The Pros and Cons of a Garburator

Are Garburators Bad?

Garburators have become such commonplace in homes in Calgary that many of us don’t stop to think if we even need one. Like many other appliances in your home a garburator has both its pros and cons. Luckily the experts at Lone Star plumbing and heating are here to help you understand both the advantages and disadvantages of installing a garbage disposal in your home.

First let’s take a look at the pros of installing a garburator on your kitchen sink.

Pros of Garburator

Convenience

Cleaning dishes is made a lot simpler when you have a garbage disposal. Just rinse remaining food waste off in the sink and let the garburator grind it up and send it down the drain.

Less Trash

When you have a garburator installed in your home you can rinse soft food waste off in the sink instead of putting it in the trash. This also helps with odours in your home as you do not have food waste in your garbage or composting bin rotting and creating unpleasant smells in your home.

Sanitary

Putting food scraps into the garburator is one of the cleanest ways to dispose of food waste. It also is a solution for people who often quickly run out of room in their trash can or composting bin.

Quiet and Easy to Use

Most modern day garbage disposals run incredibly quietly and turn on with a simple flick of a switch.

Affordable and Easy to Install

Many garburators nowadays can run as little as $200-$400, and it will often only take one of Lone Star’s licensed plumbers as little as an hour to install one.

Now let’s look at some of the reasons you may not want a garburator installed in your home.

Cons of Garburator

Clogged Drains

Unfortunately many homeowners think that a garburator can take on any kind of food waste they can throw at it. This is not the case and if you put foods into your garburator that it can’t handle it can result in your drains getting clogged. Fibrous vegetables such as celery, banana peels and asparagus can wrap around your garbage disposal blade causing it to jam. Starchy foods such as rice, potatoes and potato skins often expand in hot water and create a gunk that can tightly pack in your drain pipe. If you do end up encountering a clogged drain because you put foods in your garbage disposal that it can’t properly grind down, then you could be in line for an expensive fix.

Odour

If you do not properly maintain and rinse your garburator then it can begin to emit an odour from rotting food that builds up in it. You can often solve odour issues by rinsing your garburator with citrus juice or baking soda.

Waste; Are Garburators Bad for The Environment?

A garbage disposal may not be the best option for those who are more environmentally focused. Composting food waste is a much better use for it than just sending it down the drain. Also garbage disposals need to be rinsed with every use and since a sink uses on average 2 gallons of water per minute, this can be a waste of water.

Whether you have decided that you would like a garbage disposal installed in your home or would like your current garbage disposal upgraded or removed we can help. The best plumbers in Calgary at Lone Star plumbing have the experience and know-how to help you with any garburator project.