Waste Disposal Units Christchurch

A waste disposal unit grinds food scraps into small particles that wash away down the kitchen waste. Used well, it keeps scraps out of the bin and the kitchen cleaner. Used badly, or fitted to the wrong drain, it jams, leaks or adds to blocked drains further down.

We install, replace and repair waste disposal units in kitchens across Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri. Before fitting one we check the sink, the waste pipe, the power and, just as important in Christchurch, what kind of wastewater system the house is connected to.

Pricing: quotes are free, and every job gets a fixed price before we start, so there are no surprises on the invoice.

Waste Disposal Units Jobs We Handle Across Christchurch

• Garbage disposal unit installation
• Waste disposal leaking from the bottom
• Jammed disposal units
• Humming waste disposal
• Disposal unit replacement
• Septic-safe disposers

Signs your disposal unit needs attention

Most faults show up in one of these ways:

• Hums but does not spin: usually jammed
• Does nothing at all: a tripped reset button, the switch or a power fault
• Water leaking from the body or the bottom of the unit
• Leaks at the sink flange or the dishwasher connection
• Slow draining or water backing up into the sink
• Loud grinding or rattling, or a persistent bad smell

Repairs and replacements

A humming unit is usually jammed by something hard, such as a bone, a fruit stone or a teaspoon. We isolate the power, free the grinding plate and reset the motor. Leaks at the sink flange or connections can often be resealed. Leaks from the body of the unit usually mean the internal seals have failed or the housing has corroded, and replacement is the honest answer.

When we replace a unit, we match the mounting and outlet where we can to keep the job simple, connect the dishwasher inlet if you have one, and check that the waste pipe has enough fall for ground food to keep moving. Any new power point is done by a registered electrician.

How It Works

Check your wastewater system first

Before the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes, Christchurch used gravity sewers only. Since then, pressure and vacuum systems have been installed in some areas because they cope better with earthquakes, liquefaction and groundwater. That matters for a disposal unit, especially on a pressure sewer or a septic tank:

• Gravity sewer: a correctly installed unit is generally fine, as long as the drain is in good condition
• Pressure sewer: food solids go into the tank on your property, where a small pump pushes them into the council main. Some tanks are council owned and some private, so check before adding a unit
• Vacuum sewer, as in Shirley, Aranui and Prestons: the council runs the system, so ask the council first
• Septic tank: a unit adds solids, so the tank must be well maintained and big enough for the extra load

Older drains and quake-affected ground

Ground food travels best in a drain with steady fall and smooth joints. Many older Christchurch houses still drain through earthenware pipe with mortared joints, and on flat land that moved in the earthquakes, some of those drains have dips or open joints where food and grease settle. If your kitchen sink already drains slowly, or a camera has shown a dip in the line, we would fix that before adding a disposal unit, or advise against one.

What goes in matters as much as the drain. Keep out fats, oils and grease, which set further down the pipe; fibrous food such as corn husks, celery and onion skins; large bones and fruit stones; coffee grounds and eggshells in quantity; and anything that is not food. Always run cold water while the unit is on and for a few seconds afterwards.

Pricing

Unjamming and resealing are at the lower end. Supplying and installing a new unit depends on the model and whether new waste pipework or a dedicated power point is needed. We confirm the price before we start.

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