Garbage disposals are a common kitchen appliance that you depend on it every day to speed up kitchen cleaning activities. But just like other kitchen appliances, they can become jammed, clogged, or simply stop working. Fortunately, even if you don’t know what’s causing your disposal to hum, it’s usually a straightforward remedy. Here’s a step-by-step instruction on how to properly unclog your trash disposal.
What Do Garbage Disposals Do?
A garbage disposal is an appliance used for the collection of food scraps and waste from within a building. Disposals are commonly found in kitchens and bathrooms, but can also be installed under kitchen sinks or next to outdoor grills.
The function of a garbage disposal relies on moving blades that grind the solid waste into smaller pieces which then pass through the opening at the bottom where they become wastewater before finding their way out of your home via sewer pipes.
The Most Common Causes Of Clogged Garbage Disposals
If your garbage disposal is humming, it’s more probable that there’s a jam somewhere within the machine than that it’s time to replace it. The following are the most prevalent reasons for a trash disposal that is clogged or humming:
- Seeds or pits: If you’ve recently cut a melon or sliced fruit with a pit near your kitchen sink, the seeds or pits may have ended up in the garbage disposal. Although you may have heard a thunk from a fruit pit, seeds may be tricky. Seeds will take root in the damp environment of the disposal and clog the blades if given the opportunity.
- Coffee grounds: While a cup of coffee in the morning may keep you going throughout the day, it has the reverse impact on your disposal. Over time, coffee grounds wear down garbage disposal blades.
- Eggshells: It’s the stringy membrane, not the shell, that can produce a clogged trash disposal, which may also leave a lasting odor that you’ll have to clean. As a result, it’s recommended to dispose of eggshells in the garbage rather than the disposal.
- Cooking oil that has been allowed to cool and harden may be a nightmare for disposal blades and produce difficult-to-clean drain blockages. If your garbage disposal is buzzing, the drain is blocked, and you don’t see a solid item stuck in the blades, oil might be to blame.
Tips For Loosening The Clog In A Safe Way
Even if you turn off the disposal, you should treat the area surrounding the blades with the same care you would while chopping vegetables near your fingers with a kitchen knife.
When de-jamming your disposal, keep the following in mind:
- Try to reset it: If you don’t notice any obvious obstructions, your trash disposal may need to be reset. Garbage disposals may overheat and shut off on their own. Turn the disposal back on by pressing the reset button on the top of the disposal beneath the sink. If it doesn’t work, there might be a blockage or it could be time to replace your disposal.
- Turn off the power: To prevent the possibility that your disposal will come back to life at any time, turn it off. There may be a switch under the sink depending on the manufacturer, but you may also use your kitchen’s breaker switch.
- To remove the impediment, use tongs or a large spoon to avoid coming into close touch with the blades. If you must contact the blades with your fingers for any reason, be sure you’ve removed the possibility that the disposal may switch on automatically by following the steps above to turn off the electricity.
How To Keep Your Garbage Disposal Unclogged
Fortunately, maintaining your waste disposal clean to avoid a jam is a simple task. Fill your sink with 2 cups of ice and 1 cup of salt, turn on the water, and run your garbage disposal. This should be done at least once a month to maintain your trash disposal free of clogs.
Call A Plumber For Assistance With Your Clogged Garbage Disposal
You’ll be able to tackle most clogged disposal difficulties now that you know a few pointers for being safe while trying to unclog your trash disposal. However, using a professional plumber to clear a blockage is the safest option. A licensed plumber has unclogged hundreds of disposals and can quickly and securely resolve any plumbing problem in your house.
Contact a plumber immediately for same-day service seven days a week.
The “garbage disposal humming” is a common problem that most people have experienced. If your garbage disposal starts making a humming noise, it can be fixed by un-jamming the disposal safely.
Outside your home, a storm could be heading your way, which makes having a sump pump that works very important. Find out how to be prepared in Is Your Sump Pump Up To Snuff?
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I manually open a stuck garbage disposal?
A: The best answer to this question is you should contact a professional. There are multiple things that could be causing the issue, and it would require an expert to fix it.
How do you unclog a garbage disposal with standing water?
A: You should attempt to unclog your drain with a flexible wire. Use the handle on the sink as leverage for this task, and remember that you are working in an effort to avoid damaging your pipes.
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