Disposals: Continuous or Batch-Feed?

While a Garbage disposal
may not be the star fixture in your Charlotte kitchen, such as a large, stainless steel refrigerator, it just might be its unsung hero. Disposals provide a great deal of convenience when cleaning up after a meal, and if you have ever cleaned up in a kitchen that doesn’t have one, you probably noticed its absence. Garbage disposals will also help to keep your kitchen and garbage areas from smelling bad by immediately disposing of food wastes. Putting less garbage into plastic garbage bags can also help reduce the amount of non-biodegradable plastic we are sending to Seattle landfills. Food waste that is run through a garbage disposal and sent to a waste water treatment facility doesn’t necessarily go to waste. Most waste water treatment plants will either convert food waste into energy or fertilizer, which is considerably better than being sent to a landfill.

Types of Garbage Disposals

There are two basic types of disposals to choose from. The most popular type is a continuous-feed garbage disposal. This is the type of disposal that we are all used to, it turns on when you flip a switch and you feed waste into it until you are finished, and then you turn it off.

The second type is called a batch-feed garbage disposal. This type offers an additional level of safety as it will only operate when a cover is placed over the disposal flange and is then turned to activate the garbage disposal. The primary benefit of this disposal type is that it will prevent people from putting their hands into the unit while it is activated, and also keeps small objects such as silverware from falling into the garbage disposal while it is running.

The disadvantages to batch-feed disposals are that only a small amount of waste can be fed into it at a time, so if you have a moderate amount of food waste to dispose of, it may take several batches to get rid of it all. The other issue is that it will only work with the manufacturer-issued cover, so if it becomes lost or damaged you will have to replace it before being able to use your disposal again.

Horsepower

A major consideration when selecting a disposal is how much horsepower to get. To help you make this decision, you will want to consider your expected usage and family size. If you are a single individual and will only be grinding up carrot peels, you can get away with a smaller horsepower disposal. If you have a large family and expect to feed all sorts of food wastes into your disposal, you will want to opt for a higher horsepower rating.

You will typically have 3 choices for a residential garbage disposal: ½ horsepower, ¾ horsepower, and 1 horsepower. One-half horsepower is becoming harder to find and given the reasonable price of a decent ¾ horsepower disposal, is not recommended.

Most people will want to purchase a ¾ horsepower disposal. It provides plenty of power for an average size family, and you can safely put a moderate amount of food waste through it. If you have a large family or expect to use your garbage disposal frequently, you will probably want to get a 1 horsepower disposal.

Additional Considerations

There are a couple of other issues to consider when purchasing a garbage disposal. It is recommended that you purchase a disposal from a manufacturer with a reputation for quality and reliability. Ease of installation is a big consideration if you will be installing your garbage disposal yourself. Most new garbage disposals from reputable manufacturers will be relatively easy to install. If you are not comfortable with doing some basic plumbing and installation work, it is recommended you hire a professional Charlotte plumbers
to perform your installation.

A major consideration will also be noise level. Unless you like yelling while using your garbage disposal you will want to look for a brand of disposal that includes some sort of built-in noise reducing technology. Many newer disposals will also feature vibration-reducing technology as well.

One item people take for granted when purchasing a new garbage disposal is the switch you will use for a continuous-feed garbage disposal. We are all used to the typical light switch on the wall, but now you can purchase an “air switch” which can be installed on the countertop and is safe in a wet environment as it is not electrified.

The last thing to consider will be the color of your disposal flange. The disposal flange is the drain opening in your sink basin that you put your food waste into, or the large hole that everyone is afraid to put their hand into. Most new garbage disposals will come with a chrome colored disposal flange, but if you are outfitting your kitchen with fixtures (such as your kitchen sink faucet) in a different finish, for example oil rubbed bronze or brushed nickel, you may want to consider buying a disposal flange in that particular finish as well.

Making Your Final Decision

While picking out a garbage disposal may seem a bit daunting, given the wide selection of models available, with a little preparation it should be easy to choose the appropriate disposal for your Charlotte home.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Floyd_Driscoll

How can I tell if my water and waste pipes are old and corroded?

This article's intent is to help you diagnose water quality and water pressure along with drainage issues with your potable water and waste pipes. Older homes built before the 1980's did not have many options as far as plumbing materials go. The most readily available materials were cast iron and galvanized iron pipe. Unfortunately there was not enough technology, research or even thought put into what will happen to these materials down the road. As the result plumbers nationwide have to constantly service and in most cases rip out the entire systems and install new modern systems such as copper, PEX (Polyethylene Cross Linked), ABS, and PVC. If you notice you have slow drains or they do not drain at all, then you may have galvanized iron drains. If you notice low pressure or low flow from your faucets then you may have galvanized iron water lines.

