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[depglass]

You cannot use them with septic tanks and drain fields. We've lived in the woods by choice for the past 35 years and no garbage disposal is a small price to pay.

[Kitty Galore]

Came with our new home when we bought it years ago, never really understood the need for it, never used it as we were told to be careful what you put down it and truly it was just as easy to put whatever it was in the garbage ! When we got a new sink we didnt get one , just two regular side by side sinks and was very happy with that. In our new home now, there is not one, we didnt have one put in, and will never get one either. One more thing ....I always thought there was a funky smell coming from ours when we had it and it wasnt even used.

[scotnovel]

On 5/4/2014 Clover29 said:

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.

I have had both for 8 years and I've only had the tank pumped out twice so there isn't a need to do it every year. When you pump the tank is associated more with the number of people living in the house plus how often and what type of things you put in the disposal. Foods that have been partially or completely digested do break down faster in the tank than those put through the disposal.

[scotnovel]

On 5/5/2014 depglass said:

You cannot use them with septic tanks and drain fields. We've lived in the woods by choice for the past 35 years and no garbage disposal is a small price to pay.

Yes you can use them with septic fields/tanks. I have one and have had no problems for 8 years and others in the area have had them for 20+ years with no problems.

[jlkz]

Have had a disposal hooked to my septic system for over 30 yrs. without a problem. Don't put bones, meat or corn silk down it. Will chop up rinds and place small amounts at a time there. Run water after running disposal. Use a Fuller Brush and foam to clean the underside of the rubber collar as needed. Just running a lemon in it smells nice but doesn't get the gunk buildup on the underside of the rubber collar. As for the septic system, to keep it in good condition, I use Zep down the toilet several times a year. HTH

[luvdoodles]

We don't have one and didn't want one when we did our kitchen over. My daughter had one in her apartment and said it always smell funny. My husband has his own dumpster at his shop and that's where our trash goes almost every day.

[151949]

Where do you ladies get these weird ideas that you can't put all this variety of things in a disposal? They are NOT correct.

I will agree that if you don't clean them they will smell funky but all you need to do to clean them is to put ice and a lemon or lemon juice through it. I clean mine every saturday - just the day i happened to pick to do it - with about 4 cups of ice a little at a time and about a half cup of lemon juice with the last of the ice. Then take out the rubber gasket and put it through the dishwasher with the dishes. Takes about 5 min.

[sunshine45]

On 5/5/2014 Scotnovel said:

On 5/4/2014 Clover29 said:

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.

I have had both for 8 years and I've only had the tank pumped out twice so there isn't a need to do it every year. When you pump the tank is associated more with the number of people living in the house plus how often and what type of things you put in the disposal. Foods that have been partially or completely digested do break down faster in the tank than those put through the disposal.

we pump our septic tank annually....usually in the spring, but we have 4-5 people living in the house.

[Shogirl]

I'll never forget our family's garbage disposal story. The first Christmas that my ex and I had my family over for dinner was going so smoothly until my mom peeled potatoes and shoved all of the peels down the disposal and plugged up the sink. She was used to doing that at her house, but I lived in an old home that had smaller pipes. Long story short, we formed an assembly line that stretched from the bathtub to the backyard, and everyone pitched in to wash, rinse and dry the dishes for a family of 18. It was an experience, and I've never put potato skins down a disposal again!

I wouldn't be without a disposal and not sure how some people have lived this long without one.

[RocketMom]

I have a septic system and have one with no problems in 17 years. Had one in my old house too and that was septic. I have not seen a house in our area that does not have one. Only thing I don't put down there are bones, large rinds from melons and coffee grounds.