How can I maximize the life span of my garbage disposal?

• <div><p>As with many appliances, proper maintenance is key to maximizing your garbage disposal’s life span. If everyone in your household is on board with <a href="https://www.angi.com/articles/how-keep-your-garbage-disposal-running.htm">proper care and maintenance</a>, like running water while operating the disposal, you should get plenty of years out of your unit. Avoid putting the wrong food items down the disposal, including pasta, rice, bread, and more.</p></div>

What is the main problem that happens to garbage disposals?

• <div><p>The main issue with garbage disposals is clogging. This can mean a clogging of the pipes that expel the food along with water, or a clogging of the mechanical parts themselves. The problem lies in the solution because you can’t easily see clogs if they’re inside the system, and reaching in to dislodge stuck items is a risky proposal. Call a pro and ask what they would do, but if you can’t see the clog easily, and running the unit won’t free it, you need to let a professional handle the fix. </p></div>

Top 10 Best Garbage collectors in Covington, KY

Q: Do you need a garbage disposal for a dishwasher?

• <div><p>No, you do not need a garbage disposal to have a dishwasher. A dishwasher will work without one, and while it's rare to see a home with a dishwasher that doesn't have a disposal, it is possible. The two appliances pair well and are often installed together because a disposal simplifies meal cleanup.</p><p>However, your dishwasher should not be used as a replacement for a garbage disposal. Subjecting it to continuous food leftovers can lead to major clogs. If you choose not to install a garbage disposal, you should thoroughly rinse your plates or scrape excess food into the trash or a compost pile before loading them into the dishwasher to prevent plumbing issues.</p></div>

Q: Is it better to repair or replace a garbage disposal?

• <div><p>In some cases, it&rsquo;s more cost-effective in the long run to replace a garbage disposal, but it depends on the specific issue you&rsquo;re having and the age of your disposal. You should ask a garbage disposal repair tech for a quote to repair your appliance and then see if it would be more worthwhile to replace it. Additionally, garbage disposals last for around 15 years, so if you know your appliance is reaching that age, it&rsquo;s likely better to <a href="https://www.angi.com/articles/what-s-it-cost-replace-garbage-disposal.htm">pay for a new garbage disposal</a> rather than sink money into repairs.</p></div>

Q: What is the most common size garbage disposal?

• <div><p>The most common garbage disposal size in the U.S. is 1/2 horsepower. This size is ideal for households with three or fewer people or those that don't produce much food waste. Although 1/2 horsepower can't handle the typical food waste load for a household of four (which is about 250 pounds of food waste annually) as effectively as 3/4 horsepower, it remains the most common size of garbage disposal on the market.</p></div>

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4.7

(115 reviews)

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Verified Reviews for Garbage Collection pros in Covington, KY

*The Angi rating for Garbage Collection companies in Covington, KY is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Garbage Collection needs.

*The HomeAdvisor rating for Garbage Collection companies in Covington, KY is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Garbage Collection needs.

Last update on June 19, 2025

Reviewed in June 2025
Rich did a great job replacing my garbage disposal. Scheduling was easy and the job was done quickly. I would recommend him to anyone and plan on hiring him in the future for other jobs around the house.
Rizen Home Improvement
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Reviewed in September 2020
Absolutely outstanding! Greg, Shane, and Justin were complete professionals. They surpassed my expectations by finding that, not only the dishwasher, but also the garbage disposal had been wired to basement outlets by the previous owner. This wasn't the easiest job in the world, but they were...
Dietrich Electric
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Reviewed in July 2017
I have no choice but to use Rumpke because they have the trash collection contract with the City of Covington. They miss the apppointed garbage pickup days, sometimes two weeks in a row. They leave the garbage toter sitting in the street (which is not where they found it) and when they do so, it...
Rumpke Consolidated Companies
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Reviewed in July 2017
The technician mentioned that there was 4-5 inches of shingle dust as well as pieces of shingles in the gutters. He told me he pushed the debris down the downspouts. I was concerned if he was pushing the debris down the downspouts that they would then become clogged. When I asked, he had the...
Cincy Gutter Boys LLC
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Reviewed in April 2016
Eric was a true professional. He replaced the garbage disposal, connecting all plumbing and electrical as needed. It works like a charm. He cleaned up after the work. We are very pleased and would hire his company again.
Cincinnati Handyman Services LLC
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Reviewed in October 2014
Jay responded to my call and scheduled an appointment for the next day. James was right on time and worked quickly to solve my issue of the garbage disposal not working. He was professional and friendly and very efficient. I would recommend them highly. <br />
ARLINGHAUS ELECTRIC INC*
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Reviewed in July 2014
We had them pack up some of the kitchen that includes all glassware and her china. She also had an extensive bird collection from birds she collected from her travels all over the world. Each bird had to be packed and there were well in excess of 200. All packing for this move was done...
CREATIVE MOVING SOLUTIONS
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Reviewed in November 2013
They responded promptly and showed up within the time frame we discussed. I was a little disappointed because there was some debris left in the the back yard scattered along my walkway. I didn't see any bags of garbage or debris. It kinda looked like they just pushed everything out of the...
Complete Home Services
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Reviewed in June 2013
I purchased a Big Deal coupon for Tarvin Plumbing. We were very happy with them. The garbage disposal was just new, so we just took care of that and then had them come back to look at that. The hot water heater was dripping randomly and he thought it was because the excess tank splatter is...
Tarvin Plumbing
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Reviewed in May 2013
They cleaning service always shows up on the day expected. The cleaning performed is average. The house is acceptable and cleaner, but they leave areas unserviced. They forget to clean the floor in a bathroom, turn off all the lights, take out all the garbage, not dusting an area, etc. The...
MOLLY MAID of Northern Kentucky and SE Cincinnati
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Find Garbage collectors in Covington

Precision Waterproofing & Construction

5.0(

)

Serving Covington, KY and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2022

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"I recently had my basement waterproofed and coated, and I couldn?t be happier with the results. This crew came in and got in done for me. very experienced crew as they work quick and professional! I?d absolutely recommend them to anyone looking for reliable, high-quality waterproofing work."

