Why garbage disposal does not work

The constant vibration of a garbage disposal, over time, can loosen the mounting apparatus that holds the appliance to the sink drain opening.

This sink mounting flange is a likely place for leaking. The rubber hose that funnels waste water from the dishwasher to the garbage disposal is also a place where leaks frequently occur. Slow draining of a garbage disposal can be caused by a number of problems, but it's usually caused by the same kind of clogging that can slow any sink drain.

Usually, the fix involves disassembling the drain trap and discharge pipe and removing any food waste clogging the pipes. Never use chemical drain cleaners with a garbage disposal.

These chemicals rarely work, leaving you with a sink full of toxic chemicals. Further, such chemicals often damage the garbage disposal and void the manufacturer's warranty. There are several good practices to remember and some bad ones to avoid that will reduce the chances of clogs or slow-draining problems with your garbage disposal. Kocsis, Anne B. Atlantic Publishing Group , Actively scan device characteristics for identification.

Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Turn off the disposal, then unplug it for good measure. Shine a flashlight inside the unit. You may see a piece of silverware, a nutshell, a piece of a broken dish, or something else that the blades cannot crush.

Reach inside the garbage disposal with the tongs and get out whatever is caught inside. This simple machine provides extremely valuable service and usually operates for many years without a hitch. However, this does not mean that it will eventually breakdown or cease to operate. The good news is that normally getting it into working order is relatively simple. But, what does it mean if your garbage disposal begins to hum?

Overloading the garbage disposal with food scraps can cause it to overheat and trip the reset button. Make sure the switch is off and unplug the garbage disposal from the outlet before you attempt to remove the jam. Fit the key or wrench in the depression and twist it back and forth firmly to rotate the grinding plates and free the stuck item.

Handy for everything from IKEA furniture assembly to common home repairs like this, a good set of hex wrench is a must-have. View example on Amazon. In newer homes, local building codes typically require the electrician to run a single circuit for the garbage disposal and the dishwasher to share. In homes where additional outlets are on the same circuit, however, running the garbage disposal while something else is operating—such as a toaster or countertop griddle—could cause the breaker to trip.

A simple workaround is to run the disposal only when no other appliance is going, but a more permanent fix would require an electrician to run one or more additional circuits in order to prevent overloading the one that powers the garbage disposal.