Garbage Disposal not working properly?

Posted by shortyssanitary on April 5th, 2021

Common garbage disposal problems include no power, clogging, leaking, or jamming.

The first thing to check is to ensure your garbage disposal is receiving power. Then unplug the disposal to check for leaks or clogs.

Read on to understand more about garbage disposal maintenance, possible problems and how to fix them.

Garbage disposal not turning on

If the disposal doesn’t turn on, there could be a problem with the circuit, the outlet, or the wiring of the unit. Check each one of them.

To fix it, you can follow the following steps.

• Reset with the bottom of the garbage disposal unit.
• Check that the disposal isplugged in. If it is already plugged in, check the outlet by plugging in another item.
• Check the Circuit Breaker. The circuit may have been overloaded, for example, if many appliances were running at the same time. Find the right switch in the electrical panel and flip it on again to restore power to the disposal.

Broken Garbage Disposal

Jamming

If you’re getting power but garbage disposal is still not turning on, or it is making weird sounds, it may be jammed.

A jam may occur if something gets lodged in the flywheel.

You can try to dislodge what is jamming the flywheel and try to turn the flywheel with a hex wrench. But don’t forget to unplug it first. DO NOT put your hand in the disposal. If you need to pull something out, use tongs.

Not Draining

If the garbage disposal is clogged, the wastewater may sit on top of the clog inside the drain until it starts to stink.

To fix it, try loosening the clog with a plunger by placing the plunger firmly around the drain opening. It may take a few rounds of plunging to clear the clog.

If the plunger isn’t working, disconnect the drainpipe and clean it out. Clean the trap – the curved pipe under the sink. Debris can accumulate here. After cleaning, reconnect all the pipes tightly.

Leaking

Garbage disposals may leak from –

• the worn-out sink flange
• the torn or disconnected dishwasher hose or drainpipe
• cracked seal of the disposal

To fix these, replace the worn-out parts or reconnect the loose parts.

To avoid such issues in the future, clean your garbage disposal regularly.

If you’re still witnessing clogs or leaks, or if the disposal isn’t working, hire a reliable plumbing service. It’s best to have your entire plumbing and septic tank inspected and maintained every 2-3 years by professional septic and sanitary service company.

If you are looking for water removal services or emergency septic services in White Lake or Oakland County, MI, call Shorty’s Sanitary Service at 248-332-6476.