Disposers - Choosing and Using

No matter where you keep your kitchen's garbage can, food waste can be unsightly and malodorous. It can also attract animals and insects and create unsanitary conditions around your home.

Food waste disposers can eliminate this problem by grinding most waste right in the sink, where it's virtually liquefied to safely flow into your sewage system or septic tank. This leaves a cleaner food preparation area, and less garbage to clutter your kitchen.

• Styles and Types
  
• Impact on the Environment (septic & public systems)
  
• Size/Cost Factors
  
• Installation
  
• Care & Maintenance
  
• Thou Shalt NOT ...
  

Most units are 'continuous feed' models where the on/off switch is typically mounted in the wall above the counter.

This helps to ensure that the users hands are clear of the disposer when it's turned on. The mouth of the unit remains open during the grinding process, protected by a rubber anti-splash baffle. That allows food to be continuously fed into the disposer while it is running. This baffle must be replaced periodically when it wears out.

The other type of unit is a "batch-feed model" which does not require a wall switch.

This type is activated by a twist-handle mounted on a lid inserted into the mouth of the unit. While the lid allows water to pass through it, it blocks solid material from entering the disposer while it is running. These units are safer because they're sealed off when power is turned on, but only the 'batch' of material already inside the unit is liquefied at a time, and this can be frustrating if there is a lot of waste to be processed.

Impact on the Environment
Garbage disposers can safely be used with most septic systems.

A septic system is designed to safely treat and dispose of household waste from the kitchen and bathroom(s). If your system is sized to handle a dishwasher or clothes washer in addition to sinks and toilets, it can handle a disposer as well.

Wastewater flows into your septic tank, where solids that are lighter than water (such as grease, oils and paper) float to the top and form a layer of scum.

The only food waste that should not be poured into the disposer is grease,
because grease buildup can cause major problems in the system.

The middle layer of partially clarified water flows through a distribution box that evenly disperses it into your drain field. Gravel and soil then filter out pollutants and bacteria.

Standard garbage disposers actually help a septic system's breakdown process, however. The grinding action that occurs each time you turn on the disposer actually increases the surface area of the food particles by hundreds of times. This allows the food particles to be broken down that much quicker by the bacteria within the septic tank.

If the waste particles are not broken down quickly in the septic system, they can settle to the bottom of the tank forming a thick layer of sludge. As the sludge mass increases it effectively reduces the working size of your septic tank.

That's why periodically, sludge must be pumped from your tank to keep solid overflow from contaminating your drain field.

Enzymes, that are specifically designed for septic tank use, can be added to the disposer (or toilet) each time it is used, to aid in the breakdown process. In most cases they are not necessary, but are helpful, especially when sludge build-up is a concern.

For those who would rather not mess with having to manually add enzymes to their septic systems, the In-Sink-Erator Septic Disposer® features an injection system that automatically adds enzymes (brand name: Bio-Charge®) to the grind chamber every time the disposer is activated.

Bio-Charge® is a fresh, citrus-scented solution featuring natural microorganisms that help break down food waste.More than 300 million microorganisms start to digest food waste instantly - even before waste reaches the septic tank. (each cartridge lasts 3 to 4 months with average use, and is easy to replace.)

Inside the septic tank, Bio-Charge® accelerates the digesting action - breaking down food and household waste, including toilet paper - thereby reducing scum and sludge and helping to keep drain lines clear. No other additive is needed to keep your system working the way it was intended to.

It is a good idea, though, to compost some waste where practical and not throw it all down your food disposer. Not only is this good conservation practice, but it also provides an inexpensive source of rich fertilizer.

By putting a disposer in your kitchen, you're doing your part to help reduce a growing problem. When food waste is dumped in landfills, bacteria and other harmful organisms can seep into the ground and contaminate our water. Decades of scientific studies have shown waste disposer to be a sound ecological alternative.

Learn more about Septic & Sewage Systems

At wastewater treatment facilities, the food waste can be converted into useful energy, or recycled into agricultural fertilizer. (See the University of Wisconsin Lifecycle Comparison Study  (PDF))

Size/Cost Factors
Residential disposer models are available in several sizes and capacities, and driven by motors of 1/3 hp to 1 hp.

The size of the unit and motor and the construction design are the principle factors affecting price, along with the warranty period, which tends to increase with the size and power of the unit. More expensive disposers are usually quieter, and offer extra features like auto-reversing motors. High-end units are made of stainless steel and carry a 7-year warranty. The most popular models are ½ to ¾ hp continuous feed models.

Installation
Everything needed to install a new or replacement disposer in a standard kitchen sink is included with the unit, including instructions.

However, disposer models do vary somewhat from year to year and replacements may not fit in exactly in the same place as the old unit (even if it is the same model number and from the same manufacturer). But generally just a few common parts are needed to make the change over.

It is recommended that you use the drain flange that comes with the disposer rather than a special finish flange, because flanges are subject to strenuous abuse and decorative models may not be built to take this abuse. They most likely will become tarnished or dull in time. Flanges provided with disposers are tough and durable.

• Grind food waste with a moderate flow of cold water
  When running your disposal, always be sure to run lots of cold water during grinding and 15 seconds afterwards.
  
  
• Grind hard materials such as bones, fruit pits, etc.
  Use small bones and fruit pits to clean grind chamber A scouring action is created by the particles inside the grind chamber.
  
  
• Grind peelings and rinds from citrus fruits to freshen up drain smells
  
  
• Dispose of coffee grounds in your disposer
  whether or not you are on metropolitan sewer or septic tank.
  
  
• Flush disposer
  Allow disposer and cold water to run after grinding or after draining sink of dish water.
  
  Periodically, and always after disposing of fibrous food wastes, purge the drain line by filling the sink with two or three inches of cold water. Turn on the food waste disposer and allow this water to run through with no wastes added.
  
  Some detergents are caustic; flushing will pass such material into the drain line without disposer damage.
  
  
• Use a disposer cleaner, degreaser, or deodorizer as necessary
  Disposers may also be cleaned with Disposer Care®, generally available in major home centers, hardware, and grocery stores.
  
  

Before leaving your home for several days, check to be sure all wastes have been flushed out of the disposer to avoid the occurrence of odors. If odors should occur through an oversight, they can be removed by running orange or lemon peels or ice cubes through the disposer.

• DON'T put your hands into the grinding chamber - even if the disposer is turned off
  
  
• DON'T pour or use hot liquids of any kind in the disposer when it is running
  It is OK to drain hot water into the disposer between grinding periods.
  
  
• DON'T turn off motor or water until grinding is completed.
  
  
• DON'T attempt to grind high-fiber foods
  such as cornhusks, artichokes, celery stalks, as the fibers will clog the holes in the grinding chamber
  
  
• DON'T attempt to grind shells
  such as clam or oyster shells
  
  
• DON'T pour caustic materials into the disposer
  such as lye, chemical drain cleaners or similar products
  
  
• DON'T put large bones or non-organic materials in the disposer
  such as glass, china, plastic, metal, plastic wrap
  
  
• DON'T pour hot grease into the disposer
  (and never pour hot grease into any drain)
  
  
• DON'T pour chemicals into the disposer
  such as paint, solvents, household cleaners & chemicals, or auto fluids
  
  
• Don't be alarmed if a brown discoloration appears
  A brown discoloration on the face of the grinding disc is normal. It is surface discoloration only and will not affect the life or performance of the disposer.
  
  

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