Separating Fact From Fiction: Demystifying Today's Food Waste Disposers
Tuesday December 12, 5:09 am ET
RACINE, Wis., Dec. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Food waste disposers are probably one of the most misunderstood and underappreciated kitchen appliances that exist today, according to Joe Farmerie, vice president of a leading disposer manufacturer. As a result, misconceptions about disposers abound, ranging from what foods can be ground in a disposer to whether to run hot or cold water when it's in use.
Approximately half of U.S. households own a food waste disposer and up to 62 percent use it at least six or seven times a day. However, residents often inherit their current disposer without receiving a manual that details how to use it or exactly how it works.
Food waste disposers do not use blades to grind food. Instead, food waste drops onto a spinning plate. Centrifugal force then pushes the waste against the edges of the disposal where it is shredded and passed into the plumbing system. Items like chicken bones, fruit rinds, potato peels and other tough foods that have a reputation for being "disposer unfriendly" actually can go into the food waste disposer, where they are essentially liquefied to flow into the pipes rather than accumulating in the kitchen's trash.
    Farmerie notes that there are basic guidelines in getting the most out of
a disposer and useful tips to avoid common plumbing pitfalls like clogs and
jams.

    --  Use cold water instead of hot water when using your disposer.
    --  To maximize the grinding ability of the disposer, begin by turning on
        the water in the sink and then gradually feed food waste into the
        disposer.
    --  Run cold water down the drain for 30 seconds before and after using
        the disposer to flush the food waste through the plumbing system and
        keep debris from settling in the pipes.
    --  Do not put fibrous foods like artichokes, potato peels and celery into
        a disposer, unless it is an Evolution Excel, which can easily grind
        these items.
    --  Never put glass, plastic, metal or other non-food materials into a
        food waste disposer as these materials can seriously damage the
        disposer.
    --  To give your disposer a fresh scent, try grinding lemons and other
        citrus fruits.

 

RepairClinic.com Helps Garbage Disposer Owners Out of a Jam
Thursday February 15, 8:00 am ET
CANTON, Mich., Feb. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- This month, RepairClinic.com®, the online source of home appliance parts and repair advice, is peering down into the dark depths of garbage disposers. The RepairGuru® busts some myths that surround these common appliances, and provide some tips to keep them spinning and smelling fresh. First, a quick garbage disposer primer.
Garbage disposers are simple devices that all work on a similar principle. At the bottom of the unit is a flat plate on which rotating steel 'mashers' are mounted. These mashers work in conjunction with the serrated inside wall of the disposer to grind food waste up. When you switch the unit on, a motor inside the unit rotates the flat plate, forcing the mashers to swing toward the outside of the spinning plate, which grinds up waste so it can be flushed away.
The mashers themselves are not sharp and don't chop food into pieces. But a garbage disposer can easily jam if a foreign object falls inside, causing a masher to get lodged against the inside wall.
"You'll know it's jammed because there will often be a lot of noise as the object rattles around inside, followed by a deadly silence," says John Sowden, VP of technical services for RepairClinic.com and a former repair tech manager himself. "Most appliance repair technicians have rescued coins, bottle caps, jewelry and plastic bag ties from inside a garbage disposer. It's a good idea to keep small objects away from the sink."
Un-jamming a garbage disposer is very simple. First make sure the disposer is turned off, then clear out under the sink so that you have access to the bottom of the unit. Next, for most disposers, insert the wrench that was supplied with the unit (if you cannot find it, use a 1/4" Allen wrench) into the hole located at the center on the bottom of the garbage disposer. Turn the wrench in either direction until the loose object is free from the mashers and can be extracted.
In general, a little common sense goes a long way when it comes to garbage disposers.
    - Don't put fibrous vegetable waste into them.
    - Don't add too much food waste at once. Manageable portions are best.
    - Don't put ice cubes in them - these can stress the motor.
    - Always replace the black rubber splash guards if they are damaged or
      loose.
    - Use Disposer Care foam cleaner to eliminate leftover food, grease and
      odors from bacteria build-up.
While they do last for years, garbage disposers eventually wear out. According to Sowden, there are some warning signs to look for. "If your garbage disposer is taking longer than five seconds to clear the waste, it's probably time for a new one. Also, a sure sign of wear is a masher that no longer spins freely, or any wobbling of the flat plate at the bottom of the unit," he says.
When replacing a garbage disposer, Sowden recommends getting the best unit you can afford. "This is an appliance where you really do get what you pay for. The more expensive models grind food better, will last longer and are quieter."
 

Maintain your septic tank system
By Ms. Builder
Special to The Clarion-Ledger

Q: We do not have public sewers on our street, so we have a septic tank.
I would like to install a garbage disposer in the kitchen, but I have
heard that they are bad for septic systems. Is this true? - Paula H.

A: This is not true and many homes with septic systems use garbage
disposers everyday. Septic systems are not only used in rural areas.
Many suburban streets in major cities have never had sewers installed.
More than 25 million houses in the United States have septic tank systems.

Other than food waste with very high grease or fat content, using your
garbage disposer should not cause problems. In fact, it may help the
"good" bacteria base thrive in the septic tank to break down human
wastes and other particles.

The worst problems are caused by household cleaners, anti-bacterial
soaps, solvents, etc. that kill some of the beneficial bacteria in the
septic tank. Without enough good bacteria, the entire septic system can
become ineffective.

It helps to understand how a typical septic system works. There are two
basic components - the tank and the drainfield. The tank, usually in the
750 to 1,500 gallon range (larger families require larger tanks), holds
the waste.

In the tank, the bacteria begins the process of breaking down the liquid
wastes and the tiny particles. The various components of the waste
naturally separate in the septic tank. A small amount will sink to the
bottom and this must be cleaned out on a regular basis.

If your septic tank is not operating properly, because of a poor
bacteria base, a lot of waste particles begin to settle to the bottom
and become sludge. As it fills with sludge, there is less room for
liquids, so the problem rapidly worsens. A professional cleaning will be
required.

The tank is connected to the drainfield with perforated pipe. These
pipes are surrounded by gravel and soil. As the liquids leave the tank,
they flow through the pipes and out into the gravel area. Here, more
natural bacteria have time to slowly breakdown the rest of the wastes
into harmless liquids.

If you are really a heavy garbage disposal user when you cook and you
are concerned, In-Sink-Erator makes a special garbage disposer for
septic systems. It has a snap-on Bio-Charge cartridge that automatically
dispenses enzymes that are beneficial to the good bacteria.

There are many septic tank additives advertised to help make your septic
system function better. Some help and others may hurt the bacteria.
Several that the State of Washington tested and found safe are: Microbe
Lift, 1-800-645-2976; Rid-X, (201) 573-5673; and Super Pack Bacteria,
(503) 774-9559.

Here are some basic tips to keep your septic system functioning
properly. Don't flush solid items that take up space in the septic tank
and reduce the water volume. These items include sanitary napkins, sand,
cat litter, cigarette butts, etc.

Space out your water usage throughout the day. This reduces large flows
of waste water into the tank that may force partially broken down wastes
out into the drainfield pipes. A heavy load of particles can ruin your
drainfield over time.

Minimize the amount of cooking grease that goes down the drain. Catch
excessive fats and grease in jars and put it out in the trash. If you
have wildlife in your area, put it outside and the animals will come to
eat it.

It is important to have grass or some type of vegetation growing over
the drainfield area. The bacteria near plant roots plus the soil
aeration from the roots helps to thoroughly break down the wastes. Make
sure the drain pipe from your gutters does not terminate in the
drainfield area.

The Braidwood Company, Inc. © 2010  www.green.ph