A disposal replacement is inevitable. Garbage disposals typically go through tons of trash a year. In fact, Americans dumps around 30 million tons of food waste into disposals every year. All that junk stresses out your disposal to the breaking point. Learn how to replace your garbage disposal with these helpful tips.
Garbage disposal replacement step-by-step
The main steps for taking out the old disposal and installing a new disposal are, first of all, prepare the area with drop cloths and protective cloths. Empty everything out from underneath the sink.
The tools you need, generally, are a flat and Phillips head screwdrivers, channel-lock pliers, and plumber’s putty. Ensure that the electricity is off, or the disposal’s unplugged.
Drain the trap assembly, disconnect the drain and the dishwasher drain assembly. Remove your old disposal, remove your sink flange, clean the sink.
Before you put the new flange in, apply a nice layer of plumber’s putty. Reinstall the disposal, connecting the dishwasher drain assembly. Fill the sink up with water, and water test the drain to ensure you have no leaks, and run the disposal to ensure that it will run properly.
Treat your disposal right
Things to avoid going down a disposal are onions skins, or banana peels, or celery, anything that’s stringy. Bones will cause the disposal to breakdown prematurely. Rule of thumb, if you can’t eat it, don’t put it down a disposal.
Every once in a while, you can run a handful of ice, it’ll help clean the inside of the grinding chamber. You can run small portions of lemon rind, that will help it keep smelling fresh.
