Frequently Asked Questions
Q. "I installed my new disposer into a stainless steel sink but the thin gasket I used that came with the disposer keeps the flange slightly raised above the inside of the sink. Small amounts of water do collect around the flange. Should I have used plumbers putty?"
A. Some disposal manufacturers recommend using the rubber gasket that comes with the disposer. However, other disposer manufacturers recommend using plumbers putty. We believe if the flange is properly installed using plumbers putty, the installation will provide a seal for a longer length of time than the rubber gasket. When a flange is installed with plumbers putty the putty will keep water from leaking through it. The plumbers putty will also stay pliable over time. As the sink is used water comes in contact with the plumbers putty which slowly absorbs into the putty. The water actually acts as a lubrication for the putty and helps keep it from drying out. This is why sink flanges installed with plumbers putty can function for 20 years or more without leaking. If the sink is not used for 4 months or longer the putty will begin drying out which will lead to leakage when the sink is again used. If you have more confidence in using the rubber gasket and can live with small amounts of water left in your sink, then by all means use the rubber gasket.
Q. "My garbage disposer smells! Is there anything that I can do besides buying a new one?"
A. The quickest and easiest way is to use the Disposer Freshener we offer. Disposa Fresh® is a non-toxic mixture of natural citrus oils and gelatin. Run cold water and turn on the disposer to make sure the disposer is empty, and then turn the disposer off. Now run hot water into the disposer but do not turn the disposer on. Turn the water off and drop in two or three capsules and turn on the disposer briefly to distribute the contents of the capsules inside the disposer. Let the disposer sit unused for awhile or until the next time you need to use it. As an alternative, you can also clean the disposer by having it grind up a few cups of ice and some table salt. This helps to cut the grease and slime off the sides of the disposer. Then flush it out with cold water followed by half of a lemon or lime to deodorize.
Q. "I've heard that garbage disposer waste harms septic tanks. Any truth to that?"
A. We have yet to read any study that reflects that. Some cities have banned disposers and then, later changed their minds and allowed them, such as New York. From what we know, food disposer waste gets consumed by bacteria in sewage treatment plants and septic tanks.
Q. "My Waste King disposer is over 20 years old. Will your parts still fit?"
A. These parts are designed to fit units manufactured after 1996. Anaheim Manufacturing redesigned their disposers in 1996. This resulted in the introduction of the EZ Mount system in place of the previous style of quick-mounting for their Waste King disposers. It also resulted in some changes to the "three bolt" style of mounting system. If you are unsure if your unit was manufactured before or after the redesign, units before the 1996 redesign had the reset switch located on the bottom of the unit, facing the floor.
