This is the first question almost every customer asks us, and the short answer is: no, when installed and used correctly.
Why does the concern exist at all?
The logic sounds right: you put food scraps into the pipes instead of the bin, so something is bound to get stuck. In practice, a working disposal breaks food down into particles the size of grains of sand, and the flowing water washes them away. This is not fundamentally different from scraps that get rinsed down the sink anyway.
What really causes blockages?
Out of dozens of blockage calls after a disposal was installed, almost all fall into three categories:
- Fat poured into the sink. This is the main culprit, and it clogs pipes even without a disposal. Hot oil pours in as a liquid, cools in the pipes and solidifies on the walls.
- Running it without flowing water. The water is part of the system, not a recommendation. Without it, the particles stay in the pipes and build up.
- Pipes that were already problematic. In old buildings with narrowed pipes or a poor slope, the disposal doesn't create the problem — it exposes it.
How to use it correctly?
Three rules, and that's the whole story:
- Turn on cold water before switching on, and keep it running for about 15 seconds after the noise stops.
- Feed it in small portions — don't push everything in at once.
- Don't pour fat into the sink. Ever.
What about apartment buildings?
Installation is legal in Israel, including in apartments. But in an old building where the shared pipes already cause trouble, it's worth checking them first. We check this as part of the visit.
Considering a disposal and not sure whether your pipes are suitable? Send us a photo of under your sink on WhatsApp.
