It’s estimated that around 38% of our total food supply goes uneaten. Now this food can end up in a lot of places – dumpsters, compost piles, home trash cans. However, if you’re like many homes, a good portion of it probably goes down your garbage disposal.
We take garbage disposals for granted until they break down. Then our kitchen cleaning routines become a lot harder. If you need a disposal, you might be considering DIY installation.
For these people, one of the first things they ask is, Do I need a plumber to install a garbage disposal? In this guide, we’ll be exploring this issue so you can decide if you should contact a professional for some help.
Do I Need a Plumber to Install a Garbage Disposal?
If you’re a mechanically talented homeowner with some plumbing skills, you can install your garbage disposal. However, if you’re doing this, you need to make sure you get the same brand as your broken garbage disposal.
Otherwise, there’s a chance you’ll have to cut or reroute pipes to accommodate the new garbage disposal. However, keep in mind that just because you don’t necessarily need a professional plumber to install a garbage disposal doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider it.
As we’ll mention in the next section, there are a lot of things that can go wrong during the installation process.
Why Should You Consider a Plumber?
You might have watched a YouTube video on garbage disposal replacement and now you’re feeling confident. However, if you don’t have much practical experience working with plumbing, you should think twice before going DIY.
For starters, it’s likely going to take you a lot of time to finish. Your time is valuable, and do you want to spend hours on your day off bent under your kitchen sink?
There’s also a lot that can go wrong if you don’t know what you’re doing. Because garbage disposals combine plumbing with electricity, there’s a good chance you’ll get lost along the way.
That means that you’ll waste a lot of time only to have to call a plumber anyway. When you skip the DIY, you save a lot of time. It can also save you money in the long run. Unlike you, a plumber knows what they’re doing.
So during installation, they’ll get the job done right, which can make it last for years longer.
Signs Your Garbage Disposal Needs Replacing
When you turn your garbage disposal on, it should hum with the familiar shredding sound you know. As such, if you notice unusual sounds coming from it instead, you should consider calling a professional.
The same goes if it just doesn’t turn on at all. While you can troubleshoot this yourself, it might be a sign that it needs replacing with a new garbage disposal.
Lastly, if you’ve been getting a lot of clogged drains lately, you should get rid of them. This is a sign that the disposal isn’t doing its job properly, which is leading to buildup in your drains.
How to Choose the Best Plumber for the Job
Any basic plumber can handle a garbage disposal installation job. However, you’re still going to want to look out for certain things when searching for plumbing services.
That way, you can avoid companies who overcharge or don’t treat your home with respect. The first thing to look for is reviews. This will give you a better sense of how they treat their customers.
Reputation is important, and if multiple people are leaving negative reviews, it should be viewed as a clear red flag. Next, ask them for an estimate. It’s important to pay close attention to their answers.
Any legitimate plumbing business will have no problem giving you a quote over the phone or coming down to your property for a more accurate quote if it’s necessary.
However, if they dodge the question, they’re likely trying to charge you more once they get started. Lastly, make sure they’re insured. You never know when the unexpected could occur.
They might get hurt on your property or cause an accident that causes water damage. In either case, insurance will ensure that you’re not on the line for unexpected expenses.
How to Prolong the Life of Your Garbage Disposal
Dealing with a garbage disposal installation can be a pain. That’s why it’s important to do everything you can to prolong the life of your disposal system. That starts with what you can put down.
Plumbers say one of the main things you shouldn’t put down your drain is starchy foods like rice. The same goes for things like eggshells, grease, fibrous foods like celery, and hard foods like candy.
All of these things will wreak havoc on your disposal, taking years off its life. When you dispose of food, make sure that it’s in small amounts. Shoving a whole sandwich into your disposal is not going to do it any favors.
When you’re cleaning dishes, make sure to use cold water if there are food particles involved. This helps the food stay solid so it can be destroyed by the blades.
If you use hot water, it can turn the food into mush, which makes it harder to process.
That being said, you should be pouring building water into your disposal now and then. In addition to keeping it clean, this can also help clear out some of the grease and grime that builds up in your drain pipes.
Need Help With Your Garbage Disposal? Contact Home Team Plumbing
We hope this guide helped you answer the question, Do I need a plumber to install a garbage disposal? Here at Home Team Plumbing, we know that cost is a big deciding factor for many people deciding between a professional and a DIY installation.
Just because your garbage disposal is down doesn’t mean you need to break the bank fixing it.
Not only do we prioritize offering affordable services, but we’ll provide you with a free estimate first so it makes sense for your budget. So if you’re ready for the help you need, get in touch with us today.
