A garbage disposal lets you scrape dirty dishes straight into the sink without having to worry about food debris clogging up your pipes. While it might seem hard to go wrong with choosing a convenience like this, these devices have their drawbacks, too.

Before you splash out on a new garage disposal, make sure you’re willing to put up with the annoyances it might bring you.

Here are the pros and cons at a glance. For a more in-depth review, keep reading!

They Make Clean-Up Easier
They Protect Your Pipes
They’re Inexpensive
They Work Almost Everywhere
They Require Careful Use
They Can Clog, Jam, and Break
They Need Regular Maintenance

    The Pros: Faster, Easier Kitchen Cleaning

    A garbage disposal is a relatively small investment that can save you time and hassle after every meal.

    They Make Clean-Up Easier

    When your sink is equipped with a garbage disposal, you’ll be able to scrape small amounts of uneaten food into the sink instead of having to carry plates to the trash and scrape them there.

    That makes cleanup after cooking and mealtimes faster and easier. There’s also less risk of dropping crumbs on the floor as you carry plates to and from the trash.

    They Protect Your Pipes

    When you’ve got a pile of dishes with bits of leftover food stuck on, it can be tempting to just scrape everything into the sink rather than go to the trouble of carrying the plates to the trash can.

    Over time, though, these food scraps can build up in your pipes and contribute to blockages.

    A garbage disposal lets you grind down food debris into small particles that are less likely to get stuck in the pipes.

    © REDPIXEL / Adobe Stock

    They’re Inexpensive

    The average garbage disposal will run you between $70 and $130, and if you’re handy with basic plumbing, you can install it yourself. If not, installing one is a routine and relatively low-cost job for an experienced plumber. Use and maintain your garbage disposal correctly, and you’ll get around eight to 10 years of use out of it.

    Find out exactly how much a garbage disposal costs by reading our guide.

    They Work Almost Everywhere

    Garbage disposals are safe for use with almost every type of sewage system, including municipal sewers and septic tanks. If you have a septic tank, however, make sure it’s correctly sized and regularly maintained. Some very old municipal sewage systems might not handle food particles from garbage disposals well.

    Today’s Homeowner Tips

    If you live in an area with a system like this, check with your local waste management or water authority before installing a garbage disposal.


    The Cons: Limited Capacity and Extra Maintenance Work

    Most garbage disposals can handle only light food scraps from a limited range of foods, and they need weekly cleaning to stay in good condition.

    They Require Careful Use

    Despite its name, a garbage disposal isn’t a trash can for food. To avoid clogs and jams, you’ll need to keep certain foods out of the disposal, including:

    • Fatty foods, such as cooking oil, butter, and cream sauces.
    • Starchy foods, such as pasta, rice, and beans.
    • Fibrous foods, such as banana peels, potato peels, celery, and carrots.
    • Hard materials, such as bones, fruit pits, and seafood shells.

    This rather long list means you can’t mindlessly scrape all your plates into the sink.

    Of course, traces of pasta Alfredo from one meal won’t instantly clog up your disposal, but putting in non-disposal-safe foods too often or in large amounts very well could.

    © EuToch / Adobe Stock

    How you run the disposal matters, too. Always turn on the cold water before starting the disposal, then let it run as the disposal runs. Gradually feed in small amounts of food debris. When you finish, turn off the disposal and let the water run for another 10 to 20 seconds to flush food particles through the disposal and down the pipes.

    They Need Regular Maintenance

    Even when you use the garbage disposal correctly, some food particles can end up lingering inside. These particles then decay and can eventually start to smell.

    To prevent this, once a week, turn off power to the disposal and clean it. First, wipe down the inner side of the rubber ring around the opening to the drain/disposal. Then use a bottle brush to scrub out the inside of the disposal. Between cleanings, you can freshen your disposal by grinding up ice cubes made of vinegar or a lemon or other citrus fruit cut into small pieces.

    They Can Clog, Jam, and Break

    If you accidentally drop the wrong type of food or too much food into your garbage disposal, it’s liable to jam. It’s a common occurrence everyone who regularly uses a garbage disposal knows. Sometimes just pressing the reset button will get your disposal started again.

    If this doesn’t work, you can try to dislodge the clog by inserting a hex key (Allen wrench) into the flywheel hole in the bottom of the disposal and jiggling the flywheel. Using a broom handle or needle-nosed pliers to reach the clog from the drain opening can also work.

    If this sounds like too much trouble, you might want to avoid installing a garbage disposal. Even if you take good care of your disposal, clogs and jams will become more frequent as the appliance ages. Because garbage disposals aren’t easily repaired, if one part of the disposal wears out, you’ll need to replace the whole thing.

    A garbage disposal is a nice convenience to have if you prefer to spend as little time as possible cleaning up after meals. If you’re willing to use the care needed to avoid throwing in clog-causing foods and you don’t mind cleaning the appliance every week, you’ll probably find a garbage disposal is worth the investment.

    Read our article on what to do when your disposal stops working for more information.

    Editorial Contributors
    avatar for Henry Parker

    Henry Parker

    Henry Parker is a home improvement enthusiast who loves to share his passion and expertise with others. He writes on a variety of topics, such as painting, flooring, windows, and lawn care, to help homeowners make informed decisions and achieve their desired results. Henry strives to write high quality guides and reviews that are easy to understand and practical to follow. Whether you are looking for the best electric riding lawn mower, the easiest way to remove paint from flooring, or the signs of a bad tile job, Henry has you covered with his insightful and honest articles. Henry lives in Florida with his wife and two kids, and enjoys spending his free time on DIY projects around the house. You can find some of his work on Today’s Homeowner, where he is a regular contributor.

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