Ultimate Guide to DIY Garbage Disposal Repairs
Common Problems and Easy Repairs for Garbage Disposals
Garbage disposals are an essential component in many homes and businesses. They're a convenience and a necessity for many drain setups in the modern kitchen. Through grinding food debris, garbage disposals help eliminate the need to fill your trash can with smelly food scraps. But like any modern appliance, these sometimes require some DIY garbage disposal repairs to keep them in proper working order.
The Disposal Won't Turn On
Fortunately, anytime your garbage disposal won't turn on there are a few easy DIY yourself garbage disposal repairs to try out.
Bad Breaker/Outlet
If your garbage disposal won't turn on, the first thing to check is always the power supply. Ensure the unit is plugged in and check the breaker. If you're a bit more on the advanced side of do-it-yourself repairs, get your meter and ensure there is proper voltage in the garbage disposal's outlet under your sink.
Needs a Reset
Should you find a lack of electricity to be your problem, consult with an electrician or learn more about dealing with a bad breaker or simple outlet repair. Assuming you have power going to the unit, try resetting it. There should be a reset button located on the garbage disposal somewhere that's pretty easy to find. Press and hold it for three seconds and release. In many cases, this simply reset will resolve your issue.
It Could Be Clogged
Even after a reset, if your disposal is clogged it won't engage. To fix this, start by unplugging it. Never work on a garbage disposal when there is still power to it as you could be seriously injured.
Unplug your garbage disposal and get a pair of needle nose pliers. Using the pliers, try to feel around and remove/dislodge any debris stuck inside your disposal. Once you've made some progress and removed some debris, plug the disposal back in and try it out.
Use a Plunger
If there is standing water in the side of the sink where the disposal is, start with a plunger over tongs or pliers. Plunging the drain will help dislodge debris that could be clogging your garbage disposal. But be sure to use the right type of plunger as not all types are made for sinks.
The Garbage Disposal is Making Spooky Noises
The only sound a disposal should make is that of eliminating food debris. Anytime it is making a loud, screeching, or frightening noise, something may be terribly wrong.
The Disposal is Jammed: Fixing It From the Top
Hearing a humming or metal-on-metal grinding noise is never good when it comes to your waste disposal. Usually, these kinds of sounds indicate a jammed impeller or set of blades.
Safety first: unplug or otherwise cut the power to your unit before starting this DIY garbage disposal repair. Once it is safe to work on, look down inside your unit using a flashlight. What you might find is food or other debris stuck in the blades. If you do see debris, use a set of pliers or tongs to try and remove it. We do not recommend using your hand as there are sharp blades involved and you're likely to get injured.
The Disposal is Jammed: Fixing It From the Bottom
Not every jammed disposal can be corrected by just going at it with tongs or pliers. Sometimes a DIY garbage disposal repair requires getting up under the sink and turning a wrench.
In fact, turning a wrench is exactly what you need to try next if your disposal is still jammed. Using a special garbage disposal wrench, turn the impeller from the bottom of the unit. This will help dislodge anything stuck inside.
DIY Garbage Disposal Repairs for a Smelly Disposal
Smelly disposals are no fun. The modern kitchen is meant to be an appetizing, clean place to eat and socialize, but that is ruined when a funky smell is coming from your sink. Fortunately, there are some easy ways to knock out that nasty odor.
Vinegar and Baking Soda
Pour a mixture of white vinegar and baking soda down the drain and let it sit. It will expand on contact and help deodorize your disposal and drain.
A Whole Lemon
Cutting a fresh lemon into wedges and tossing it down the garbage disposal is a bit controversial but commonly done. The acidity will help clean and deodorize, but some plumbers will warn that the peels can get lodged and cause a clog.
Ice
Regularly grinding ice through your disposal is a great way to help knock loose any food bits sticking and stinking it up. It is a very safe and easy method you can do weekly as part of your DIY garbage disposal maintenance.
The Disposal May Be Leaking
Leaks from your garbage disposal are not super common but they do happen. When it does occur, it is usually beyond the do-it-yourself skill set most homeowners have. If your disposal is leaking, it's probably time to call a plumber and may be time to replace the unit. However, just because you see water beneath the disposal or even running along the side of it doesn't mean the problem is with the garbage disposal.
Water Has a Mind of Its Own
Water really does do whatever it wants to do, including manifest somewhere completely different from where it originates. Keep this in mind when investigating the source of a water leak. Just because your disposal looks like it is leaking, it may be coming from a different place in your piping or your sink. To figure it out, start by putting a bowl or something else under the sink to catch the water, then starting looking. Try to trace the water back to its source and see where the leak is actually coming from. You may get lucky and find it somewhere you can handle fixing on your own.
Need a Plumber for a Garbage Disposal Repair?
Don't keep struggling with do-it-yourself garbage disposal repairs, give us a call. Our team of licensed and experienced master plumbers will diagnose your problem and provide upfront pricing for solutions. If you're wondering how to fix your garbage disposal, simply give us a call today. Our team will take a look at your issue with our free repair assessment!