How Long Do Garbage Disposals Last?

Garbage disposals are one of the most important appliances for the disposal of organic waste in a modern kitchen. They mash up debris to reduce the waste entering your kitchen sink drain, lowering the risk of pipe clogs. But how long do garbage disposals last before they need a replacement?

As Austin’s commercial and residential plumbers, SEI Plumbing finds garbage disposals regularly featured on the work list. In this post, we explore what to expect from a garbage disposal unit and how to make it last a little longer.

How Many Years Do Garbage Disposals Last?

Garbage disposals last up to 40+ years with good maintenance. The two main types of garbage disposal units include the following:

• Batch-feed garbage disposals: These tend to last longer because they grind waste in small batches.

• Continuous feed garbage disposals: These are by far the most common. They mash up a lot more organic material in one swoop, which increases the risk of improper usage and tends to cause more electrical faults as these disposal units age.
  
  

What Are the Factors That Affect Your Garbage Disposal’s Lifespan?

Three major factors influence your garbage disposal’s lifespan: quality, contents, and usage.

System Quality Matters

Newer garbage disposal systems from trusted manufacturers will perform better. So, a slightly more expensive, heavy-duty system that gives you more power will last longer than a cheaper unit that has to work too hard to do the same job.

Items That Go Down the Disposal

How long do garbage disposals last after they develop faults? If your unit requires repairs earlier than anticipated, you may need to evaluate the items you’ve been sending down the disposal. The wrong items can shorten the lifespan significantly. 

Garbage disposal systems do not process all types of garbage. Only put down soft food particles into the machine. Other things you can send down the garbage disposal include the following:

• Vegetable scraps and non-starchy foods
• Chopped foods
• Ice cubes
• Fruit scraps

However, you should avoid certain organic items. For example, some of the following will cause issues within the grinding compartment:

• Celery
• Broccoli
• Coffee grounds
• Seafood shells

The Usage Frequency

Every time you run the garbage disposal, its motor and blades experience wear and tear. A system that runs once a month will invariably last longer than one that works every three days

Ways to Extend the Lifespan of Your Garbage Disposal

Can you extend the garbage disposal’s lifespan? Yes, try the following:

• Always run cold water while using the system to help food items slide down.
• Work slowly so that your garbage disposal system doesn’t have to work too hard.
• Clean the system regularly to prevent and eliminate small clogs.
• Schedule maintenance. A plumber can spot minor problems with your system before it causes more serious damage.

If you aren’t certain why you should hire a plumber to maintain your garbage disposal, take a peek at the price of new systems!

How long do garbage disposals last with expert help? Find out from SEI Plumbing at (239) 888-4454 today or schedule our services to keep your garbage disposal system on track.