With waste handling systems, service agents are mainly called to take care of garbage disposers used in conjunction with drains. When it comes to these systems, the most important thing is to have equipment properly sized to the facility, which will ensure the longest service life.

Here, Bob Bazzoli, field service supervisor with EMR, based in Baltimore, provides insight into the care and maintenance of garbage disposers.

• These units require little maintenance aside from keeping the exterior clean and inside rinsed out.
• These units do not include any touching or moving parts; the rotor and the outside never touch. As a result, there is no maintenance needed in terms of oiling, cleaning or checking the motor.
• Let the unit run using centrifugal force, pushing 
  everything to the outside.
• With these units, size does matter. If an operation serves up to 100 meals per seating, a 1- or 2-hp waste disposer is appropriate, but for higher volumes, such as 1,500 meals per seating, a 10-hp system is necessary.
• These systems only need to be serviced when they begin making unusual noises. During operation, the units should run as quietly as possible. Loud or strange noises, unusual vibrations, or leaks indicate a seal has been compromised or the unit is otherwise malfunctioning. A service call is necessary in this case.
• Garbage disposers are supposed to run on about 10 amps, so if it’s pulling 12, this means the motor is starting to wear out. The excessive amp draw can be picked up during preventative maintenance checks.
• Unless a garbage disposer operates above 10 hp, it is not cost-effective to rebuild a broken unit, and it should be replaced.
• Non-food items typically get left on trays and are subsequently caught in garbage disposers. If this is a big risk, magnetic collectors can be used to catch any metal utensils.