Garbage disposals are very useful appliances to have in the kitchen. The first garbage disposal was called the In-Sink-Erator, and it became popular in the 1920s. Since then, the appliance has been considered somewhat a necessity for all kitchens because of their convenience and easy maintenance. However, all garbage disposals are not created equally, and they require some understanding of how they work as well as maintenance in order to keep them functioning smoothly.
A garbage disposal is motorized and relies on a turntable that rotates to gather pieces of food and waste. There is usually a set of blades at the top of the disposal for initial shredding of waste, and they resemble the blades of a food processor. The sharp blades in the cylinder the disposal shred the waste into little pieces so that they do not cause plumbing problems. The waste is then pushed farther into the cylinder where it is ground up even further. Then it is flushed away by running water into the sewer.
The water from the faucet should be running the entire time the disposal is being utilized. This ensures that all parts of the disposal remain clean and continue to function properly. The running water also helps the disposal push the waste into the shredding area and eventually out of the cylinder altogether. Sometimes this may cause your pipes to slowly start clogging and this can cause some trouble in the long run. Garbage disposal Maintenance can prevent serious clogs and also bad odors.
There are two kinds of garbage disposals: continuous feed and batch feed. Continuous feed models allow you to run the disposal while continuously putting waste in the drain. In other words, it will still work while more waste is added. With a batch feed model, the waste must be loaded prior to turning the disposal on, and a rubber stopper must be placed on top. Needless to say, the continuous model is more popular in homes because of their convenience.
Time to check your garbage disposal and make sure it is still performing? Call Shamrock Plumbing today! We pride ourselves on using state-of-the-art equipment and providing stellar customer service. Give us a call today at (407) 305-6183!