Fixing a Problematic Garbage Disposal

Garbage disposals are a kitchen’s most valuable friend. Having one that is not working properly can lead to unforeseen issues in the kitchen as well as the rest of the house. Every sink could use a properly functioning garbage disposal. If you don’t have one that’s working your mom may require you to use a sink drain like mine used to in the past. In addition to the garbage disposal itself other pipes may get blocked and it could lead to a more irritating and detrimental problem. Be safe with your disposal by turning it off and unplugging it. Mixing electricity, humans, and water together is not a good combination. Tools that would be good to have on hand are a cleaning pail, adjustable wrenches, screwdriver set, plungers, clamps, microfiber cloth, clamps, and hex key. Baking soda and vinegar are also a smart and necessary thing to have on hand for this job.

Your first step in manually checking on your disposal is to check any electrical connections. Sometimes disposals may be unplugged, and this will likely be the case if you are not getting any activity out of your garbage disposal when you flip the switch for it. Once you have verified the plug is plugged in for the disposal and it still shows no signs of life it’s time to reset the button located on the bottom of your machine. If there is still no sound produced from your garbage disposal it may be time to replace the unit and it’s a good idea to contact a professional such as Hurry Curry Plumbing.

Alternatively, you may hear a low humming noise when you turn on your system and this can be a good indication that there is a blockage somewhere along the way. Now conversely, it’s going to be smart to turn off your disposal and then unplug it. Remove any buildup of water that may be left over by scooping it out. Clamp off the line leading to the dishwasher to prevent any backflow or buildup. You can now use your handy dandy hex key to rotate the blades backwards and forwards and break up that clog.

Say your garbage disposal beyond all this amazing advice and tips is still showing signs of clogging, it may be the right time to rotate the impeller (that’s the fancy word for the thing that chops all the stuff in your garbage disposal). It’s kind of like a blender, but for things you don’t want to consume. As before make sure the unit has been switched into the off position as well as leaving it unplugged. Take a tip of a broom handle or a disposal wrench in and work that baby back and forth until the clog has been successfully broken up. If you see a large object it’s time to get your safety gloves and protect your hand from a potentially spinning blade. Reach in there and remove that bad boy.

We did our best to help you take care of any issues that may arise with your garbage disposal. Now it’s time to take action in preventing clogs in the future. You want to keep the debris amount your garbage disposal handles to a maximum of a cup of debris. Use vinegar, baking soda, and hot water to flush out the disposal once a month. Thank you to the folks at Home Depot for their article “How to Fix a Garbage Disposal”. Check out Home Depot for your garbage disposal and plumbing tool needs.