Your kitchen’s garbage disposal handles a lot of food scraps, so it’s common for clogs to occur. Although your natural reaction may be to grab the chemical drain cleaner to solve the problem, this can erode and damage your pipes. Plus, these chemicals can do irreversible damage to the metal blades and plastic components of the disposal.
So, how do you unclog your garbage disposal? We’ll get to that in a minute. First, let’s discuss how garbage disposals get clogged in the first place.
How do Garbage Disposals get Clogged?
Food particle buildup is the main culprit for most garbage disposal clogs. Clogs can also occur when a foreign object or certain foods get tossed down the disposal. Your garbage disposal can be fussy, so don’t assume it’s capable of digesting everything you throw its way.
Feeding garbage in too rapidly and failing to run enough water to flush out the drain pipes can also lead to clogged disposals.
Keep reading to learn about the general guidelines on removing clogs and details on what should and shouldn’t go down your garbage disposal.
How Do You Unclog a Garbage Disposal?
If you hear a grinding sound when you turn your garbage disposal on, something large may be obstructing the blades. Before reaching your hand in and pulling it out, make sure to turn off power to the disposal at the electrical service panel by shutting off the circuit breaker that controls it. Remember, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
If you’re still hearing a grinding noise, the clog may be a small object between the blades or deeper down the drain.
To troubleshoot this, locate the hexagonal indentation at the bottom of the appliance. Using an Allen wrench, turn the blades back and forth to try to dislodge any obstructions in the motor. Reach back into the sink and pull it out.
If the clog is severe, you may need to shut off the water supply and disconnect the pipes. Shutting off the water will ensure that there’s no risk of soaking your kitchen.
Once you’ve disconnected the pipe, run a wire brush through to remove the blockage. Re-connect the pipe, and reset the garbage disposal near the bottom of the disposal. It’s typically a red, rectangular button. Once you’ve reassembled the pipes and are ready for a test, push the reset button back into place and give it a test.
What Can You Put Down a Garbage Disposal?
To keep your disposal in great working condition, avoid throwing in certain foods that will stick gmaito the drain, such as grease, oil, fat, harsh chemicals, eggshells, peelings, and other non-biodegradable food. The same goes for hard items like fruit pits and bone, banana peels, paper scraps, starchy vegetables, and anything that expands in water.
When to Bring in a Professional
Before calling in a professional, you should try all of the troubleshooting techniques listed above. It can save you time and money if the problem can be solved by simply removing a fork that is stuck in the disposal. If there are no visible obstructions or jammed mechanisms, you may want to consider bringing in a professional.
Additionally, if there are obstructions or jammed mechanisms that you are unable to dislodge, you should consider obtaining the services of a professional appliance repair service.
An expert will be able to ensure that the problem is taken care of with as little inconvenience on your part as possible. You don’t spend much time thinking about your garbage disposal, but it can cause major problems when it ceases to work.
Fixing your garbage disposal repair in Ogden, Utah can be a risky job, because of the sharp blades. A garbage disposal can cause life-threatening physical injuries and should only be tampered with, with caution. Because we place such great confidence in our garbage disposals and it is not common for them to fail us, it is important to get a Northern Utah professional repair man to hand the needs of your garbage disposal.
Garbage disposal repair professionals can get the job done quickly and thoroughly, ensuring that your garbage disposal is in the best condition possible.
Call iFiX for Garbage Disposal Repair in Northern Utah and Surrounding Areas
Don’t put your garbage disposal off any longer. It can start to stink up your kitchen. Call us today and we will arrange a time to get your garbage disposal up and functioning properly again!
