Under Sink Food Macerator Problems & Cures

“Just moved into a house and great, I have under sink food macerator problems and just need a cure. Should I replace my waste unit or throw the macerator away”. In the picture to the right with thanks to Thomas Sweeney @Plumberwirral an emergency plumber Wirral who dedicated his time with supplying the pictures is a typical food macerator supplied and replace. It is quite typical that customers prefer to have there waste food macerator out rather than replace it, but for this instance the macerator was replace. Just below are some question but also answered about under sink macerators and there problems.

16 Waste Food Macerator Under Sink Problems Questions Asked

• What can go down a food macerator under the sink?
• What happens if we don’t use the macerator for food?
• Under the sink food macerator leaking, what can I do?
• How can I unblock my under the sink macerator?
• Can an under the sink food macerator be replace for a normal sink waste?
• Is it a good idea to have a under the sink waste food macerator to dispose of food?
• How much does it cost to buy a under the sink food macerator?
• What are the labour costs of fitting a waste macerator under the sink?
• Where can I buy an under the sink macerator for my food?
• How long does it take to fit an under the sink food macerator?
• What are the dangers of having an under the sink food macerator?
• Does an under the sink food macerator require an electric point or any power?
• When did under the sink food macerators come in fashion?
• Who invented the Food Waste Disposer?
• How long do under the sink waste food macerators last for?
• Can a leaking under the sink food macerator be fixed?

What can go down a food macerator under the sink

The type of stuff that goes down an under the sink macerator is food, the type of food it was invented for is salad and all other organic foods however the are other types of foods that can go down the sink. Normal washing waste can also be used to go down the macerator.

What happens if we don’t use the macerator for food

If the macerator is never used for for then the motor become stiff and therefor has more strain for when it is eventually used. An under the sink food macerator can also get blocked allot easier due to the design making them more likely to be taken out as faulty and either replace all taken away for good

Under the sink food macerator leaking, what can I do

If you under the sink food macerator is leaking, then the only thing that can be done is to not use the sink until the macerator is fixed by a professional emergency plumber. Due to the dangers of a macerator under the sing disposal unit we will not recommend at all this is for a DIY plumber.

How can I unblock my under the sink macerator

To unblock an under the sink macerator, it is advised that you use a chemical that does not disrupt the mechanism of the unit however you can use a broom handle to place in the unit and turn both ways unit is gets easier. Make sure there is plenty of water running through the macerator. If this doesn’t work then check the waste pipe at the back of the unit is not blocked but do this with great precaution as if this is easily unblocked you may end up with a lot of dirty sludgy water to clear up. Always place a bucket underneath. If this fails then the only other option would be to take the Insinkerator out and clean until it its clear. If the motor does not turn then you will need to replace.

Can an under the sink food macerator be replace for a normal sink waste

When requiring to replace the old under the sink food macerator for a normal waste system without having a macerator at all, all that needs to be done is to use a waste under adapting kit which can be specially order from any good plumbers merchant. It is always advised that the old macerator is taken out first and measure under to make sure that the correct under the sink sizes matches the adapting kit first.

Is it a good idea to have an under the sink macerator to dispose of food

If your for ever trying to stuff food down the waste unit, then yes it is a good idea for this only but also comes with dangers, which out weigh the good. We will explain in more details in one of the below paragraphs call ‘what are the dangers of having an under the sink macerator’.

How much does it cost to buy a under the sink food macerator

To buy an under the sink macerator, which is also known as an Insinkerator you would normally pay on average about £200, however a cheap Insinkerator will cost you £120 and can also be as much as £1000 for the commercial sector.

What are the labour costs of fitting a waste food macerator

To have your under the sink food macerator replaced, you would be looking at between £50 to £170 depending on the rates of the company and the complications also which does not include the estimate for any materials.

Where can I buy an under the sink food macerator

Finding an under the sink food macerator can be almost impossible as you may find that the only thing that comes up are toilet macerators however if you use the keyword Insinkerator on the search engines, you will find a load of them sold by many companies.

How long does it take to fit an under the sink food macerator

To fit an under sink food macerator to take the waste out it would most likely take on average 90-minute depending on how complicated the waste system is. To get an accurate quote, it is always best to take a picture and send it to the emergency plumber who may be fitting this for you.

What are the dangers of having an under the sink food macerator

Having a Insinkerator also known as an under the sink macerator can be extremely danger if not dealt with in a proper manor. Martin Smith an emergency plumber is well against these macerator and there would discourage home owners from buying them. Just think of it like this, Your reaching down to get an object and accidentally turn the macerator on or even worse, two children are playing by the macerator and one drops something down the waste. Well one is putting his hand down the other is pressing the button because mummy does this. Martin Smith doesn’t normally put a negative on stuff but enough said.

Does an under the sink waste food macerator require an electric point or any power

A Insinkerator does require an electric point as it is run by electric. Most people will know this however there are a small amount that do search for this information.

When did under the sink food macerators come in fashion

Under the sink macerator first came out in 1938 where there was a big hype about them. The correct name when the macerator first came out was the waste disposal unit and went on to being called the Insinkerator. To the right of you is a typical under the sink macerator from when they first came out.

Who invented the Food Waste Disposer

The first waste disposal unit was invented in 1927 by John W. Hammes. In 1938 the company In-Sink-Erator started up with the first year selling 52 waste disposers.

How long do under the sink waste food macerators last for

Macerators under the sink have been known for lasting along time. If you buy a cheap model with a one or two years guarantee then you will probably expect to get about 5 to 15-year out of it. If you buy a macerator with a 5-year guarantee then you will most likely get 25 to 30 years out of it.

Can a leaking under the sink food macerator be fixed

An under the sink food macerator known as the Insinkerator can be fixed as long as the part can be replace but if the unit is rusting away then the unit must be replace for a new one. To replace the part you may have to contact the company and arrange for a specialist but if you want the macerator to be replace completely then this can be done by a general emergency plumber by giving us a call and we will recommend a plumber to come out to you right way. If your a plumbing engineer and would like to be one of the recommended plumbers then please register with us at the plumbing register.

If there any facts of anything stated incorrectly in the above paragraphs then please send Martin Smith an email to emergencyplumber@me.com so that we can make any amendments.