Re: Garbage disposal pros/cons

gazelle77 · ‎03-01-2013

For those that choose not to have one...what would you do with say a big pot of soup that burned... Or the like...other than flushing it down the toilet, how would you toss it out?

Sooner · ‎03-10-2010

Get a good one, have it installed properly and you shouldn't have a problem. I put celery, rice, and smaller chicken bones down mine all the time. I have hardly ever had any problems with it. I think part of the problem is when you try to skimp on the cost of one. My mother had issues with one, but it was a cheap one.

I can't imagine being without it. I use it several times every day. Large watermelon rinds will go down but need to be cut up and that's probably not worth the trouble. But I poke stuff down it all the time.

Clover29 · ‎03-09-2010

On 5/4/2014 gazelle77 said: For those that choose not to have one...what would you do with say a big pot of soup that burned... Or the like...other than flushing it down the toilet, how would you toss it out?

I'd strain it, put the solids in the yard waste and the liquid down the sink. I'd scrape the burned bits into the garbage.

It wouldn't occur to me to think, "Gee, I wish I had a disposal unit in the sink" for something like that.

I never put food down the toilet, either. Is that a common thing?

AuntG · ‎03-09-2010

Have one, use it occasionally. Don't think I'd miss it if it stopped working.

scotnovel · ‎12-31-2013

On 5/4/2014 wildcat fan said:
On 5/4/2014 terrier3 said:
On 5/4/2014 wildcat fan said:
My mom has lots of issues with hers, and I wondered if it's because she has a septic tank rather than city sewer.

Stringy vegetables can create a clog. My plumber told me to always let the water run a few seconds after turning it off to let everything wash out.

I heard that you should never hook one up to a septic system.

It's illegal where I live to do so.

That's interesting. The garbage disposal was already installed when my parents purchased the home. The home buyer inspectors never said anything about it, but my mom started complaining about it not long after they moved in. She's had the plumber out 3 or 4 times to fix it, but he's never mentioned anything about it being illegal. Instead of replacing it, she just decided to stop using it.

I can't imagine why it would be illegal to have a garbage disposal and a septic system. I have a septic field/system and have had a disposal for 8 years that I do use. Like others I don't put fruit rinds or meat products (other than tiny scraps) in it or grease or anything very oily. Other than that I use it and haven't had any disposal or septic problems. As I mentioned on another thread, others in the same area have had both for 20 plus years without issues.

Clover29 · ‎03-09-2010

From what I've read, it's perfectly safe to have a garbage disposal unit and a septic tank, but without the disposal, you only need to pump the tank every five years or so. With the disposal, you need to pump it annually because more sludge accumulates/it accumulates faster.

GCR18 · ‎07-03-2013

My current house has one, but I don't use it. Every once and a while I'll run water through it.

Clover29 · ‎03-09-2010

When we did our kitchen remodel, and I said I didn't want a garbage disposal in the new sink, the sales guy said he wasn't surprised on a professional level, because he was getting lots of clients who wanted to get rid of them and not replace them. But he was surprised on a personal level, because he has one, loves it, and couldn't imagine being without it.

Seems like you love 'em or you don't. I never used mine, and I thought it made the sink smell.

sunshine45 · ‎03-09-2010

On 5/4/2014 terrier3 said:
On 5/4/2014 wildcat fan said:
My mom has lots of issues with hers, and I wondered if it's because she has a septic tank rather than city sewer.

Stringy vegetables can create a clog. My plumber told me to always let the water run a few seconds after turning it off to let everything wash out.

I heard that you should never hook one up to a septic system.

It's illegal where I live to do so.

we have a septic system AND have a garbage disposal.

not sure why it would be illegal?

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"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing." - Albert Einstein

mousiegirl · ‎03-09-2010

On 5/4/2014 colliegirls said:
On 5/4/2014 mousiegirl said:
There are many things that cannot be ut into one, strings from peas, beans and corn silks, silica gel, and on and on. I don't use mine much.

Silica gel?????

Anything that will expand in water should not be put into a garbage disposal, including rice, at least these are the things that have caused problems for me.