Garbage Disposal Pros and Cons
Garbage Disposals are one of the must-have kitchen appliances.
If you’re remodeling your kitchen and want to add a modern touch to your kitchen, consider installing a garbage disposal.
However, garbage disposal has pros and cons, like other kitchen appliances.
The advantages of owning a garbage disposal include convenient kitchen cleanup, odor removal, and increased home value upon resale.
And the downsides of having a garbage disposal are:
- Garbage disposal requires careful usage.
- It requires regular maintenance.
Apart from learning the pros and cons of garbage disposal, you can learn what to consider when buying a disposal unit.
Without further ado, let’s dive in.
Table of Contents
- What Is Garbage Disposal?
- What Are The Pros and Cons of Garbage Disposal?
- Pros of Garbage Disposal
- Cons Of Garbage Disposal
- Do You Need A Garbage Disposal?
- What Should You Consider To Have A Garbage Disposal?
- FAQs
What Is Garbage Disposal?
A garbage disposal grinds solid foods and turns them into tiny particles, making them easy to flush down the drain.
To grind the food and dispose of the food waste, a garbage disposal is installed between the kitchen sink drain and the drain pipe.
Two main types of garbage disposal are available in the market, including:
- Continuous-feed garbage disposal: It has a switch you need to flip to turn on the disposal.
- Batch-feed garbage disposals: A batch-feed garbage disposal grinds food waste in small batches.
What Are The Pros and Cons of Garbage Disposal?
Garbage Disposals have both upsides and downsides.
The benefits of garbage disposal include it makes cleanup easy and keeps the kitchen environment healthy.
On the other hand, garbage disposals can cause drain pipes to clog, a common disadvantage of food waste disposal.
In the following chapters, I will explain the advantages and disadvantages of garbage disposal in detail.
Pros of Garbage Disposal
Here are the 7 benefits of having a garbage disposal in your kitchen:
1. Convenience
Garbage disposal makes cleaning food scraps easy.
Instead of carrying your plate to the trash can, it just requires you to toss the small amount of food waste on the plate in the garbage disposal and flush the trash down the sink.
On top of this, you don’t need to collect the food scrap into the bin and empty it regularly to manage the waste.
In short, garbage disposal will make the disposing of food waste after cooking and meals quick and efficient.
2. Reduce Odors
Apart from easier kitchen cleanup, garbage disposals will help reduce odors.
Because of having a garbage disposal, you don’t need to store food scraps in the trash can for a week or month. It means food scraps won’t rot to spread an unpleasant smell in the kitchen.
Instead of leaving food scraps in the trash bin to rot, garbage disposals will help you flush the waste promptly down the sink to eliminate the odor issue.
3. Keep The Kitchen Environment Hygienic
Homeowners without garbage disposal keep storing the food scraps in the trash can until it fills up with the food waste.
A trash can requires at least five to seven days to fill up. And guess what, the food scraps you left in the bin for seven days start rotting, which spreads a foul odor.
The rotten food scraps attract pests and animals to cut through the trash bag to get the discarded food.
But if you have a garbage disposal installed in your kitchen, you can swiftly dispose of the food waste and drain it through the plumbing system.
So, there will be no food leftovers in the trash bin to rot, which keeps the kitchen environment healthy and hygienic.
4. Protect the Kitchen Drains
Garbage disposals have impellers that cut down the food scraps into tiny pieces, liquify them, and make them easy to flush through the drain pipes.
As a result, there is a minimum risk of getting the food particles stuck in the drain pipes that cause a blockage.
Without a garbage disposal, food scraps can build in the kitchen drain pipes and restrict those pipes.
Consequently, you may encounter problems like kitchen sink backs up or lead to a messy clog.
5. Slower the Usage of Bin Bags
A kitchen-size trash bag fills up within five to seven days.
But if you have a garbage disposal, the trash bag will fill up slowly.
With garbage disposal, you can grind food waste and dispose of it directly down the sink instead of throwing it into the trash can.
It means you don’t need to toss all the food particles into the trash bag, which slows down the usage of trash bags.
Slower usage of trash bags means less money invested into buying trash bags, which saves you extra cash.
6. Contribute to Protect the Environment
Garbage disposals are also eco-friendly as they reduce the food waste that ends up in landfills.
A garbage disposal unit cuts the food particles into pieces, liquifies them, and flushes them down the sink through the plumbing system.
The food scraps you put in a garbage disposal end up in the municipal sewer system instead of a landfill.
Food waste in landfills will decompose quickly, produce methane quickly, and emit greenhouse gasses into the environment.
Fortunately, garbage disposals help reduce the amount of food waste and contribute to protecting the environment.
7. Add Value to Your Home
Does a garbage disposal add value to a home?
Yes, garbage disposals add value to your home upon resale. Garbage disposal is a must-have appliance in a modern kitchen.
Many potential buyers or renters look for a garbage disposal installed in the kitchen.
So, having a garbage disposal in the kitchen will make your property appealing- apart from offering other benefits mentioned above.
Cons Of Garbage Disposal
The downsides of garbage disposal include:
Require Careful Usage
Garbage Disposal requires careful use despite its name.
You can’t use your garbage disposal as you use the trash can. Garbage Disposal doesn’t have sharp blades like the blender as well.
It means you can’t throw everything into the disposal. Consider what or what not to put in a garbage disposal.
Generally, a garbage disposal can’t process:
- FOG or fat, oil, and grease
- Fibrous food like corn, celery, and husk
- Starchy food like pasta and rice
- Hard foods like bones, fruit pits, and eggshells
- Non-food items like spoons and forks
- Coffee grounds
Need Regular Maintenance
A popular myth about garbage disposal is the disposal unit requires minimal to no maintenance.
