A Commercial garbage disposal lasts for more than decades before showing signs of wear. If you maintain it properly and perform commercial garbage disposal repairs timely, you can extend its lifespan. However, if your garbage disposal is old and you’re wondering if you should replace it, follow the signs below.

The Garbage Disposal Is Clogging Frequently

When a commercial garbage disposal clogs often, it is due to two reasons. The blades are not sharp enough to squash the waste or the unit is undersized for your business needs.

Consider the requirements of your business and the usage of the garbage disposal to select the right size of the appliance. For example, if you’re using 2 horsepower garbage disposal and it clogs frequently even though the blades are sharp, the problem is the size of the disposer. Get a 3 or 4-horsepower garbage disposal after discussing it with your team or an expert.

It’s Requiring Reset Often

Garbage disposals have a safety system that turns them off when the unit jams or overheats. There is a reset button at the bottom or side of the garbage disposal that pops out when the safety system turns off the appliance. You have to push the reset button for the unit to start working again.

This should not happen often with garbage disposals. If the safety system is getting triggered often and the unit is turning off every time, the machine requires repair or replacement. A common reason for frequent safety triggers is that the garbage disposal motor is getting weaker.

Leaking Garbage Disposal

Leaking is a common issue regarding commercial and household garbage disposals. Therefore, you should take note of the location of the leak because some leaks can be fixed by tightening the pipes whereas other leaks require the replacement of the entire garbage disposal.

If the garbage disposal is leaking from the top, it may due to the worn seal of the sink flange. You can use plumber’s putty on the area to fix the leak.

When you notice a leak from the side of the garbage disposal, any pipes or connections to the drain lines are loose or have leaks. Replacing the connections/pipes or tightening them can stop the leaks.

However, if the leaks are from the bottom of the unit, your garbage disposal has cracks inside the machine and nothing can fix it. You should replace the unit.

The Garbage Disposal Is Taking Longer To Grind Food

When using a commercial garbage disposal for daily safe waste disposal, you or your staff come to know the speed and effectiveness of the garbage disposal. So, if you’re using the garbage disposal for some years and putting the same quantity of food waste in the disposal, but it’s taking longer than before to grind the same amount of food, then you should replace it.

Loud Noises

Garbage disposals make a decent amount of noise when grinding food waste. If you hear any unusual noise coming from garbage disposal, check that any spoon or similar item hasn’t been dropped into the sink or the unit. If you don’t find anything, the new, loud noise could be a part of the garbage disposal itself snapping due to wear and tear.

The components of a garbage disposal are supposed to work together and if a component is suspected to be cracked or broken inside the unit, you should stop using the unit and get it inspected. In many cases, you will need to replace the garbage disposal.

The Machine Is Humming But Not Grinding

Usually, when the motor is running, it grinds the food waste. But if your turn on the garbage disposal, it begins humming, but doesn’t grind, then its motor may have failed. Because the humming sound indicates that it’s receiving electricity while the motor is not working.

The motor is an expensive component of a commercial garbage disposal. Discuss it with an expert to decide whether you should replace the motor or the entire unit.

Conclusion

A commercial garbage disposal is an important appliance for restaurants and fast food facilities. Proper maintenance can extend its lifespan but if you notice the above signs, you should consider replacement of the garbage disposal. Consult a commercial appliance repair Springfield technician to make the best decision.