it seems to take an excessively long time to break down food particles. Make sure to have a professional inspect the appliance because severe blade deterioration may occasionally necessitate replacing the entire unit.
8. Water Leaks
Water may seep through some of the connections between your disposal and the rest of your plumbing system over time. It is frequently necessary to replace the entire appliance once a disposal grows large enough to be noticeable. Your sink may get wet from these leaks, your cabinet’s floor may get wet from them, or your garbage disposal may drip. Ask a plumber to investigate any leak that seems to be coming from your disposal because it’s simple to confuse it with a dishwasher or sink leak. Contact your dependable plumber for a garbage disposal evaluation if you notice any of the signs listed above in combination. Count on Magnolia Plumbing for assistance when dealing with a problematic disposal. We can offer you the assistance you require as well as suggestions for maintaining your garbage disposal to ensure that it continues to work properly in the future.
How to Extend Garbage Disposal Lifespan?
Make an appointment for garbage disposal repair services as soon as a problem arises. By doing this, there will be no chance of the unit suffering any additional damage. To make sure there are no leaks or clogs preventing your garbage disposal from working properly, schedule home plumbing diagnosis and check-up services with your plumber while you’re on the phone.
If you keep up with a regular maintenance and cleaning schedule, your garbage disposal should easily last 15 years. The blades or the motor will eventually stop working. However, you can put off its unavoidable demise by regularly inspecting and cleaning your disposal.
Pour baking soda and vinegar into the unit in equal amounts while it is off to try this method for cleaning grime from the garbage disposal blades. Rinse it with hot water after the mixture stops foaming. Repetition once a month will help to keep your garbage disposal clean and in good working condition.
When to Replace a Garbage Disposal
Imagine you’ve had a garbage disposal for ten or so years, but it keeps leaking or making an odd noise. These kinds of issues are a warning that it’s probably time to buy a new appliance.
Other red flags that your garbage disposal has reached the end of its useful life include frequent clogging, food that grinds too slowly, and a need to reset the unit frequently.
Frequent Clogging
The dulling of the system’s blades may be the cause of your garbage disposal’s recurrent clogging. Large food particles will either clog the disposal itself or cause a deeper clog in the sink’s drain pipes once the blades are unable to slice and digest food properly.
Frequent clogging could also indicate that your garbage disposal is inadequately sized to meet your needs. The amount of food that can be broken down at one time depends on the horsepower of the garbage disposal; larger appliances can handle larger amounts of food more quickly than smaller ones.
According to the size of your household, you should choose the appropriate horsepower for your kitchen. Use the chart below as a reference for sizing your kitchen’s next unit:
- 1-2 person household = 1/3 or 1/2 HP motor
- 3-6 person household = 1/2 to 3/4 HP motor
- 5-8 person household = 1 HP motor
- 8 or more person household= 1 to 2 HP motor
Food Takes Too Long to Grind
You have a problem if you’re running the same amount of food through the garbage disposal but it’s taking longer than usual for the system to grind the waste. Look at your unit’s blades; they may be becoming dull. It’s also possible that the motor in your disposal has grown too frail and is unable to handle the workload it was intended to handle.
Constant Need to Reset Appliance
The reset button on a garbage disposal is in charge of turning on the power again after the motor overloads and trips the circuit breaker. Your motor is deteriorating faster the more often you find yourself using this button. The time has come to replace the entire unit because the motor will eventually need to be replaced.
How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Garbage Disposal?
Replacing a garbage disposal costs $150 to $900, depending on the type, model, and whether or not you hire a pro for the installation. Since garbage disposals are deceptively complex, have numerous moving parts, and involve electricity, hiring a professional is almost always the best course of action in this situation. On the flip side, the average cost to repair a garbage disposal is around $250, including labor and parts. If your disposal is edging closer to that ten-year mark, a replacement is more expensive but generally preferable.
Conclusion
The family can clean the kitchen more quickly by using garbage disposals, which are frequently used after preparing meals. They do, however, need to be properly used and maintained. Your garbage disposal isn’t working properly, is it? Uncertain of its functionality? You can leave a message below or get in touch with us so that we can assist you.
FAQs
How Often Do Garbage Disposals Need to Be Replaced?
According to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI), garbage disposal should last up to 12 years. But like any appliance, how you care for it will affect whether it lives longer or shorter than average.
How Long Does InSinkErator Garbage Disposal Last?
What’s the lifespan of an InSinkErator garbage disposal, for instance? A longer lifespan is suggested by some models’ 10-year warranties. An InSinkErator device could last between 10 and 15 years if properly maintained.
Do Garbage Disposals Just Stop Working?
Your garbage disposal unit could malfunction for several reasons. General wear and tear, electrical, and mechanical issues are all included in this list of issues. Depending on the problem, you might be able to resolve it on your own at home or you might need to contact a licensed plumber for help.
Do Garbage Disposals Need Maintenance?
Sharpening the blades and performing periodic cleaning and descaling are all part of routine garbage disposal maintenance. It’s surprising how simple these tasks are! A few ice cubes can be put down the drain, ground, and the blades can be cleaned and sharpened by running cold water through the disposal afterward.