by Trevor Woods |
Last Updated: April 12, 2020 Troubleshooting your garbage disposer can save you time and frustration. Avoid wasting hundreds of dollars in repair bills or unnecessary purchases of replacement garburators. You spent good money to install a garbage disposal, now let’s fix it!
Most issues are associated with clogging or jamming. If you don’t deal with such issues in a timely fashion, your disposer’s motor can burn out. Jams or clogs typically occur due to inappropriate foods or objects get into your disposer.
Jammed Garbage Disposal
This situation arises when water will drain through the disposal unit but the Sink disposal does not seem to turn on, hums, or stops working suddenly.
First, turn the power off to the garbage disposal so that it doesn’t get turned on accidentally. Also, do not reach your hand into the garburator chamber at any time.
Next, if the sink is full of water wait until it has drained completely. You can bail out the water if you needed. A bowl, pot, or
Time to crawl underneath and see if there is a service hole in the bottom of the unit. Most garbage disposals come with a Hex or
The Jam-Buster Wrench is a quick, effective tool to help free simple jams in your InSinkErator disposer.
Work the wrench clockwise and counterclockwise until it turns freely in both directions. Make sure it spins a few turns in both directions.
On the topside, remove the disposal baffle and inspect the chamber with a
Once everything checks out, start running some cold water and turn on the garbage disposal. The sink disposal should run now but don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t. You may need to repeat this process a few times to ensure the jam has been cleared.
Clogged Garbage Disposal
Sometimes garbage disposals get clogged, typically from fibrus foods and not enough cold water to rinse while running the garburator. These clogs are easily dealt with a sink
Designed with a 5" flat bell cup to clear even the toughest clogs from sink, tub, and shower drains.
If you have a double compartment sink or two kitchen bowls, place a drain stopper over the other sink drain to prevent you from forcing water up into this sink.
Fill the clogged sink with some water so that the
Repeat this up and down motion, maintaining the
Now is a good time to clean your sink and garbage disposal. Try pouring 1/4 cup of
These easy to use cleaning packets work exceptionally to clean garburators and prevent nasty odors as well:
Its foam reaches deep to power away the toughest grunge and foul odor!
The biodegradable packet cleans and scrubs the disposer sidewalls, blades, under the splashguard and other hidden areas, leaving the disposer, sink and the whole kitchen fresh and smelling clean.
If plunging your sink doesn’t work the clog may be further downstream in your plumbing. It may be time to snake your kitchen drain or call a professional for help.
Things You Should Never Put Into Your Garburator
Your garburator is not a trash can. Not all liquids and food scraps are meant to go into it. To prevent any clogging or plumbing issues, you must understand which types of food are safe to go into your disposal.
Potato peels can create a starchy paste when ground, so avoid these if possible. The same goes for banana peels, they can create a stringy mess inside your disposal unit and plumbing.
Avoid coffee grounds and eggshells. These materials will pass harmlessly through the disposal but they have a tendency to settle out as sediment and collect inside your plumbing. Over time they will restrict the flow through the pipes or clog your plumbing entirely.
Make sure that you don’t allow any fats, oils, or grease to enter the garburator. These are not meant for a garbage disposal or your plumbing for that matter. You need to trash them properly.
Conclusion
Now you know how to fix a clogged or jammed garbage disposal easily by yourself. Rolling up your sleeves and busting up that blockage will keep your garburator happy and ready for your next batch of food scraps.
Just remember there should be no excuse for clogged garbage disposal units due to fats, oils, grease, or anything else that should never go into your garburator. If you clean your sink disposal every month you can prevent any messy mishaps and extend the lifespan of the appliance.
In the meantime, enjoy your garburator. Your dirty dishes will thanks you!
Happy Plumbing!
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