Garbage Disposal

Your garbage disposal is one of the most useful appliances in your home. It makes cleaning up easier and faster. But when something goes wrong, it can ruin your whole day.

If you’re having problems with your garbage disposal and you’re not sure how to fix it, Gotelli Plumbing has some of the most experienced and highly trained plumbers in Marin and Sonoma Counties and the surrounding areas. In fact, all of our plumbers have gone through the PHCC Apprenticeship Training Program, meaning your plumbing is expert hands.

Call on us for garbage disposal repairs and installations!

If any of the above symptoms are happening to your garbage disposal or it won’t turn on at all, contact the experts at Gotelli Plumbing and have a plumber inspect your disposal system.

When To Replace Your Garbage Disposal

Because you can’t really see inside a garbage disposal without opening it up, it can be difficult to know when you need a new one. The easiest way to tell if your garbage disposal needs replacing is by its age.

If your garbage disposal is 10 years or older, it has probably reached its life expectancy and needs replacement sooner rather than later. It’s better to replace your garbage disposal now to avoid problems like blocked pipes later. There are also several other signs that your disposal needs to be replaced.

It may be time for a new disposal system if:

• You find yourself using the reset button on your disposal more and more frequently.
• Your disposal often makes abnormal noises while running.
• The system frequently clogs, even when you aren’t washing very many food particles down the drain.
• There are leaks coming from the garbage disposal system under the sink.

While some of these signs may be due to a need for repairs rather than replacement, they’re sure indicators of a major problem with your disposal. You use your garbage disposal virtually every day — you know what’s normal for the system.

By paying attention to unusual noises, leaks and other signs of a problem, you could save yourself a lot of time and money in the long run. Call Gotelli Plumbing for a service visit if you notice any of the signs.

Taking Care Of Your Garbage Disposal

The best way to keep your garbage disposal running smoothly for longer is by being careful with what you put into the system in the first place. Unfortunately, garbage disposals aren’t a catchall for food waste, and there are some foods that can harm the system.

Take care of your garbage disposal by never putting these foods into it:

• Pasta, rice and other starchy foods
• Coffee grounds
• Shellfish and eggshells
• Bones
• Onion skins and slices (not diced)
• Potato peels
• Stringy, fibrous vegetables (celery, banana peels, etc.)
• Nuts and fruit pits
• Nonfood items

Steering clear of these foods will help you avoid problems throughout your garbage disposal’s life, reducing repairs and preventing breakdowns.

If you’re not sure whether an item can go down the disposal, it’s better to be safe than sorry — simply throw it away or refer to the list above.

Is Your Disposal Motor Not Running?

If you turn your garbage disposal on, but it does nothing, chances are it was overloaded. This happens when your disposal detects it’s jammed with too much food or something too hard to break down. Your disposal turns itself off to prevent damage.

Newer garbage disposal systems do not have an overload reset switch on the bottom of the unit like older units used to. Instead, next generation disposals have an automatic overload switch – there’s no button on the outside of the unit. To reset a newer unit, unplug it, wait 15-20 minutes for it to cool off, and then plug the unit back in.

If you’re unjamming your unit yourself, it’s pretty straightforward. Be sure to follow Insinkerator’s instructions for unjamming your garbage disposal, and never put your hands into the garbage disposal.

If you can’t get your garbage disposal running yourself, Gotelli is here to get it done right.