  First of all let’s state the fact that not all iron systems are bad. In fact cast iron drains seem to have an average 40 - 60 year life span. This means if your sewer main is cast iron and has no signs of constant plugging issues or leaks then if it isn't broke don't fix it. However, majority of cast systems inside of the building used galvanized drains for all of the branch lines such as tubs, showers, and sinks. Plain and simple, these drains are the worst. Some severe cases will not drain at all and cannot be snaked out. You ask why can't they be snaked out and I will explain. Modern pipe systems are designed to maintain a smooth path way for fluids and solids. This prevents solids from being caught and eventually blocking the pipe off. Glued fittings such as ABS or PVC, if installed correctly, prevent this from happening. The reason iron does not provide this is simple, it is a corrosive material. Corrosive metals, even treated, will eventually scale and rust from long term exposure to water and chemicals. One other important reason is that it is not maintainable due to original Plumbing contractor error.

  Galvanized drains are threaded pipe turned into the threaded hub of a fitting. If the original installer buried the pipe too deep into the hub you will have a jagged ridge of pipe penetrating into the water way. This is where a service technician will no longer be able to help you. As you push a sewer snake cable into the fitting the end of the cable will bind on that ridge and prevent the cable from passing through the hub. At this point you are out of luck. Last ditch attempt is to use some pure sulfuric acid but that rarely works because there is too much build up. Please note you should never dump sulfuric acid down a disposal because it can severely damage the unit and could blow nasty acid all over you. Please use extreme caution and safety equipment when using such a chemical. Only option left at that point is to remove all of the galvanized drain lines from above the flood level of the fixture in which it serves to the main cast iron trunk line with either ABS or PVC.

  Most all older production homes used galvanized iron water lines. This was at that time period the most common and cost effective way to plumb potable water. If you are lucky the plumbing company

spent a little extra and used copper. If you experience bad water pressure or flow it could be from under sized piping but in most cases it is corroded galvanized pipe. Not only did they almost always under size the system, but the pipes have approximately a 40 year life span depending on your water quality and electrolysis issues. 

  Galvanized water piping will commonly leak at the joints and fittings of a branch arm. This happens because upon installation of the pipe it is thread with a threading machine. When you thread galvanized pipe it removes the galvanized coating at the threads as well as thins the pipe. This is why the most common place for this type of system to leak is at the joints.

  Electrolysis happens when two or more types of metal touch and water flows through them creating an electrical charge that immediately breaks down the softer metal, usually the copper goes first. Finally the most common is natural corrosion. This happens naturally and can be sped up by hard water and other chemicals pumped in by the city’s water supply.

  Once any or all of these things happen the scale inside of the pipe will break off and end up plugging your faucets flow restrictors, faucet aerators, shower cartridges, and shower heads. If you experience any of these symptoms then you probably have this type of pipe and should consider having a licensed Plumber provide you with an estimate to
re-pipe your entire water system.

plumbing: Fun, Entertaining and Amazing Water Facts, Figures...

plumbing: Fun, Entertaining and Amazing Water Facts, Figures...: Fun, Entertaining and Amazing Water Facts, Figures & Statistics Published in Fun Facts , Home Safety , Home Tips on August 1, 2013 ...

My Showerhead is Leaking

Yesterday a young woman called to let us know that her showerhead was leaking and she didn’t know what the problem was.  Of course we get similar calls all the time and sometimes the caller wants to know if we can come out and replace the showerhead with a new one that doesn’t leak.
As I explained to yesterday’s caller, just because water is continually dripping doesn’t mean that the showerhead is the problem at all.  Actually, the most common reason is because the valve inside the wall behind the hot/cold knob(s) is not sealing all the way when the water is shut off.  When the valve fails to seal because of worn seats or gaskets and the escaping water begins to fill the pipe leading to the showerhead and eventually finds its way out leading to the drip…drip…drip that keeps you awake at night.
So, what’s the solution?  Well, it’s not replacing the showerhead.  The problem is usually solved by replacing the rubber seats or the cartridge in the tub/shower valve – we call this a “rebuild.”  Sometimes the problem is a little more serious and the entire valve may need replacing.
If you’re a handy person with some basic tools you may be able to do a little research and do your own rebuild.  If the whole valve needs replacing, most people will need to call a plumber to do the work.  By the way, dripping faucets are usually a similar problem.
So, if you’ve got dripping driving you crazy and you want to get it fixed fast, Charlotte Plumbing & repair can usually get out the same day to restore your sanity!
Charlotte NC Plumber  704-394-5252

