How to Choose the Best Size Garbage Disposal for Your Home

There is no better and more convenient method of doing away with food waste than garbage disposal. By grinding food waste, the kitchen gadget can flush the particles down the drain without clogging. Whether you are looking to replace your old garbage disposal or get one for the first time, you need to know the best size for your home. When in doubt, you can always work with a local plumbing professional, but if you are searching for a DIY guide, this is a good place to get started. 

Factors to Consider When Choosing

Unfortunately, you cannot just walk into a store and buy any garbage disposal because one size does not fit all. Different buildings have different structures, meaning you can only install a specific size.

Space Occupied

If you are worried the garbage disposal might not fit underneath your sink, check the gadget’s dimensions and the sink space, then compare if it can fit. The good thing is that garbage disposals are manufactured in different sizes that can fit even the smallest under-sink space. Ensure your unit is compatible with your sink before purchasing.

Connection Size

Examine the gadget’s connection size to see if it suits your kitchen sink draining pipes. If not, you’ll need to acquire a replacement unit or an adapter to join the two sections. Although some devices claim to be global or a size that fits all, this should always be verified before buying.

Grind Chamber

The foodstuff is ground in this section before being discarded. Confirm the grind chamber’s volume, which is often expressed in ounces. Some can hold more than 40 ounces of waste, although smaller and standard compartments can hold anything between 26 to 40 ounces. Under no circumstance should you ever exceed this set capacity as it will harm your garbage disposal.

The Size of Your Family

It is better to estimate your waste disposal requirements based on your household size. Based on who lives in your home, this is how we propose when buying a garbage disposal.

• 1/3 HP – enough for one to two persons.
• 1/2 HP – Suitable for two persons.
• 3/4 HP – suitable for three to five individuals.
• 5/8 HP – Best for three to six people.
• 1 HP — a group of five to eight people or a business.
• 2 HP — for groups of eight or more people and larger commercial sites.

The Motor Size

You’ll need to check a few garbage disposal size information to discover the ideal one for you. Examine the horsepower of a garbage disposal motor to determine its size. This is used to figure out how much waste can be disposed of.

1/3 HP

These are the most affordable garbage disposals available. Because they are low-powered, they can only handle little amounts of food. This explains why they are best for households with less than two members.

½ HP

This is amongst the popularly used garbage disposal sizes and has plenty of horsepowers. It’s suitable for small households who dine regularly, but it could pose a difficulty if you have visitors or prepare a large meal.

¾ HP

For most households, this is the optimal size. It has a significant amount of power and is available at various pricing to accommodate most budgets. Although the price gap between the 1/2 HP and the 3/4 HP isn’t significant, the grinding power is not the same.

5/8 HP

This is powerful enough to shred most meals, including tough ones. Several alternatives incorporate noise barrier technology to maintain a quiet shredding. These units, unfortunately, are substantially bigger, so be certain you have adequate room.

1 HP

This unit will benefit you if you work in a business setting or have a large family. It can shred whatever you throw at it, although it’s a bit pricey.

2 HP

We advise opting for 2 HP if dealing with a large commercial setting or a huge household as they are the most powerful.

What Are the Normal Warning Signs That You Need to Replace Your Hot Water Heater?

Most hot water heaters can last between 10-18 years, depending on the brand, and during this period, homeowners might forget to take care of the appliance. Taking care of your water heater might extend its service length, but eventually, the heater will give in. The good thing about water heaters is they will always give you warning signs before they completely break down. Once you start seeing these signs prepare cash for you will need to replace the heater.

Exhausting Hot Water

Do you and your household have to take cold showers and baths because there is never adequate heated water when needed? If your household is increasing or you’ve expanded the bathrooms, it might overwork the heater. 

The capacity of a water heater is based on the amount of water it can store on demand. Sometimes the problem might not be the additional bathroom but the water heater itself. If your water heater has served you for quite some time, its efficiency might reduce, making it hard to supply the same amount of hot water it would when it was new.

