Frequently Asked Questions

• How does a kitchen food waste disposer work?

  Food waste disposers are installed directly beneath the sink and used to shred leftovers from meals and other food waste. These appliances are similar to standard grinders, but they don’t have knives or blades. All of the moving parts within the appliance are blunt. Inside it, a disc spins at approx. 1,500 revolutions per minute. This creates a centrifugal force that spins the food waste outwards, crushes or pulverises it, then grinds it finely with the moving metal hammers. The resulting mass is disposed of via the wastewater drain.

• What are the benefits of a food waste disposer?

  Food waste disposers are hygienic, clean and very convenient when it comes to disposing of leftovers quickly and with little in the way of unpleasant odours. This method of disposal reduces the amount of waste that ends up in your organic waste bin, which in turn reduces bacteria, bugs around the bin and unpleasant odours.

• What should I be aware of when using a food waste disposer?

  "Food waste disposers are used in many different parts of the world, but there are some countries where they are not permitted. As such, it’s important to check national and regional regulations and the rules of the local wastewater company before installing a waste disposer. If a food waste disposer is approved for use in the region, it may only be used for domestic purposes, i.e. for shredding food waste and draining it into the sewer system. Only organic kitchen waste may be drained into the waste disposal system.
  Be careful not to overfill the grinding chamber. Large bones and waste containing very long fibres should be avoided at all costs. Always use cold water when operating the system. The disposers are very low-maintenance."

• Does the grinding chamber contain any blades or knives?

  The food waste disposer does not use sharp blades, but the high speeds of the grinding mechanism can cause injuries if you reach deep into the appliance while it is in operation. It is therefore important to familiarise yourself with the safety instructions in the user manual before you start using the appliance. Only use the appliance for its intended purpose and keep children away from it.

• How loud is the waste disposer?

  The noise emitted by the food waste disposer will depend on various factors, including the design of the kitchen base cabinet and the sink material. The size and performance of the disposer and the type of food waste being ground will also affect the volume.

• Can the drainage pipe be blocked by using a waste disposer?

  The food waste is ground and crushed so finely that there is no risk of clogging.

• How much electricity and water does it consume per month?

  The electricity and water consumption are heavily dependent on the size of the household and the volume of food waste produced. On average, a three-person household will use approx. 25 kWh of electricity and 50 l of water operating a disposer.

• How is the food waste disposer installed?

  A brief description and notes on installing and putting the appliance into operation can be found on our website or in the installation and operating instructions. This information is accompanied by our installation video.

• What kind of bowl is required/suitable for installing the food waste disposal system?

  Our BLANCO FWD range fits all BLANCO sinks and bowls and other standard kitchen sinks with a drain diameter of 3½".

• What are the options for connecting the food waste disposer?

  The waste disposer is connected to a 3½" sink outlet. A dishwasher and a sink overflow connection can be directly connected to the disposer. The appropriate odour trap (DN40) must be purchased separately.

• What kind of waste can I grind?

  BLANCO FWD models grind and dispose of most food waste effortlessly and in seconds. Certain food waste, such as woody or very fibrous waste, e.g. corn cobs, banana skins or large bones, is not suitable for grinding. Inorganic materials such as packaging, plastics, metals, glass, chemical agents like paints and oils, and garden cuttings, flowers and so on should not be put into the waste disposer.

• How long does it take to grind kitchen waste?

  The time taken for grinding will depend on the type and quantity of food waste, as well as the performance of the waste disposal system in question. The process takes a few seconds on average.

• How do I know when the food waste disposer has completely disposed of food waste?

  You can tell by the sound that the food waste disposal system makes: once the grinding chamber is empty, the process is complete and the grinding noise stops, and you’ll only be able to hear the water splashing and, if applicable, the noise of the motor of the food waste disposer.

• How long do I have to run the water once the grinding process is complete?

  Once the last scraps of food have been ground, you are advised to leave the device and the water running for a few more seconds to rinse out the grinding chamber.

• Should I run cold or warm water when using the food waste disposer?

  Cold water is ideal for using with the grinder and actively helps to cool the appliance. Using warm water is more costly and wastes resources unnecessarily.

• Which Blanco sinks, drink.systems and waste systems can be used with the food waste disposer?

  In principle, the waste grinder fits all bowls and sinks with a 3½” outlet diameter. Compatibility with a waste or organisation system depends on the size of the base cabinet.

