How Garbage Disposals Work

Garbage disposals allow you to grind up food into small pieces so that it easily passes through sewage pipes. If you cook a lot, this handy gadget can make your cleanup faster and easier.

Disposal Basics

Garbage disposals are attached to the bottom of the drain in a kitchen sink. As you feed scraps of food into the drain, a shredder grinds up the food. You have to run cold water while the disposal is operating so it can help push the food down. Disposals come in different sizes and you usually can't go wrong with stainless steel.

If you have a garbage disposal do not:

• Use hot water when grinding food
• Put too much food in it at once
• Pour bleach, drain cleaners, or other chemicals into it
• Grind materials like bones, coffee grounds, metal, or glass.

Working on a Disposal

It's important to know how garbage disposals work if you need to install or repair one. Disposals involve plumbing and electrical work and installing or repairing them isn't a job for a beginner. If you choose to do the work yourself, turn off the electricity before doing any work. When putting in a disposal, you'll need to install a GFCI outlet under the kitchen sink and a separate switch near the sink.