You flipped your garbage disposal on and all you hear is a humming noise – what’s the problem? There could be a few things wrong with this vital piece of kitchen equipment. So before you put your hand down the drain hoping to fix the issue, figure out what the problem is first.
Jammed
You’ll know your disposal is jammed when it’s overly noisy or doesn’t grind properly. The problem usually comes from an item that is stuck between the impeller blade and the drain hole. Don’t continue to run the disposal when it’s jammed – you can burn out the motor. Before making any repairs, unplug the disposal and turn off the electrical circuit powering it.
Clogged
Do you have water stuck in your sink? This means the drain is clogged in the disposal or further down the drain line. This is not only a problem with your garbage disposal, but with your plumbing as well. You’ll need to dismantle the drain pipe under the sink and use a drain auger to clear the clog. If you’re looking to get the job done correctly the first time, hire a professional.
Leaking
If you notice any leaks below your disposal, pinpoint the source of the leak and tighten the connection. Also, check the unit to see if an item entered that shouldn’t have. In these cases, it’s usually cheapest, fastest, and wisest to hire an expert to replace the entire unit.
Rules
To help avoid these problems in the future, keep these basic garbage disposal rules in mind:
- Be careful of what you put down your drains.
- Don’t overfill your disposal.
- Don’t pour chemicals into the unit.
- Run water before and after you use the disposal.
When your drains are clogged, it’s always an unexpected inconvenience. That’s where the professionals at Blue Mountain Plumbing, Heating & Cooling come in. We can clean your drains no matter how dirty they are. Best of all, our work is guaranteed 100% – this kind of work isn’t draining for us. Give us a call at (540) 942-2700 and we’ll wash your troubles away!
