Food Waste Disposer FAQs

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No, they do not require routine servicing / maintenance. 

They are small electrical appliances fitted under domestic sinks, connected to the wastewater outlet. Food waste is fed into the food waste disposer with cold water and the waste is ground down into small particles which flush easily through the wastewater system.

Installing an InSinkErator food waste disposer is a straightforward process for any handy person or plumber. The video on our installation videos page explains exactly what you need to do from start to finish and there are also some comprehensive instructions that come in the box. 

Our food waste disposers can dispose of most food waste in a matter of seconds. However, certain food types are only recommended for our Evolution models.

Our Evolution models can grind most food waste, whilst our M-Series models can grind any food apart from stringy and fibrous materials such as banana peel, celery and rhubarb.

An InSinkErator food waste disposer effortlessly grinds food waste into tiny particles that are flushed down the drain and to the local wastewater treatment plants.

What NOT to put down your food waste disposer

There are certain things you should never put down your drain, whether you have a disposer or not.

Please avoid putting fats, oils, harsh cleaning products and other non-food products down your disposer.

Food waste disposers are very low maintenance appliances. However, if you smell any odors coming from your disposer, it's usually the sign of food build up.

Over time, food waste particles can accumulate inside the grind chamber and sink baffle.

To clean your disposer, follow these simple steps:

1. Turn off your disposer
2. Remove the sink baffle and clean the underside of the baffle with a scouring pad
3. Place the baffle back in the sinkhole
4. Turn on your disposer and run a medium stream of cold water
5. Place ice cubes mixed with lemon/lime wedges down your disposer to freshen it up

No, it is as simple as that!

InSinkErator food waste disposers are perfectly safe and don't have blades or knives. Instead, lugs are used to throw food waste against a stationary grind ring. The grind ring breaks food waste down into very fine particles, almost liquefying them, so they can flush down your plumbing.

InSinkErator Sound Limiter™ insulation and Anti-vibration mount® technology mean Evolution disposer models can operate with very little noise versus a standard disposer. We also recommend installing a good quality sink with your food waste disposer, which can eliminate vibration and noise. 

Our kitchen cabinets are made from high-quality materials and come in a variety of styles and finishes. Whether you're looking for traditional or modern, we have the perfect cabinets for your kitchen.

No. A food waste disposer can be installed with both a single bowl sink or a double bowl sink, this is a personal preference. Do check your sink and food waste disposer dimensions to ensure proper fitment. 

Finely ground food waste from a disposer will not block a well-maintained sewer. It is 70% water and has a very similar composition to the human waste that all sewers are designed to handle. An extensive scientific programme at the University of Sheffield is confirming that these concerns are unfounded. 

Domestic composting works well in homes that know how to do it and have outside space. However, in urban homes with limited space storing food in caddies for collection is problematic and attracts low participation.

There are also a number of foods that should not be composted but can be put in a food waste disposer. These include bread, meat bones and cooked rice.