But the fact is- garbage disposal requires regular maintenance. Though you know how to use garbage disposal correctly, food scraps may linger inside.
The tiny food particles remaining inside the garbage disposal may rot and spread an unpleasant smell.
To prevent the foul odor from spreading, it requires you to clean the garbage disposal every week.
To sum up, garbage disposal requires regular maintenance.
Cause Clogs and Jams
As mentioned, garbage disposal can’t process every type of food waste.
If you throw formidable food items like fibrous or hard foods, they wrap around the disposal blade or dull the blade.
Consequently, the garbage disposal can get jammed or broken down.
Putting expandable food items such as rice and pasta in the garbage disposal can cause drain pipes to clog.
On the other hand, if you put fats like butter in the garbage disposal, they linger inside the garbage disposal, cause a jam, and spread a foul odor.
In short, if you aren’t aware of the proper use of garbage disposal, you are more likely to encounter problems like jams and humming with your disposal unit.
Septic Tank Issue
Experts give two opinions on the relationship between garbage disposal and septic tanks.
On the one hand, some experts argue that users shouldn’t have a garbage disposal installed on a septic system as additional waste ends in the septic tank.
On the other hand, some argue that a garbage disposal is not a headache for a properly maintained septic tank.
I highly recommend you read this article on Garbage Disposal and Septic Tank if you are a homeowner with a septic tank.
Alternatively, consult your local plumbers or septic maintenance company to learn more about this.
Expensive to Repair
Typically, a garbage disposal lasts 10 to 12 years if you maintain the disposal unit according to the manufacturer’s guidelines.
But, improper use of the disposal unit will lead to problems like leaks, motor burnout, rust, and restrictions.
When your garbage disposal breaks down, repairing it costs twice as much as replacing it.
However, you can save the repair cost if you DIY fix the issue.
Fortunately, the DIY Repair & Troubleshooting category will help you solve common garbage disposal problems. Explore all the articles in this category to enlighten yourself on repairing the garbage disposal.
Do You Need A Garbage Disposal?
No, garbage disposals are not a must-have appliance in a kitchen. But garbage disposals offer some benefits to users, including:
- Make the kitchen cleanup chore easy: Food waste disposals pulverize food waste into tiny particles and make them easy to flush down the drain.
- Reduce food waste: As the disposal unit breaks solid foods into pieces, you don’t need to throw them into the trash bags. It means using a garbage disposal will slow the usage of trash bags, which saves you money.
- Control odor issue: Garbage disposals grind food waste and help flush the waste down the drain. So, there will be less amount of food left over in the trash bag to rot, which spreads a foul odor.
If you want to experience those benefits, you can install a garbage disposal in your kitchen.
What Should You Consider To Have A Garbage Disposal?
If the benefits a garbage disposal offers convince you, consider these criteria when choosing a garbage disposal:
- Types of garbage disposal: You can find two primary types of garbage disposal in the market. They are continuous-feed and batch-feed garbage disposals.
- Power & RPMs: Horsepower is the indicator that determines the power of a garbage disposal. If you have a home with four people, you can choose a 3/4-HP garbage disposal or a 1-HP garbage disposal.
- Space: Consider how much space is under the cabinet. Choose the disposal unit that fits.
- Additional features: Ensure the garbage disposal comes with extra features like the auto-reverse system to dislodge food particles.
FAQs
Can a garbage disposal handle all types of food waste?
No, a garbage disposal can’t handle every type of food waste- except certain types of food particles. It can’t process food waste like fibrous, starchy, grease, oil, fat, and non-food items.
What are the potential plumbing issues with a garbage disposal?
Improper use of garbage disposal can lead to a clog and backups in the plumbing system. Similarly, the garbage disposal can leak if you install the unit improperly.
Is it cost-effective to install and maintain a garbage disposal?
The initial installation cost and occasional repair expenses significantly increase your overall estimate. However, the convenience you get for the cost can outweigh the expense.
Does a garbage disposal contribute to noise pollution?
Yes, a garbage disposal can be noisy during operation. However, some advanced models come with better insulation and noise-reduction technology. But, still, noise is a factor.
How does using a garbage disposal compare to composting?
Garbage disposal helps you dispose of food waste conveniently and smartly whenever you want. On the other hand, composting is a more environment-friendly way to handle the food particles as it recycles the food waste into valuable compost.
What are the safety concerns with garbage disposals?
There is a risk of injury if you accidentally put your hand into the garbage disposal while operating the disposal. You may experience electrical issues if you don’t install the food waste disposal properly.
What impact does a garbage disposal have on septic systems?
Regular use of your garbage disposal increases waste and strains the septic tank. Consequently, natural bacteria fail to decompose the excess waste faster, requiring more frequent pumping and maintenance.
Are there any health concerns associated with garbage disposals?
Improper use and lack of maintenance can form a food buildup in the grinding chamber. Consequently, bacteria can grow and produce an unpleasant odor.
Can garbage disposals be environmentally friendly if used correctly?
Yes, garbage disposals can be environmentally friendly if you use the disposal according to the manufacturer’s guidelines. For example, if you run cold water before, during, and after using the disposal, you can flush the food waste smoothly while reducing landfills.
How do I decide if a garbage disposal is right for my household?
To decide if a garbage disposal is right for your household, consider:
- How often and what type of food you cook
- Estimate local water availability and the sewage system capacity
- Evaluate the benefits of using garbage disposal over environmental & cost considerations
Sohel Rana is the founder of FixTheDisposal.Com. He is a plumbing expert with 7+ years of hands-on repairing garbage disposals, water heaters, space heaters, and other appliances used in a home. Before the launch of Fix The Disposal, he wrote and provided advice on water heaters, sump pumps, and space heater repairing & troubleshooting tips for LilDutchUncle.Com.
