Food Waste Disposer

When do you need to replace a waste disposal unit? Let us begin by first addressing all of the different ways we refer to this handy little kitchen gadget. The word “insinkerator” is actually a brand name that has become a household name – and its proper spelling is InSinkErator. But we also refer to it as a waste disposal unit, waste disposer, food waste disposer, sink disposal unit, or a food disposal unit (although, we also tend to call our teenagers that). By the way, our North American friends have interesting names for the waste disposer. Americans that we know call theirs a garbage disposer – because to them rubbish is garbage. And Canadian friends go even further and call it a “garburator” – but we have yet to hear any Kiwis call it that. If you’re wondering how long your waste disposer should last, you may also be wondering if there are things you should and shouldn’t be putting in it to affect how long it lasts. We address that in another blog that you can read here, called “What can you put in a food waste disposal unit?” First off, what is a waste disposal unit and how does it work? A food waste disposer is a unit attached to the plumbing under your kitchen sink. Depending on the model you choose, it is usually approximately 35 cms tall by about 50 cms wide, including attachments. For the benefits it provides, a good unit doesn’t take up much space and will fit under most sinks. We often have households install one in the kitchen and one in the scullery because they’re so helpful. A waste disposer works by grinding up the food waste you put down your sink. It is comprised of a grinding ring and grinding teeth, no blades like many people think. As InSinkErator themselves explain, “InSinkErator food waste disposer units use no blades whatsoever. Instead, impellers mounted on a spinning plate use centrifugal power to force food waste particles against a grind ring. That ring breaks down the food waste into very fine particles – virtually liquefying them. Running water from the tap then flushes the particles through the grind ring out of the disposer and into your wastewater pipe. From there it flows to the wastewater treatment plant or your septic system.” How long should a waste disposal unit last? As a general rule of thumb, you can look at the warranties for different InSinkErator models to get an idea of how long they should last. The following are the advertised warranties for the current InSinkErator models: Emerson E20 – 2 years Model 46 – 2 years Model 56 – 3 years Model 66 – 4 years Evo 100 – 5 years Evo 200 – 10 years A waste disposer will last longer if you do three things: Use it properly – refer to our other post here about what you should and shouldn’t put down an InSinkErator Clean it regularly – every once in a while, run a bit of soapy water down; or you can also make vinegar ice cubes and crush a few down Maintain and repair it when needed – pay attention to any unusual sounds or leaks, and give us a call if you suspect it’s not working properly InSinkErators are such an added benefit and make life in the kitchen so much easier, so it’s hard to put a value on them. Like any household appliance, they need looking after and will last longer if you use them property and maintain them regularly. Have a look at our other blog about What can you put in a food waste disposal unit? for some tips on how to get your waste disposal unit lasting as long as possible. Which waste disposal unit is best? At Regency Plumbing we stand by the InSinkErator brand and install any and all of their models. Their current range includes the E20 Emerson (very popular with housing companies for new builds), the Model 46, Model 56, Model 66, Evolution 100 and Evolution 200. Have a look at our waste disposal specials page here for great pricing on waste disposal units and installation.

Are there things you should not be putting down your InSinkErator? One of the most useful kitchen appliances in our homes is the InSinkErator – also known as the food waste disposer, the waste disposal unit, the sink disposal unit. It’s a must-have for most of us as we’re now much more aware of different ways to reduce the amount of waste we’re putting into landfill. If you’re not able to compost your food scraps, a kitchen sink waste disposal unit is a great way to deal with some of your kitchen waste. In order for your InSinkErator to work properly, however, you need to use it correctly. This starts with knowing what you should and should not be putting down the waste disposal unit. What you can put down your waste disposal unit? According to InSinkErator themselves, makers of the most popular waste disposal unit, you can put the following types of food waste down the grinder: vegetables fruit egg shells bones from fish and poultry meat, fish scraps How to use your waste disposer properly? The best way to flush these items down correctly and safely is to follow the helpful instructions provided by InSinkErator: Collect all food waste in the sink during food preparation and when scraping your dishes. Turn on the cold water first, then the food waste disposer. Feed the food waste into the food waste disposal unit. Listen for the food waste disposer to finish its work. After grinding is complete, turn off the food waste disposer and let the water run for a few seconds to flush the drain lines. What you should keep out of your InSinkErator? Waste disposers are meant to be used for food waste only (not any type of kitchen waste). The following list highlights common items that should stay out of the sink disposal unit: fibrous vegetables (e.g. celery) grease, oil, animal fat plastic paper glass metal cigarette butts packaging materials stickers from fruit and vegetables tea bag strings It might seem obvious that some of these things shouldn’t be put down the sink, but at Regency Plumbing we’ve seen it all over our more than two decades of serving Auckland with all types of plumbing needs. Usually these items accidentally find their way into the drain, so we ask you to be extra diligent when putting dishes in the sink or washing up while cooking. Other ways to keep your InSinkErator working properly To get the most out of your waste disposal unit, we suggest you maintain and repair it when needed. We don’t recommend you try to fix your InSinkErator yourself. Doing so can be extremely dangerous and may also cancel out the warranty. Instead, give Regency Plumbing a call if you suspect your waste disposer is not working properly, or if you detect any strange sounds or leaks. We also recommend that you clean your InSinkErator regularly. There are a few easy ways to clean your waste disposal unit: The easiest thing to do is to run it with just soapy water flushing down. We’re mindful of not using excessive amounts of water, but it is important in the long run to flush soapy water down to keep your waste disposer functioning efficiently. If it’s not working properly, it will actually use more water than necessary if you’re running it longer than you need to be because it’s not working as it should. Another way to clean it is to run vinegar ice cubes down while the InSinkErator is running. Simply fill a third of an ice cube tray with white vinegar (it’s very inexpensive) and freeze. When they’re frozen, run them down the waste disposer with cold water. You should avoid using harsh chemicals in your InSinkErator, but baking soda is another way to clean it. Just drop about a tablespoon of baking soda down the drain and flush down with cold water while the waste disposer is running. Whenever you use fresh lemon, put the lemon segments down the drain with the InSinkErator on. Grinding the lemon will help clean the unit, as well as deodorise it, eliminating any smells coming from the drain. Have a look at our other post about “How long should an InSinkErator or waste disposal unit last?”. Check out our waste disposal specials page here for great pricing on waste disposal units and installation.