Fluctuating Temperatures

Temperature variations should not occur when your water heater is in good condition. If you set the temperature, it should retain the setting until you decide to change it manually. Sometimes the temperature might be caused by a faulty thermostat, but if you have checked this with professional several times, it means the water heater is the problem.

Producing Dirty Rusty Water

If you notice your taps and shower releasing brown water, it implies that you need a new water heater. Corrosion clearly indicates that the interior of your pipework and water heater tank is wearing down, which can result in cracks and leaks. If rust is on the outer part of the tank, there might be a high possibility of the same happening inside. 

However, rusty brown water does not always indicate that you need to replace your current heater. It can also be the zinc anode rode that automatically draws corrosion when water and metal come into contact. This rod can corrode over time, resulting in rusty water. How would you know if the rust is a warning sign that your water heater needs replacement? With a water heater, you need to leave no room for doubt. Contact a professional to inspect your heating system for certainty. 

Leaky Water Tank

Leakage from any home appliances, particularly those containing water, is a terrible sign. As the storage tank gets hot and cools down over time, leaks form.  If you realize water collecting at the bottom of your tank, upgrading it is probably better. It would be best to have it checked out by a trained plumber as soon as possible before the little fractures grow and threaten to burst. The best way to handle a leaking water tank is to turn off the system, including water inlets, as you wait for the trained plumber to arrive.

Strange Noises

Water heaters are not the quietest appliances in a home as they often make noises. The normal functioning might prompt the noises but could also indicate a malfunction. These can resemble knocking or banging and cannot be missed because they are loud. Odd noises are an early sign of water heater failure and should not be taken lightly. 

Needing Frequent Repairs

Among the most prominent alarm bells for any device is needing regular repairs and care to function effectively. Repair bills mount up fast, and it may not be beneficial to keep investing in a water heater that will only present more difficulties on the road.

When the temperature drops and the snow begins to fall, you have to think about protecting your home. The cold weather can do quite a lot of damage to your home if you’re not careful and don’t take the right precautions. One of the most expensive and troubling issues is frozen pipes. Frozen pipes cause damage that will need to be prepared by a professional and probably won’t fit into your typical monthly budget. There are a few ways you can avoid this issue.

Be aware that when pipes do freeze they can cause a lot of pressure. This could lead to the pipe bursting and ultimately flooding damaging your property. The easiest way to keep your pipes from freezing is to make sure that they stay warm.

It’s also important to note that while they are more likely to freeze in cold weather, it’s possible that the pipes can freeze in warmer climates too. The reason for this is that these pipes are often not insulated or designed for this type of weather or they might be set up in areas that are unprotected. So, let’s look at some of the ways to keep your pipes warm.

Keep Cracks And Holes Sealed

The first step is always going to be ensuring that any holes where pipes go through walls and floors are sealed effectively. Be aware that holes like this are just a place where cold air can get through. You can use anything from caulk to spray foam insulation to fill in these gaps. You should ideally make sure that gaps like this are filled in the interior and exterior walls of your property. This also has the benefit of ensuring that you will be improving the insulation of your home too.

Keep The Heat On

One of the easiest ways to ensure that your pipes don’t freeze is to make sure that the heat remains on. This can be a little expensive but it’s important to note that it doesn’t have to be on at a high temperature. Even a low heat will ensure that the pipes are not at risk. This is why many landlords will put it in the contract that tenants are responsible if pipes freeze. They know that a tenant may be reluctant to leave the heat on and drive up their energy bill. Ideally, you want to keep the heat set above 50 F to stay on the safe side.

Let The Faucet Drip

Finally, if you want to ensure that your pipes don’t freeze and you’re still worried about this issue, you can ensure that the faucet fed by the pipe is a little open so it drips. This will ensure that the pressure in the system is relieved.

It means that if on the chance that the pipes do freeze, then there shouldn’t be the pressure that causes it to burst. You can open up both the hot and cold faucets or leave a single faucet slightly on warm.

