On average, garbage disposals cost between $75 and $300, depending on the brand and what they’re made out of. Installing a garbage disposal the right way is essential to having a disposal that functions as intended.
Sink garbage disposals are wired into a home’s electrical grid. They usually feature a switch, like a light switch, that is placed in the wall near the disposal. When you turn on the switch, it activates the disposal unit.
Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about installing a garbage disposal.
Installing a Garbage Disposal
In the United States, 50% of homes have garbage disposals. They’re a common sight in most homes, and that number has been increasing since cities like New York City legalized them in the late 1990s.
Garbage disposals are small machines that have sharp blades and attach to your kitchen sink drain.
The Kitchen Sink
Garbage disposals are most often found under the kitchen sink. The reason for this is that garbage disposals work primarily to reduce the amount of food waste you throw away. After a meal, you can scrape your plate into the garbage disposal instead of the trash can.
Under the Drain
Plumbers install garbage disposals under your drain. They ensure that the sink has the correct drain to fit the garbage disposal unit and can update or replace the drain if necessary. Plumbers carry the equipment they need, reducing the amount of time to complete the job if any complications arise.
Water and Electricity
The location of most garbage disposals is near where there is water running. This makes dealing with electrical installation more dangerous. If you choose to install your garbage disposal yourself, remember that you need to take precautions not to be shocked.
A trained plumber will already know what precautions to take and will be able to complete the job safer than you. Don’t risk putting yourself in danger if you don’t have any experience dealing with electrical wiring. Mishaps with electricity can lead to serious injury and death.
Hiring a Professional
Having a professional install your garbage disposal is not as costly you may think. The work doesn’t usually take more than a few hours, and disposals themselves are not very expensive. If you’re considering doing it yourself, remember that if you’re not comfortable with anything, you should contact a professional.
The ease of installing a garbage disposal depends on if your sink is ready for a disposal unit. Preparing a sink and electrical wiring for a garbage disposal is critical to making sure it works correctly. Hiring a plumber to install your garbage disposal ensures that installation is done the right way the first time.
Doing It Yourself
It’s possible to save a little bit of money by installing a garbage disposal yourself. The only exception to this is if you make a mistake. If you’re unfamiliar with how plumbing works or don’t know how to wire in the unit, you would save more money having a plumber do it for you.
Damaging the disposal unit can mean that you’ll have to buy a new one. Not all warranties cover mistakes made during installation, and so the damage you cause may be on you to pay for. This can cause the cost of the project to exceed what a plumber would have charged the first time.
Commercial vs Residential
If you own a business, you may want to consider having a commercial disposal put in. Commercial garbage disposals can be put in employee sinks to help manage lunch trash. They’re also essential for restaurants and bars, or any place where food is handled on a regular basis.
These disposals are more expensive, and their wiring can be more difficult. Don’t attempt to put in your own commercial garbage disposal unless you’re confident that you can do so correctly. Incorrectly wiring a commercial garbage disposal could lead to dangers such as fire and expensive damage.
Residential garbage disposals are easier to install than commercial grade garbage disposals. This will be true for the plumber or yourself. One exception to this is if you have a sink that is difficult or tight to get under. This can cause the project to take longer.
If you’re doing it yourself, this delay can be increased because you may not have the tools to reach everything you need to. If this is the case with your sink, you would be better off having a plumber install your garbage disposal unit.
Garbage Disposals Are Not Trashcans
While garbage disposals are extremely useful appliances, remember they aren’t trash cans. There are foods to avoid putting in your disposal. Putting the wrong things down your disposal can cause them to clog, which will result in you having to get a plumber to fix your disposal.
The Age-Old Debate
With any home improvement project, you’ll receive advice going both ways. Many people will tell you to do it yourself and will tell you all about how they did a project without help. This can be true, and people who are experienced with plumbing and wiring will not find installing a garbage disposal to be difficult.
For most people, however, the reality is there is no need to put yourself through the stress and potential danger of doing it yourself. Hire a trusted plumber to get the job done right for you. If you are in the Salt Lake area, that plumber is Stallion Plumbing and Drains.
Getting the Job Done Right
At Stallion Plumbing, we bring all the right tools for the job and can get you set up and working again with minimal interruption. Doing a project like this yourself will take more time, and you could be using that time to spend with your family or relax.
If you live in the Salt Lake City area, don’t worry about trying to figure out how installing a garbage disposal should be done. Contact us today to get your disposal installed quickly and efficiently.