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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.

On average, a garbage disposal can last anywhere from 7 to 12 years, with many models functioning well for about 10 years. With heavy usage, a motor may last a minimum of five years, while grinding plates will wear down over time. It's generally a good idea to consider a replacement if your unit is approaching the 10-year mark. Other signs that it's time for a new disposal include frequent leaks, persistent clogs, lingering odors, lack of power, or unusual noises. If your unit is not that old, it's worth investigating if a less expensive part, like a rubber seal or a loose hose, is causing the issue.

While unplugging your garbage disposal and plugging it back in may help, most units have an actual reset button, a bright red switch found on the underside of your unit. If your garbage disposal needs resetting, you may notice this button sticking out about a quarter of an inch from the surface of the unit, with which it’s usually flush. Simply depress this reset button to reset the unit, and then test to ensure it’s working about 10 minutes later.

Whether it's worth repairing your garbage disposal depends on its age and the specific problem. Generally, if the unit is eight years old or younger, repair is a good option. For minor issues like a bad seal or a simple jam, a repair can be inexpensive, sometimes under $10. However, if the motor is broken (a repair that can cost $150 or more) or the unit is getting old, it's often more cost-effective to replace the entire disposal.