Big Island Garbage Disposal Repair and Installation

While Steve’s Plumbing & AC Service technicians often can resurrect balky garbage disposals through repairs, some operational issues indicate it’s wiser to simply invest in a full replacement unit. As your disposal battles through years of grinding up Hawaiian food scraps and waste, certain telltale signs of terminal decline become apparent.

One of the most obvious red flags that it might be time to buy a new disposal? If you’ve noticed significant leaks developing around the unit’s housing or drain connections. Cracked casings and corroded plumbing pipes suggest internal components have simply deteriorated beyond reasonable repair.

Similarly, frequent jams and clogs that just keep reoccurring could mean your disposal’s grinding components have become too worn down to process waste effectively anymore. When those impeller blades and shredder rings lose their edge, you’ll be dealing with constant backups and reset cycles.

If your unit’s motor seems to labor excessively, making louder grinding noises or higher-pitched straining sounds, its internal bearings and mounts may be on their last legs too. You could face an imminent burnout that leaves you high and dry.

Of course, electrical issues like disposal resets and tripped circuit breakers shouldn’t be ignored either. They can indicate potential fire hazards from faulty wiring that no amount of parts replacement can remedy safely.

Then there’s the economic argument – disposals typically max out around 10-12 years of reliable service. If your unit is getting up there in age and requiring ever-costlier repairs, investing in new just makes more financial sense long-term.

When Steve’s certified plumbers encounter these types of red flags during inspections, we’re upfront about recommending replacement over restoring that lemon of a disposal. Our team ensures you get an affordable, hassle-free upgrade to a modern high-capacity model!

For many homeowners residing in more rural areas across the Big Island, their property relies on a septic system rather than municipal sewer lines to handle wastewater. This self-contained underground system uses a tank and drainfield to treat and disperse effluent on-site. When it comes to adding a new garbage disposal, some special considerations apply.

The good news is you can absolutely install and use a disposal if your home operates on a septic system – but a few precautions are advisable. Food waste particles ground up by the disposal get discharged into that septic tank where they need to be broken down by the natural bacterial processes occurring there.

However, sending too much solid waste like fibrous vegetables or bones into the septic tank can potentially disrupt this delicate microbiome and lead to premature clogs and backups. The increased burden may require more frequent pumping and maintenance too.

That’s why Steve’s Plumbing & AC Service professionals generally recommend installing a high-quality disposal model with multi-stage grinding capabilities if you’re on a septic system. These units utilize multiple shredder rings and impellers to pulverize food waste into a slurry that degrades faster and easier in the tank’s ecosystem.

Our certified plumbers may also suggest having a reasonably sized tank capacity of 1,000 gallons or more to handle that added waste volume. Routine pumping every 2-3 years helps clear out accumulations as well.

Ultimately, while disposals can certainly coexist with septic systems just fine, their installation and operating practices do require some thoughtful adjustments. Steve’s experienced professionals ensure your new unit integrates seamlessly into your septic setup for years of hassle-free operation!

Few kitchen appliance malfunctions prove quite as frustrating as a garbage disposal that keeps tripping your home’s circuit breaker. You’ll run the disposal to grind up some food waste, only for that distinctive “click” to kill all power moments later. After resetting the breaker, the cycle just repeats over and over again. What gives?

According to the certified plumbers at Steve’s, there are a few common culprits that could be causing your Big Island disposal to overload and trip that circuit breaker with such annoying frequency. Fortunately, many of them can be diagnosed and remedied through some basic troubleshooting.

One of the most likely suspects? A jammed or obstructed disposal grind chamber preventing those impeller blades from rotating freely. Whether it’s a built-up accumulation of fibrous waste or a foreign object lodged in the wrong place, that mechanical binding forces the motor to work harder until it overtaxes the circuit.

Similarly, disposal motors and components simply wearing out over years of heavy use can create enough electrical resistance and amp draw to overwhelm that circuit too. Bearings seizing up and added friction from lack of lubrication put extra strain on the system.

In some cases, frequent breaker trips could even indicate an electrical problem with that disposer circuit itself, like deteriorated wiring, faulty connections, or incompatible breaker ratings. Older homes may lack the dedicated lines disposals really need.

If your disposal seems to trip that breaker immediately upon startup though, chances are good you’ve got a failed internal solenoid or overload protector causing the issue. These safety components cut power to prevent motor burnout.

Whatever the underlying cause, continually resetting that tripped breaker isn’t a permanent solution by any stretch. Let Steve’s professionals diagnose and repair that electrical gremlin properly! With our expertise, you can get back to grinding waste worry-free.

With Hawaii’s island living costs, you want every major appliance and home system operating as efficiently and reliably as possible to maximize its usable lifespan. Your hard-working garbage disposal certainly qualifies! Properly maintaining that food waste grinder helps protect an investment that typically runs $150-$500 for quality units.

Fortunately, Steve’s Plumbing & AC Service professionals have some easy tips for Big Island homeowners and businesses looking to extend their disposal’s longevity through some simple best practices and preventative care.

First and foremost, never treat your disposal like a trash compactor. Avoid grinding up fibrous vegetable peelings, bones, pits, and other tough food waste that can quickly dull those impeller blades. Sticking to softer scraps extends shredder life.

You’ll also want to get into the habit of routinely running the disposal with cold water for 30-60 seconds after grinding cycles. This helps rinse away any buildup of particles clinging to components and drain lines that could eventually cause clogs or premature corrosion.

Speaking of clogs, don’t compound the problem by using harsh chemical drain cleaners if your disposal does get backed up. Those caustic solutions can actually degrade disposal parts and plumbing connections over time. Opt for manual snaking or call Steve’s to clear obstructions properly instead.

For disposals installed on septic systems, be mindful of overloading that underground tank’s natural bacteria ecosystem. Frequent small grinding cycles beat infrequent big ones that could disrupt waste processing.

Finally, having our certified plumbers perform annual inspections and tune-ups provides a great way to get ahead of any developing disposal issues before they become costly breakdowns. We’ll ensure everything remains properly lubricated and make any minor adjustments needed.

With Steve’s expert guidance and some smart homeowner habits, you can feel confident keeping that hard-working garbage disposal grinding away for years to come! Just a little preventative TLC goes a long way.