Garbage disposals are the workhorses of any kitchen. We never really think of them until they don’t work. Sometimes they get jammed and can be freed up fairly easily. Other times they simply need to be replaced.
In addition, many people have a misconception about garbage disposals. Although they are essential for grinding up and disposing of regular food scraps from your dishes, they are not intended to handle large chunks of food, especially stringy or starchy foods -think celery, pasta and potato peels.
The problem is that although the garbage disposal may handle most anything that you put in it, your drain piping will not. You would be amazed at how many calls we get for clogged kitchen sinks after Thanksgiving and Christmas! Potato peels are definitely a “no-no” when it comes to garbage disposals.
That being said, we can offer you several models to choose from to replace an old, leaky or non-functioning disposal. From a 1/2 HP basic model to a super quiet 1 HP premium model, we can get that workhorse back to work.
Garbage Disposal Repair
If you need garbage disposal repair in Los Angeles or Ventura counties, call the experts at T-Top Plumbing today. Garbage disposals are one of the most misused home appliances there are. This is because these systems are primarily built to only handle light food scraps and residue scraped from plates and utensils prior to them going into a dishwasher. Unfortunately, larger quantities of food and debris are commonly put into these disposal systems. This overwhelms the system and ultimately clogs your kitchen sink drain. While repairs are complex, T-Top Plumbing is available for Ventura and Los Angeles garbage disposal repairs.
Do-It-Yourself Steps Before Calling Us
When you encounter a garbage disposal clog, your best bet is to always contact a professional plumber to immediately address the issue before it worsens. However, before reaching for the phone, there are a few things you can try on your own. If your garbage disposal is humming, making strange noises, and not properly operating, here are a few things to look for or try before calling a professional.
- Turn off the garbage disposal’s power switch
- Check to make sure the garbage disposal is securely plugged into the outlet
- Press the reset button located at the bottom or front of the garbage disposal or restart the appliance by flicking the power switch back to on
- If the issue persists, turn the garbage disposal’s switch off
- Shine a flashlight down the sink’s drain to look for foreign objects like bottle caps, lemons, chunks of food, plastic bread ties, coins, staples, etc.
- Use a pair of pliers or another type of grasping tool to remove any noticeable foreign object. Be sure to NOT place your hands inside the garbage disposal
- Locate the garbage disposal’s hex key jam clearing tool underneath your sink or taped to the appliance itself
- If you find this tool, locate the slot at the bottom of the appliance. Insert it and turn it back and forth to try to clear the jam
- Power the appliance back on. If the problem persists, turn the power switch to off and call T-Top Plumbing immediately for garbage disposal repair in Ventura or Los Angeles county
Garbage Disposal Installation Los Angeles/Ventura
If you need a new garbage disposal system installed, or an old one replaced, T-Top Plumbing has several options for homeowners in the area. These options include the following:
1/3 Horsepower – Our technicians do not recommend this HP. This is the lowest HP garbage disposal there is. While it may seem like a great economical choice for a homeowner on a budget, the utility level presents limitations. These units commonly jam and are generally made of the cheapest parts, which commonly rust out in just a short time frame. This option should really only be explored for temporary or very limited use.
1/2 Horsepower – This is commonly the minimum HP we recommend. These units are budget friendly. They can typically be purchased for less than $100. Since they’re smaller, they can fit easily into a tight space. This unit’s size also makes it a great fit for those who don’t intend to use their garbage disposal all the time and won’t overfeed it when they do.
One disadvantage is this disposal tends to be very noisy. It’s also important to run a lot of water when using this disposal to ensure all the food goes down. If possible, for the sake of durability, always opt for a 1/2 horsepower garbage disposal with stainless steel grind components.
3/4 Horsepower – This size is ideal for most kitchens. It has plenty of power to effectively handle leftovers and more. For instance, the InSinkErator Compact, is able to grind up everything from potato peels to celery and more without a problem.
With this much HP, this disposal doesn’t easily jam. It’s stainless steel grind components also make it highly durable for heavy use. It also runs much quieter than the 1/2 HP units. Just be mindful that 3/4 HP units with this much HP are also larger and will therefore require more space under the sink for installation.
1 Horsepower – Do you want a heavy-duty garbage disposal capable of grinding anything from chicken bones to fruit rinds, coffee grounds, and more? 1 HP garbage disposals are just what the doctor ordered. Most 1 HP garbage disposals, take the InSinkErator Evolution Excel for instance, are the top of the line models. They’re even quieter than the 3/4 HP models. They all have a stainless steel grinding chamber to handle more food at once with virtually no threat of a jam.
Again, it’s important to note that that these units are large and will require quite a bit of space underneath your sink for installation. If you have the space and budget, a 1 HP garbage disposal is a great investment.
NEED GARBAGE DISPOSAL REPAIR OR GARBAGE DISPOSAL INSTALLATION IN LOS ANGELES OR VENTURA?
T-Top Plumbing provides budget friendly, professional, and courteous Ventura and Los Angeles area garbage disposal installation and repair. Contact us today at https://www.ttopplumbing.net/contact or call (805) 527-8867 to schedule your service.