www.seekinfofast.com
DUMPSTER RENTAL
A garbage disposal unit (also known as a garbage disposal, waste disposal unit, garbage disposer, or in Canadian English a garburator) is a device, usually electrically powered, installed under a kitchen sink between the sink’s drain and the trap. The disposal unit shreds food waste into pieces small enough generally less than 2 mm (0.079 in)—to pass through pipelines. Garbage disposal units are widely used in United States households, but far less commonly used elsewhere.
How to Fix a Garbage Disposal
If your garbage disposal is jammed, clogged, or leaking, this illustrated step-by-step guide will help you fix it quickly and easily. A garbage disposal is a relatively simple machine that generally operates without any trouble for several years. Eventually, however, they can get stuck or break down entirely. You can handle most mending tasks yourself with little more than a couple of screwdrivers and a hex wrench. And if replacement is required, it’s quite likely you can do this work yourself. As shown in the diagram here, a shredder inside the unit breaks down the food, and then an impeller arm and plate force the liquid and particles out the drain. The unit also has a dishwasher inlet so dishwasher drain water can run through the garbage disposal, allowing the unit to chew up any large particles before they are drained away. Unplug or turn off the electrical circuit that powers your garbage disposal before making any changings or mendings.
Garbage Disposal Doesn’t Work
If the garbage disposal doesn’t do anything—meaning it doesn’t even hum or make a sound—the problem is likely to be that it isn’t receiving power. Look for a reset button on the underside of the disposal and press this button. That may be all that’s needed to get it running again. If not, unplug the disposal from its electrical outlet and test the outlet with another appliance, such as a hair dryer. If it doesn’t work, go to the circuit breaker panel and reset the circuit breaker that serves the disposal (often the same circuit used by the dishwasher) by turning it all of the way off and then back on.
Garbage Disposal Is Jammed
You’ll know your disposal is jammed or clogged when the motor hums but the disposal doesn’t grind, is overly noisy, or runs and then stops before you turn it off. The problem is often a piece of bone, a fruit pit, or the like stuck between an impeller blade and the drain hole. Don’t continue to run the disposal when it’s jammed as this can burn out the motor. Be sure to unplug the disposal or turn off the electrical circuit that powers it before fixing anything.
To clear a jammed disposal:
a. Unplug the unit or turn off the circuit breaker that serves it.
b. Under the sink, look at the bottom of the disposal for a hex-shaped hole. If you see one, find a 1/4-inch hex wrench that fits the hole (often there is one attached to the disposal). Fit the hex wrench into the hole, and force it back and forth in both directions a few times to emptythe impellers. (Note: Some models have a reversing switch that accomplishes the same action.)
c. If your disposal doesn’t have a hex hole or you can’t find a hex wrench, put a short broom stick into the disposal (with the with the power disconnected!), force it down against one of the blades, and try to rotate the impeller back and forth.
d. If something has been put in the disposal that shouldn’t have—such as metal, rubber, glass, or fibrous food waste such as artichoke leaves or banana peels—use tongs or pliers to pull the material out. Never use your hand.
e.You may have to remove the disposal to clear a jam. This is actually a lot easier to do than it might seem.
Disposal Grinds Poorly
If your disposal grinds poorly, make sure that you are running enough water while operating the unit and that you are not grinding matter that you shouldn’t. If you can hear the garbage disposal running but it is not grinding, the blades may be broken. It’s usually easier and cheaper to just replace the entire unit.
Disposal Drain Is Clogged
When water stands in the sink, it means the drain is clogged either in the disposal or further down the drain line. This isn’t a garbage disposal problem but rather a pipe mending problem. You’ll probably need to dismantle the drain pipe under the sink and use a drain auger to clear the clog.
Garbage Disposal Leaks
If you notice leaks below the disposal, pinpoint the source of the leak, and tighten the offending connection. If necessary, replace the drain gasket or the unit’s mounting screws. If the unit is unreasonably noisy, check that something hasn’t entered the unit that shouldn’t have. If all is clear, it’s generally cheapest, fastest, and wisest to replace the entire unit.
Basic Garbage Disposal Care
Garbage disposals work best if you follow these basic rules:
a. Use cold water when grinding food (hot water can melt fats and clog the mechanism and the pipes)
b. Do not overfill
c. Do not pour bleach, drain cleaners, or other chemicals into the unit
d. Do not grind overly fibrous materials, bones, or coffee grounds (check the owner’s manual) or such materials as glass, metal, or rubber
e. Run water before and after you use the disposal If something has been put in the disposal that should not have been, use tongs or pliers to pull the material out. Never use your hand. To clean a garbage disposal of built-up sludge and debris, fill it with ice cubes and a cup of rock salt and then run it for about five seconds. If your garbage disposal smells bad, you can deodorize it by running warm water down it while you grind a quartered lemon.