• How do you clean the food waste disposer?

  As the food waste disposer is rinsed with water during grinding, it doesn't require much extra care. However, although it is rinsed, little bits of food may collect inside the chamber or on the protective sleeve. In this case, there are several ways of cleaning the disposer. One quick method of doing this is to pour in ice cubes and pieces of lemon or lime. The ice cubes clean the grinding chamber effectively, while the citric acid removes bad odours and reduces limescale deposits. Run the disposer until the ice cubes and citrus fruits are completely crushed and wait about 30 minutes before switching the device on again. So the citric acid can work well.

• What should I do if it starts to smell?

  Over time, impurities (e.g. food residues or grease) can build up around the protective sleeve (on the inner side of the rubber seal). These inevitably start to smell. Such odours are easy to remove by pouring ice cubes and pieces of lemon (or other citrus fruits) into the system, grinding them and then waiting for about 30 minutes before rinsing the grinding chamber with water. Alternatively, you could also use citric acid, baking powder or gentle cleaning agents.

  Please observe the following instructions:

  • 1. Switch off the appliance
  • 2. Pull the plug out of the socket.
  • 2. Reach into the opening in the bowl and clean the bottom of the rubber sleeve and the inner upper lip of the grinding chamber with a scouring sponge.
  • 3. Close the bowl opening with the stopper and half-fill the bowl with warm water.
  • 4. Dissolve a teaspoon of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) in water.
  • 5. Turn on the disposer and, at the same time, remove the stopper from the bowl. This will rinse away all of the dissolved residues.

• Does the food waste disposer require any special maintenance?

  In essence, the disposer requires no maintenance whatsoever. Regular use and basic cleaning are the best way of keeping it in good condition.

• What should I do if leftovers aren’t being ground up properly or if something gets stuck?

  Foreign items such as metal can easily get stuck in the grinding chamber and block the grinding disc. The appliance has an overload protection function (red reset button) that automatically switches it off if it overheats.

  The BLANCO FWD Max has an auto reverse function in the event of a blockage, which helps to avoid such interruptions. If the foreign object remains stuck, proceed as you would for the BLANCO FWD Lite and Medium:

  • 1. Switch off the waste disposal system and turn off the water.
  • 2. Pull the mains plug out of the socket.
  • 3. Insert the hexagonal key into the central hole on the underside of the appliance. Turn the hexagonal key until it goes all the way around and the grinding disc is loosened. Remove the hexagonal key.
  • 4. Check whether there are any foreign items in the outlet hole and carefully remove them, with pliers if necessary
  • 5. Put the mains plug back into the socket.
  • 6. Leave the motor to cool down for about 10 minutes, then switch the disposal system back on again.

  If the disposal system doesn’t respond, the overload protection function has probably been triggered. Switch off the waste disposal system and carefully press the red overload switch (reset button) on the underside of the appliance. Before you switch the appliance on again, check the fuses or circuit breakers in your distribution box.

  Always make sure that only kitchen waste intended for this purpose goes into the waste disposer.

• Why is water only draining very slowly from the sink?

  In this case, either the waste disposer or the outlet pipe is blocked with a foreign object. If the problem occurs during initial start-up, the outlet pipe may not have been installed correctly. If the waste disposer is blocked, remove the blockage as described in the operating instructions. If the outlet pipe is blocked, remove the outlet pipe to clear the blockage. Do not use chemical drain or pipe cleaners as they may damage the rubber seals in the waste disposer or the interior walls of the pipe.

• Why is my food waste disposer making strange noises?

  Unusual or particularly loud noises may occur when grinding certain kinds of kitchen waste. The harder the waste, the louder the appliance. Loud noises may also be caused by a foreign object stuck in the grinding chamber.

• When does the warranty expire?

  • 1. In the event of damage caused by improper use, cleaning or storage by the consumer
  • 2. In the event of damage caused by unauthorised disassembly or repair
  • 3. If there is no valid proof of purchase
  • 4. If the serial number on the purchase certificate or warranty card does not match the serial number on the appliance or has been altered
  • 5. In the event of damage caused by transport
  • 6. In the event of damage caused by force majeure

• What is the capacity of the grinding chamber?

  Depending on the model, the grinding chamber has a volume of 900 ml (Lite) or 1,200 ml (Medium and Max)