"Miller and his colleagues were able to do a lot of things quickly. Along with everything else, they also grabbed some old furniture that I needed help moving to the curb. They took several cares to make sure nothing was damaged during the move, including wrapping the furniture, turning off all the lights, and packaging the picture frames."
Soil is just one of the items you shouldn't put down a garbage disposal. Garbage disposals are only meant for soft, non-fibrous foods. Large amounts of topsoil, dirt, or rocks will damage the blades of your garbage disposal or clog the pipes. If a small amount of dirt goes down the drain as you repot a plant, you shouldn't have to worry, but never dump a whole pot of soil in the sink for fast disposal.
Garbage disposals are durable appliances that usually last at least eight years as long as you clean and maintain them. It’s relatively rare for a garbage disposal to break on its own, as most malfunctions happen due to user errors, like overstuffing the grinding compartment or damaging the blades by trying to dispose of metal or bone. Eventually, cracks or leaks could develop in the unit, which requires a full replacement.
While the drain connection for a garbage disposal is nearly universal and fits standard sink drain holes of 3 1/2 to 4 inches, the size of the disposal unit itself is not. You must have enough space in the cabinet underneath your sink to accommodate the disposal's housing. A larger model may not fit in a compact cabinet or if the existing plumbing is arranged in an unusual way. Before buying a new garbage disposal, measure the available space under your sink. If you are replacing an old unit, it's often easiest to choose a new model of a similar size.
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.
These appliances do unscrew, but you need to disconnect everything properly when you replace your garbage disposal. Make sure you shut the power off to the area first and check that it’s off with a voltage detector. Disconnect the main drain line and P-trap, and then disconnect the dishwasher drain line if you have one connected. You can then unscrew your garbage disposal using a disposal wrench. Just make sure you disconnect the electrical lines before removing your appliance.
The Eagle Butte, SD homeowners’ guide to garbage removal services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Need to get rid of old paint but not sure where to turn? Learn who disposes of old paint to avoid illegal dumping fees and prevent damage to the environment.
If your home is brimming with things you don’t need, find out about your options when it comes to how to get rid of trash, from junk collection to recycling.