How to Know When You Need to Buy a New Garbage Disposal

Every household requires functional garbage disposal at all times. If it isn't functioning correctly, you'll probably face problems when washing up, cooking, or cleaning the kitchen. If you notice that your garbage disposal is acting up, you can do some straightforward repairs and be done with it. However, if the problem persists, you might need to buy a new garbage disposal. If you want to know the warning signs for a garbage disposal malfunctioning, check out the following points.

You have Clogging Issues.

The first sign that indicates you need a garbage disposal replacement is clogging. When your disposal is almost always blocked, the blades of the garbage disposal are getting dull or too small to take all the load of the food placed inside it. When disposal blades can't break down food, the large particles will create a clog either in the disposal itself or further down in the drainpipes. If your garbage disposal isn't sufficient for your usage, which means that it doesn't have healthy enough horsepower, your garbage disposal will be more likely to clog. Conversely, the higher your horsepower, the more efficiently it will work in a short period. So, keep in mind to install a garbage disposal with a higher capacity.  

It Takes Longer to Grind the Food

Usually, garbage disposal won't take long to grind the food you place inside, so if you notice that it takes more time than usual to grind the food, then you might be facing a problem. Any cleaning or tweaks you do for your unit or won't really do it, because slower grinding time means that either the motor is getting weaker, and thus it can no longer break down the food load, or your disposal's blades are becoming duller. In either case, it would be wise to replace the whole unit instead of doing maintenance, as this can also be a sign that your unit is getting older, which means that you might be facing underperformance issues in the future.

The Unit Is Making Loud Noises

Everyone knows how loud their garbage disposal can be. For instance, if you accidentally slip a piece of silverware inside, the noise it emits will be two times more audible than usual. When you start to hear abnormal noises (and not because you've slipped a piece of silverware into the unit), you have to check the unit to know what's making that noise. Use your hand and a light to see if anything is blocking the blades. If nothing is stopping them, the unit's components might be misaligned, in which case you'll have to call a technician come to take a look at it. Although, if you take a look at any home improvement blog, you'll probably find a section dedicated to garbage disposal issues and how homeowners dealt with them. The consensus for the loud noise issue is to replace your unit with a quieter garbage disposal, which will be useful for you if you can't stand the expected level of noise caused by regular garbage disposals.

No Power

Garbage disposals tend to go out of power quite frequently when they require a replacement. If your garbage replacement refuses to turn on or shuts off while operating, know that a circuit might have blown, which means it's no longer safe to use it, unless you get someone to inspect the electrical system, of course. You may also do the garbage disposal inspection on your own if you're quite adept at fixing electrical systems. Otherwise, you should refrain from setting anything on your own and wait for the experts instead. Power failures indicate that the unit motor is failing or has blown out entirely, which can be quite hazardous for your family members. So, make sure to replace this unit as soon as possible.

You Have to Reset Frequently

The reset button in most garbage disposals is there to help your unit recover from unusual malfunctioning situations, like clogs or large loads. If your garbage disposal is in good shape, you won't have to press the button very often, but if you notice that you're resetting your unit more frequently than you used to, this is a good sign that your garbage disposal is aging and needs a replacement.

Unpleasant Odors

Since garbage disposals break down wet food, they tend to make unpleasant odors, but a bit of cleaning and cleansing should eliminate any unpleasant smells. If that doesn't seem to work anymore, you may need to call in an expert to examine the unit. This is mostly due to food particles being stuck in your unit's components, so a plumber will be able to take it apart and remove any trapped particles that may have caused this issue. However, if trapped food has caused any damage to your unit, you might have to replace it. In any case, make sure that you don't use any harsh chemicals or drain cleaner, as all of these solvents will do irreparable damage to the disposal blades and possibly to the rest of the components as well.

Water Leaks

You might notice that water is leaking through the areas where your disposal connects to your plumbing system over time. These leaks will leave large water puddles under your sink, drip on the floor by the cabinet, or pool into the disposal, which will effectively damage it beyond repair. Beware, though, that it is straightforward to mistake a dishwasher leak or a sink leak for a disposable leak. If you can't tell which, it is better to have a plumber look at it and find out exactly where the leak is coming from. A good plumber will tell you whether you should get a garbage disposal replacement and how much damage the water did.

In all of these cases, it would be wise to call a trusted plumber to do a garbage disposal assessment for you before making any decisions. Your issue might be as minor as a cleaning or clogging issue, so there will be no need to replace the whole thing. However, if you're facing a more significant problem, such as the ones we've listed here, replacing the unit is necessary.