I am surprised they are allowed, as they put quite a bit of extra stress on the sewage system, when much of the stuff could be composted. Personally I would never have another again in a new house. I have only have insinkerator branded ones, but all have failed after a relatively short period. They usually fail by a part corroding and leaking or cracking, although the last one (which was a top of the range model) failed because the motor seized up. Even the more expensive ones only had an aluminum part a the bottom which corroded through. I currently have the cheapest insinkerator model installed, as it was cheaper to replace it than to replumb in a drainage pipe, and I only use it once a month to keep it from rusting. That one has been in for 3 years and it is still going, but only because I don't use it. The teeth etc all look to be in good condition still.
mattwnz: I am surprised they are allowed, as they put quite a bit of extra stress on the sewage system, when much of the stuff could be composted. Personally I would never have another again in a new house. I have only have insinkerator branded ones, but all have failed after a relatively short period. They usually fail by a part corroding and leaking or cracking, although the last one (which was a top of the range model) failed because the motor seized up. Even the more expensive ones only had an aluminum part a the bottom which corroded through. I currently have the cheapest insinkerator model installed, as it was cheaper to replace it than to replumb in a drainage pipe, and I only use it once a month to keep it from rusting. That one has been in for 3 years and it is still going, but only because I don't use it. The teeth etc all look to be in good condition still.
Your experiences would be in the miniority, and I'd say most failures occur because people don't flush enough water through them.
Composting just isn't a viable option in lots of situations and if you have a good quality food disposal and use it properly, then it shouldn't put much extra load on sewage systems.
This sounds like you may have some electrolysis going on.
mattwnz: I am surprised they are allowed, as they put quite a bit of extra stress on the sewage system, when much of the stuff could be composted. Personally I would never have another again in a new house. I have only have insinkerator branded ones, but all have failed after a relatively short period. They usually fail by a part corroding and leaking or cracking, although the last one (which was a top of the range model) failed because the motor seized up. Even the more expensive ones only had an aluminum part a the bottom which corroded through. I currently have the cheapest insinkerator model installed, as it was cheaper to replace it than to replumb in a drainage pipe, and I only use it once a month to keep it from rusting. That one has been in for 3 years and it is still going, but only because I don't use it. The teeth etc all look to be in good condition still.
mattwnz: I am surprised they are allowed, as they put quite a bit of extra stress on the sewage system, when much of the stuff could be composted. Personally I would never have another again in a new house. I have only have insinkerator branded ones, but all have failed after a relatively short period. They usually fail by a part corroding and leaking or cracking, although the last one (which was a top of the range model) failed because the motor seized up. Even the more expensive ones only had an aluminum part a the bottom which corroded through. I currently have the cheapest insinkerator model installed, as it was cheaper to replace it than to replumb in a drainage pipe, and I only use it once a month to keep it from rusting. That one has been in for 3 years and it is still going, but only because I don't use it. The teeth etc all look to be in good condition still.
They aren't allowed by some councils - it depends on the municipal sewage treatment facility. Most of what gets munched up in a waste disposal is organic. If the sewage treatment system has anaerobic digestors with methane recovery, then the methane can be used to generate power, and so long as it's all running within capacity, then all is good - the more organics the better. If you're in an area where they're allowed - don't fret about environmental impact of the waste disposal - worry more about the amount of unrecyclable crap going in to your garbage and recycle bins instead. What's really not good for capacity is too much water. It's not uncommon for people to illegally connect stormwater (downpipes from a roof etc) to the nearest sewage gully-trap, so there's usually a significant increase in sewage inflow to treatment facilities when it rains - which shouldn't happen. Councils do inspect this sometimes - once in 25 years at my house.
MikeAqua: This sounds like you may have some electrolysis going on.
mattwnz: I am surprised they are allowed, as they put quite a bit of extra stress on the sewage system, when much of the stuff could be composted. Personally I would never have another again in a new house. I have only have insinkerator branded ones, but all have failed after a relatively short period. They usually fail by a part corroding and leaking or cracking, although the last one (which was a top of the range model) failed because the motor seized up. Even the more expensive ones only had an aluminum part a the bottom which corroded through. I currently have the cheapest insinkerator model installed, as it was cheaper to replace it than to replumb in a drainage pipe, and I only use it once a month to keep it from rusting. That one has been in for 3 years and it is still going, but only because I don't use it. The teeth etc all look to be in good condition still.
That is possible, and infact I do have copper hot water pipes. Although the water coming into the house is normal town supply from the Wellington supply. But you would think that insinkerator would be made of parts that would prevent any reactions occurring. Also could be acid stuff being put down it.
I've had to replace two quite recently. First was in my partner/wifes house - an Insinkerator 45 (?) - the grinding plate had rusted out in the 12 years she had been in the house. She was in the habit of dropping tea bags down the hole and not flushing it straight away. Perhaps the acids in the tea bag ate the galvanising?
After she passed away I bought this house which was a rental - I think the renters didn't know how to use it as it was clogged with paper. Again the grinding plate was rusted out. Replaced with an Insinkerator (it was a Robin) and no probs except the fit was rather tight and the plumber who installed the old one put polystyrene glue on all the joints......
The instructions say 'flush as soon as you put anything down the hole and run the water for 10 seconds more after you think it's finished' or words to that effect. I put lemon/limes down there occasionally - soaked in gin....
The Insinkerator 45 apparently has some steel parts, not all stainless. I think the rust/leak issues comes from leaving stuff in there, let it pile up, and then after a day or so grinding/flushing it. The few things you should not put down them are corn cobs, egg shells, and banana peels (and similar). Apparently you should put ice through them every 2-4 weeks, which cleans them out well.
As said, composting is not an option for us. Various reasons. But I have to say again, I am surprised by how much quitter our replacement Robinhood Scrapeater is. There are a number of improvements, including the rubber flaps now look the same style as Insinkerator which is more like a membrane which self closes and helps contain the noise.
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