+104

5 neighbors recently requested a quote

Recommended by30%of homeowners

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Tri State Complete Home Repair and Maintenance

4.6(

)

Serving Covington, KY and surrounding areas

Approved

Super Service Award Winner

In business since 1996

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Excellent work. Very efficient. Solved a problem with the cabinet drawer."

12 neighbors recently requested a quote

Recommended by61%of homeowners

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Junk and Dump

New to Angi

Serving Covington, KY and surrounding areas

Approved

\n- Junk & Dump is a reliable junk removal company dedicated to helping homeowners and businesses reclaim space with fast, friendly service.\n- Our team specializes in safe, efficient collection, loading, and disposal of household debris, construction waste, and unwanted items, with a focus on responsible recycling and donation whenever possible.\n- We offer transparent pricing, flexible scheduling, and same-day or next-day pickups to fit busy lives and project timelines.\n- From cluttered garages to office cleanouts, we handle all the heavy lifting so customers can start fresh without the hassle.

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JC junk removal

New to Angi

Serving Covington, KY and surrounding areas

Approved

Free estimates

Small jobs welcome

Offers commercial services

Hi my name is Jared I'm a hard working junk removal professional with 3 years experience I do a professional job at a fair price

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CONSTRUCASA LLC

New to Angi

Serving Covington, KY and surrounding areas

Approved

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

Small jobs welcome

We’re a reliable local junk removal and hauling company focused on fast service, fair pricing, and making cleanup easy for our customers. Whether you need furniture removed, trash hauled away, yard debris cleaned up, or general junk removal, we show up on time and get the job done right. We take pride in being professional, hardworking, and leaving every space clean before we go. Customer satisfaction is our priority, and we’re always ready to help with your next project.

1 neighbors recently requested a quote

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S&S general contractor

New to Angi

Serving Covington, KY and surrounding areas

Approved

we haul it!

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Big Ants Junk Removal and Moving LLC

New to Angi

Serving Covington, KY and surrounding areas

Approved

With Big Ants Junk Removal and Moving LLC we Make sure we take care of the customer, we can remove junk from your house, business, shed, garage wherever just let us know what you need, we can also remove a shed complete demo. We can also Do house Moves and office Moves.

4 neighbors recently requested a quote

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Byrd services

New to Angi

Serving Covington, KY and surrounding areas

Approved

Hey we are byrd services llc we provide junk removal and handyman services we are licensed and insured and we are ready for any job you throw at us we will work with you on your budget as much as we can thank you

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Fox Solutions

New to Angi

Serving Covington, KY and surrounding areas

Approved

Free estimates

Small jobs welcome

Credit card accepted

Im a honest hardworking man who is looking to provide a service and make some money while doing so. I have 2 teenage boys and a daughter who graduated college last year.\n

15 neighbors recently requested a quote

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Tru-Clean Junk Removal

5.0(

)

Serving Covington, KY and surrounding areas

In business since 2020

Emergency services offered

Credit card accepted

"Will use this company again and recommend them to anyone that has need for any type of junk removal."

+26

Response time1 day

Recommended by91%of homeowners

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...

Showing 1-10 of 67

Garbage Collection questions, answered by experts

No, you do not need a garbage disposal to have a dishwasher. A dishwasher will work without one, and while it's rare to see a home with a dishwasher that doesn't have a disposal, it is possible. The two appliances pair well and are often installed together because a disposal simplifies meal cleanup.

However, your dishwasher should not be used as a replacement for a garbage disposal. Subjecting it to continuous food leftovers can lead to major clogs. If you choose not to install a garbage disposal, you should thoroughly rinse your plates or scrape excess food into the trash or a compost pile before loading them into the dishwasher to prevent plumbing issues.

In some cases, it’s more cost-effective in the long run to replace a garbage disposal, but it depends on the specific issue you’re having and the age of your disposal. You should ask a garbage disposal repair tech for a quote to repair your appliance and then see if it would be more worthwhile to replace it. Additionally, garbage disposals last for around 15 years, so if you know your appliance is reaching that age, it’s likely better to pay for a new garbage disposal rather than sink money into repairs.

The most common garbage disposal size in the U.S. is 1/2 horsepower. This size is ideal for households with three or fewer people or those that don't produce much food waste. Although 1/2 horsepower can't handle the typical food waste load for a household of four (which is about 250 pounds of food waste annually) as effectively as 3/4 horsepower, it remains the most common size of garbage disposal on the market.

As with many appliances, proper maintenance is key to maximizing your garbage disposal’s life span. If everyone in your household is on board with proper care and maintenance, like running water while operating the disposal, you should get plenty of years out of your unit. Avoid putting the wrong food items down the disposal, including pasta, rice, bread, and more.

The main issue with garbage disposals is clogging. This can mean a clogging of the pipes that expel the food along with water, or a clogging of the mechanical parts themselves. The problem lies in the solution because you can’t easily see clogs if they’re inside the system, and reaching in to dislodge stuck items is a risky proposal. Call a pro and ask what they would do, but if you can’t see the clog easily, and running the unit won’t free it, you need to let a professional handle the fix.

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