A garbage disposal is one of the basic appliances you can find in most homes.
At least every homeowner or tenant has to manage all the dirt produced in their home, and a garbage disposal gets handy in food waste management.
When it comes to food remains and other biodegradable substances, the garbage disposal can greatly help.
If you live in a mobile home, you may be determined to easily control garbage, especially that produced in the kitchen.
In the process, you may ask, Should You Put A Garbage Disposal In Your Mobile Home?
Well, you can confidently buy a garbage disposal for a mobile home and find a qualified plumber to install it. However, it is essential to note that garbage disposal can easily strain the drainage and septic systems. For this reason, you need to ensure the garbage disposal is installed correctly and well maintained.
One of the maintenance tips is to ensure that you do not dump non-biodegradable dirt in your disposal.
You should also check frequently if any clogs are developing to prevent the system’s apparent blockage, which can be awful.
However, the good side is that a garbage disposal will significantly help you manage dirt and food remains.
If not yet convinced, keep reading for the benefits of having a garbage disposal, consideration for buying one, and what not to put into the garbage disposal.
Five Garbage Disposal Shopping Considerations
When you want to purchase any equipment or appliance, you must analyze a few factors before making a sound purchasing decision. For garbage disposal, consider the following factors:
1. Motor Power
Suitable garbage disposal is determined by the engine’s level of horsepower.
The lowest level is ⅓ horsepower, and the highest is 1.0 horsepower for most standard garbage disposal.
The ⅓ horsepower is enough for a small house with few people that do not dispose of a lot of food.
2. Cost
The price of good garbage disposal ranges from $100 to $300.
However, you can get some that are cheaper than $100; or more expensive than $300 depending on the quality of material used to make certain parts of the disposal and the type.
The continuous feed type of disposal unit is relatively cheaper to purchase but has some installation process that requires financing unless you are ready and fit to DIY.
On the other hand, the batch feed garbage disposal is quite expensive but does not require any professional skill to install.
3. Durability
A decent garbage disposal can last several years if used appropriately.
Truthfully, replacing a disposal one year after buying the previous one can be pretty annoying.
Depending on the power of your disposal, check the amount of work you are subjecting it to and how often you are using it to help enhance durability.
It is essential to know that most cheap equipment has durability issues.
4. Safety
A batch feed disposal is relatively safe because you have to close it up with a lid when operating it.
On the other hand, the continuous feed disposal works from when it was set on and can be hap hazardous if a child plays near it.
Consider ensuring all your property and household is safe from any danger posed by the operation of garbage disposal.
5. Noise
When operating the garbage disposal, it will produce noise.
Most low horsepower units will make a lot of noise, while those with increased horsepower will produce less or no noise because they have a built-in noise shield.
Three Garbage Disposal Benefits
A garbage disposal unit is dirt management equipment generally attached to the sink and joined to the drain line.
The equipment filters water through it, leaving dirt to settle inside the unit.
After it accumulates some dirt, you can simply press a button, and the disposal will grind all the dirt into tiny particles. You can easily flash these particles through the drainage system.
Of importance, not all food remains can be moved to a garbage disposal unit.
Things like bones are very harmful, and the drain will clog in no time. Also, avoid oily dirt or hard seeds.
Generally, a garbage disposal unit is ideal for a family that prepares frequent meals and has several food remains.
The garbage disposal grinds and drains the food dirt, generating a few benefits to the owner. Here are some of the benefits of having a garbage disposal unit.
1. Convenience
Garbage disposal allows hassle-free control of food remains, especially when the disposal is installed well and operated carefully.
Most of the dirt produced in a home is food remains.
An alternative way of dumping these food remains can save you on the cost of garbage collection because you will take a lot of time to fill the garbage bin.
A garbage disposal unit will also keep the dishwasher from straining or clogging because food remains on the dishes.
2. Cleaner Kitchen
In-sink garbage disposal lets the homeowner drive away food waste easily while maintaining kitchen hygiene.
Typically, this method of controlling dirt is considered environmentally friendly, especially for people without space for composting.
However, if you can get adequate space for composting, it is advisable to compost food remains and save the drainage and septic from straining.
3. Reduced Bad Smells
Food waste sitting in the kitchen dustbin and producing a bad smell can be controlled by driving it down the sink to the disposal unit.
This way, there will be reduced odor near and around the home because most of the dirt outside will be dry dirt that produces a minimal smell.
Six Things You SHOULD NOT Put In A Garbage Disposal
While a garbage disposal unit helps reduce food waste, you cannot drive in all food waste.
Some food remains will make it to clog within a short time. Here are some things that should never drain in a garbage disposal unit.
1. Coffee Grounds
Coffee grounds have a hardcover that cannot be grinded with the blades of the disposal unit.
They will strain the pipes and cause blockage at some critical points, which will need a lot of resources to unblock those pipes.
Even though some people use the coffee grounds to control bad odor in the sink, it is advisable to use other liquid-based fresheners to control the smell and keep your disposal unit in good condition.
2. Pasta
Pasta expands when soaked in water.
When drained down the sink to the garbage disposal, it only expands if there is water but will not run through the system to be drained into the septic system.
3. Onion Skins
Onion skins have a thin membrane that can easily skip through the blades of garbage disposal because they are very thin.
These skins will accumulate in the drainage pipes, and over time, they will clog.
4. Eggshells
There is a common myth that eggshells help sharpen the blades of a garbage disposal unit.
However, allowing egg shells to get through the disposal will have no positive or negative impact. Instead, the smooth membrane under the shells will accumulate and form a clog in the pipes over time.
5. Hard Foods
Things like bones and cones are hard to grind with the disposal blades.
Such hard items can damage the blades over time.
6. Potato Peels
Potatoes can be very thin and easily pass the blades and accumulate in the pipes leading to a blockage.
Conclusion
A garbage disposal unit is essential in controlling the amount of food waste collected in a home.
All biodegradable foods can be drained into a garbage disposal unit and crushed before being drained into the septic.
When purchasing a garbage disposal unit, be careful to buy one that will serve all your needs effectively.
To enhance durability, keep away anything that can damage or block the drainage pipes of your garbage disposal.
Sources
https://www.mesaplumbingcompany.com/plumbers-blog/garbage-disposals-in-mobile-homes
https://showcase.tempestamedia.com/5-key-considerations-when-buying-a-garbage-disposal-aid-23218/