Garbage Disposal in Installation in Portland, OR

Before choosing a garbage disposal, check local codes to ensure it’s allowed in your area. Also, consider having your plumbing checked for any issues, especially if your pipes and drains are prone to clogs. When choosing a disposal, consider how often you cook, how many people live in your home, and whether you have a septic system.

Not carefully planning for installation can lead to issues, from the disposal unit not working effectively to needing frequent garbage disposal repair. Consider the following factors before you start shopping around for a garbage disposal:

• Condition of Your Pipes: If you have aging cast-iron drainpipes, food debris is more likely to cause clogs. A garbage disposal may not be a good idea if you have frequent clogs. Newer pipes, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) piping, have smoother walls so food waste passes through more easily.
• Room for Garbage Disposal Installation: Take measurements under your kitchen sink. Garbage disposals come in various sizes, so you’ll need to compare measurements to ensure the unit will fit underneath the drain opening. Units with sound insulation tend to be larger.
• The Load on Your Electrical System: A garbage disposal’s electrical draw, in amps, is indicated on its label. Make sure your electrical panel and circuit breaker can handle the increased load. One or both may need to be upgraded. Also, Also, a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) should be installed ) to protect against electrocution due to contact between water and electrical equipment.
• Size of Your Septic Tank: The manufacturer will indicate whether its products are safe for use with a septic tank. Some disposals add enzymes to aid in the breakdown of food waste as it enters the septic system. Its age, type, and size may determine whether you can install a disposal or if modifications will be necessary to accommodate it. Ask your local installer and septic system inspector before deciding.

Before a professional arrives for garbage disposal installation, you must consider the following factors:

Two main types of garbage disposals are used in homes. The best type depends on what fits, how you use your system, and your budget.

• Batch Feed: Food waste is inserted into the device one batch at a time. The disposal starts running only when a stopper is placed over the drain. This magnetic stopper eliminates the risk of accidentally dropping objects into the unit while it’s on. A batch feed disposal is beneficial if you have curious children or if adding a new switch isn’t an option. However, it tends to be larger and more expensive.
• Continuous Feed: A continuous feed garbage disposal is turned on with a switch and runs until it’s switched off (with a light switch-style or air pressure switch). Food waste can be added as long as the unit is running. The storage chamber is often smaller as waste is ground up continuously. However, we recommend running the water for at least 30 seconds after turning the motor off; this ensures that ground-up food is properly drained.

Horsepower (HP) is an important consideration when finding a garbage disposal for your home. The more powerful the motor, the more efficient the grinder and the more sound insulation the unit has. However, more powerful units are also more expensive. Here is a list of common garbage disposal motor sizes:

• ⅓ HP Motor: At the lower end of the price scale, a ⅓ HP disposal suits a two-person household that uses it infrequently.
• ½ HP Motor: A ½ HP disposal is suited for a two- to four-person household. This is the most recommended size disposal as it fits in a relatively small space and handles most home food waste requirements.
• ¾ HP Motor: A ½ HP garbage disposal is made of stainless steel and adds more useful features. Suited for homes with up to five people, it’s a bit larger but can last longer.
• 1+ HP Motor: If you have the room and the budget, a 1+ HP disposal accommodates a household of up to eight people where meals are prepared often. Some units can handle harder, more fibrous materials.

Some continuous feed models have auto-reverse functions and circuitry that help eliminate jams. Advanced grinding features are often available too. Other units come with splash guards so food debris doesn’t splash back out. Other features to look out for include the following:

• Multiple Grind Stages: Higher-end models can have up to three stages of grinding, allowing them to break up bones, corn cobs, and other hard foods.
• Insulation: An insulated grinding chamber allows the disposal to operate more quietly. Some models incorporate nylon-coated grinding elements, sound baffles, and flexible mounting connections to reduce vibration.
• Protective Baffle: A baffle on the neck of the disposal unit prevents non-grindable items from falling in and waste from flying out of the hopper.
• Simplified Mounting: Some models include a turn-and-lock mounting system to make garbage disposal installation easier
• Sink-Top Switch: A separate add-on that uses air pressure to turn on a continuous-feed disposal unit.
• Stainless Steel Chamber: A stainless steel canister is more durable, although it can be damaged by misuse and grinding inappropriate food items. The chamber is also resistant to rust and corrosion.

Garbage disposals are designed to grind up food waste into fine particles. As the water tap runs, these are flushed out of the chamber and into your discharge pipes. The benefits of these kitchen appliances include the following:

Also, garbage disposals protect the environment in a few ways. Breaking down and disposing of food waste reduces the load on garbage trucks; in turn, they emit fewer greenhouse gases. Also, less methane is produced at landfills. When processed at a treatment plant, ground food waste can be used as fertilizer or a source of energy.

• Eliminates many types of food waste.
• Food waste won’t decay or smell in your trash can.
• Less time spent taking out the trash.
• Fewer plastic garbage bags to throw out.
• Reduced pressure on pipes, so there are fewer leaks.