How to Extend the Life of Your Garbage Disposal

Linek Plumbing Company

Garbage disposals are one of those appliances most people hardly think about—until they stop working. As plumbers, we see it all the time: a unit that’s quietly handled food scraps for years suddenly jams, leaks, or grinds to a halt. While age eventually catches up with any disposal, most premature failures are tied directly to how they’re used day to day. And nowhere is this more obvious than during the holiday season. Every year, right after Thanksgiving and Christmas, we see a surge in service calls for clogged or broken disposals. More cooking, more entertaining, and more food scraps pushed down the drain in a short period of time create the perfect storm for problems.

Why Garbage Disposals Fail

The most common reasons we see include:

• Improper food waste: Fibrous foods like celery, onion skins, and corn husks wrap around moving parts, while bones and fruit pits damage the grinding components.
• Grease and fats: They don’t grind down—they solidify in the pipes, causing blockages long after the meal is over.
• Starches in bulk: Potato peels, rice, and pasta can form a sticky paste that gums up the disposal and the drains.
• Lack of water flow: Running the unit without enough cold water leaves debris behind and strains the motor.
• Normal wear and tear: Even with proper use, most disposals last 8–12 years before seals, bearings, or motors give out.

The Eggshell Question

Homeowners often ask whether eggshells belong in the disposal. The short answer is no.

• Myth: Eggshells sharpen the blades.
• Fact: Disposals don’t have blades—they use blunt impellers. The membrane inside the shell can wrap around parts, and the shell itself grinds into gritty residue that contributes to clogs.

The better option is to compost them or toss them in the trash. They’ll do more good in your garden than in your plumbing. (If your kitchen sink is already draining slowly, you may need professional sewer and drain cleaning services.)

What About Citrus Rinds?

Citrus peels are sometimes recommended as a way to freshen a disposal, but in practice they’re not a good idea. The fibrous membranes can tangle the impellers, and the tough rind doesn’t always break down completely, which means it can lodge in the pipes and contribute to clogs. The acidity of citrus also wears on rubber seals over time. If you want to keep your disposal smelling fresh, ice cubes are a safer, more effective option. For deodorizing the sink itself, a simple baking soda and vinegar rinse works wonders—without the risk to your plumbing. (We cover more safe cleaning practices in our article on flooded basements and plumbing emergencies.)

How to Prolong the Life of Your Disposal

Good habits make the biggest difference. A few simple practices can keep your disposal working smoothly for years:

• Run plenty of cold water before, during, and after use to flush debris and help fats solidify for grinding.
• Feed scraps gradually instead of dumping everything at once.
• Keep it clean with ice cubes to knock debris loose.
• Listen for warning signs like slower grinding, odd noises, or frequent resets—early fixes are cheaper than full replacements.

If your disposal is nearing the end of its lifespan, our team can help with garbage disposal repair and replacement throughout the St. Louis area.

A Smarter Way to Think About Disposals

Ultimately, a garbage disposal is a finishing tool for small scraps, not a trash can for everything on the plate. By respecting its limits—especially during high-use times like the holidays—you’ll not only extend the life of the disposal but also protect the health of your entire plumbing system.

At Linek Plumbing Company, disposal problems are among the top calls we receive during the holiday season. With a little foresight, you can avoid joining that list and keep your focus where it belongs: on family, friends, and good food, not on a kitchen backup. If you do find yourself in a jam, we’re here for everything from emergency plumbing services to long-term plumbing system maintenance plans.

Ready to install a new garbage disposal? Linek Plumbing Company can help. Request service today.