We hope this helps you protect your home pipes when the temperature drops.

This week it was announced that a polar vortex is set to hit the United States, bringing dangerously cold weather. The bitterly cold weather will be joined with strong winds from Tuesday through to Thursday.

Wind chills will see it hit as low as 60 degrees in some parts, this could see frostbite setting in within 5 minutes. Any exposed skin will be at risk, be sure to wrap up if you plan to go outside.

Transportation

You should avoid going out unless you absolutely have to, getting to work or school could become life-threatening very quickly. If you rely on public transport to commute, it’s important that you keep moving while you wait. If you don’t you could be at risk.

Driving will be just as hazardous make sure you have a full tank before leaving, and warm clothes in case of a breakdown. A breakdown kit will be a very handy thing to have in the boot of your car this week.

You may even be at risk of your fuel tank freezing, be sure to make all the necessary precautions to stop this happening. If you fuel does freeze bring you car to a warm spot, bring out the heaters a thaw your fuel lines out.

Protect Your Home

The cold weather will wreak havoc in your homes, making sure you’re prepared can make all the difference.

Let me explain how…

Keep your thermostat at 65 degrees to ensure you reserve fuel, the polar vortex could last longer than expected.

Insulating your pipes will ensure that they don’t freeze during this cold spell. Staying ahead of the game is of the utmost importance in the weeks to come.

If you plan on using space heaters, make sure you keep them away from all flammable material to avoid a fire hazard.

What To Wear

If you’re forced to go out for any reason, it is important to choose appropriate clothing for the conditions.

What does this mean?

Well, wear layers to keep yourself insulated against the cold, and make sure your whole body is covered.

This means hands, ears, neck and your face. Make sure that your layers are loose, tight clothing will cut off circulation making you feel colder.

Frostbite and hypothermia will be a massive risk if you do not follow these precautions. It could take less than 15 minutes for the first signs of hypothermia to set in.

All in all, this is going to be a tough week in the US stay safe, keep yourself warm and stay indoors whenever possible. The weather will pass and we can all get back to normal in no time.

If you plan on vacationing before summer hits, or just want to take a “spring break”, there are some things that you should take care of before leaving your home. This winter consisted of very cold temperatures, which led to frozen and burst pipes. Even though the temperatures won’t be as cold as they were, plumbing issues can definitely still occur when you would at least expect it, so you should prepare now.
Here are some tips to follow that will help you avoid plumbing problems while you’re out of town.

1) Did you know that the life expectancy of a laundry machine hose is only about 3 years? If you’ve had your hoses for more than 3 years, you will definitely want to check them before you leave. Inspect them for cracks, or calcium deposit build up.
2) Leave your heat on in your home. Even though it is warming up outside, the nights are still a bit chilly. If your heat is set to 60 degrees or higher, it will prevent any of your pipes from freezing and bursting while you are gone.
3) Take the time to inspect your water heater. If you see any water on the floor before you leave, it could be a sign that your water heater needs to be replaced or repaired. If you inspect it and there isn’t a leak, you may just want to turn off your water heater or put the system in “vacation mode” if possible.
4) Make sure that your sump pump is working efficiently and effectively. Also, you want to make sure that you have some sort of backup in case of a power outage.

5) Give your drains some TLC before you leave; pour some drain cleaner down your drain prior to leaving for vacation. If you neglect them, you may come home to a foul odor coming from the drain system. It’s also a good idea to run your water and garbage disposal system a couple of times so that any food particles can go down correctly.
6) If you plan to be gone for more than a couple of weeks, you may want to consider shutting off your main water valve. If you decide to do this, no water will enter your home. Make sure that you open your faucets and drain the water out before you leave.
7) Have a designated friend or family member check up on your property once a week to make sure that everything is good at your home. You’ll also want to provide this person with emergency contact numbers in case of an emergency (including your plumber!).