It’s Simply Plumbing, Water, drain pipes

Plumbing’s primary premise is simple:  Direct fluids where you want them to go, when you want them to go there, and keep them from showing up where they’re not desired.  For the next few blog posts we are going to look at the various components of your plumbing that make your home’s plumbing world work.  We’ll also point out some helpful tips on how you can keep it doing what you want it to.
Let’s start with pipes.  If water is the lifeblood of your plumbing, then the vessels are your pipes.  You have two kinds: those that bring water in to your house (water lines) and those that take it away (drain lines).  The majority of newer homes’ water lines are made of copper or pex (a polyethylene material).  In older homes you may also find galvanized steel.  In the case of drains, they are usually made of PVC in newer homes and of copper or steel in older homes.
The most common problems with pipes are leaks.  Leaks usually occur due to corrosion, punctures, or a failure at a joint where two sections of pipe connect.  Corrosion is most often seen in aging metal pipes.  It is best to replace corroded pipe with a non-metallic piping material.  A typical puncture is when someone drives a screw, nail or drill bit through a wall without considering the location of a pipe inside the wall.  If it happens to be a water line then it is under pressure and will not stop spraying water until the water is shut off to that line. That would be a good reason to know where your main water shut-off valve is in your home (hint, hint).  A punctured drain line will only leak when water is run down that drain, so the leak may appear somewhat sporadically.  Leaks at pipe joints are typically caused due to poor plumbing workmanship or an incorrect use of plumbing fittings.
While there is not a lot of preventative maintenance to be done to your pipes, the best way to head off major problems is by observing them while they are still small.  An occasional glance at pipes under your sinks or when you are around exposed pipes in your basement or crawlspace will inform you of obvious leak issues.  If no actual water is observed under or on a pipe, look for any type of buildup that may be occurring on the outside of your pipes.  External buildup can be an indicator of minerals collecting from water leaking through a water line or it could be corroding through.  In the case of drain lines, darker colored areas near pipe joints may indicate waste leaks coming through.  If you see any of these indicators it is best to get them repaired right away. If you need any help, you know who to call, right?
Charlotte plumbing repair, 704-394-5252 Charlotte, NC

Valves: The Control Freaks of Your Plumbing

The idea is simple:  Keep the water from coming out when you don’t want it to, and when you do want it to come out, be able to control the flow.  There.  That’s what your valves do for you.  While valves may not seem like something you want to think about in the course of your daily life, there are times when, for some homeowners, they take a front and center place in one’s thinking.  Let’s look at some examples:

• You are building a new home or remodleing your bathroom and you come to the fun part of getting to pick out what style of faucets you want to decorate with. Those faucets? They’re just fancy looking valves.
• When you hit the flush handle of your toilet and nothing happens that’s usually going to be a valve issue.  Either the fillvalve (old timers know it by the name “ballcock”) is not working right or that very simple valve known as a “flapper” is misbehaving.
• That dripping hose spigot on the outside of your house is a valve (old timer name: sillcock). By the way, charlotte plumbing repair can fix or replace that. . . just sayin’.
• You smell a gas leak in your home.  Someone will need to turn a valve off to stop the flow of gas.  In fact, it could be a gas valve that is causing the problem. Did you know that licensed plumbers like Charlotte Plumbing & repair are the ones who find and repair the vast majority of gas leaks in homes? It’s true.

There are lots of other valves in your home, of course, such as those under your sinks, on your water heater, at your water softener, sump pump, etc. Valves are great friends when they are not leaking and are easy to turn on and off, but no one likes to find out that a valve is too corroded to use when the time comes.
If you don’t know anything else about the valves in your home, make it your mission to know about this one:  The main water shut-off valve.  This is the one that turns the water on or off to your entire house.  Your main valve is the one you can go to in a plumbing emergency to stop the pressurized flow of water into your home.  If you don’t know where it is located or whether it is working properly, find someone who will locate it for you and try it out to make sure you can turn it easily.
Lastly, if you’d like to know that your valves are in good working order and would like to have someone familiarize you with your main water shut-off, you can always call Charlotte Plumbing & Repair to come out and do that for you