Garbage Disposal

File:Garbage disposal.jpg

A garbage disposal

Since garbage disposals are used frequently, they sometimes develop problems.  For problem free operation, take note of the following:

• Do not put potato peelings, coffee grounds or eggshells into your disposal.  They can cause hard to remove clogs in your disposal and drains.
• Maintain your disposal by regularly grinding up ice cubes.  This helps to dislodge any built-up debris in the hopper.
• To keep odors at bay, once per month you should treat the disposal with a three tablespoons baking soda and a half cup of vinegar. Let that set in the disposal hopper with the unit turned off.  It will foam for a short while.  After it's done foaming, rinse it down the drain with hot water WITHOUT turning on the disposal.

If your garbage disposal is not working properly, it is usually because it has been overfilled or improperly used, and either the unit's breaker has tripped, or it is jammed.  Because disposal problems are usually user-caused, you may be charged for a service visit.  To avoid this, try these do-it-yourself techniques before contacting us:

The disposal won't work and doesn't make any noise.

Bottom of garbage disposal

If the disposal will not turn on and it isn't making a buzzing sound, the breaker may have tripped.  This is easy to fix.

1. Look under the sink at the disposal.  On the bottom of the disposal (underneath) is a red button.  If you can't get under the disposal to see it, just feel around with your hands.  It's the only button on the bottom of the disposal.  Press it in.  If it clicks, it should work. 
2. If you have tried to press the red reset button on the bottom of the disposal but it is still not working, check to see if the circuit breaker has tripped and turned off in your apartment's electrical service panel.  The service panel is usually behind a grey metal door set into the wall.  
3. If the disposal will still not turn on and makes no noise, you should submit a service ticket for further assistance.

The disposal won't work, but makes a buzzing noise when on.

Disposal wrench

If the garbage disposal won't turn on but makes a humming sound when you flip the switch, first of all turn off the switch!  The buzzing happens when the disposal is jammed.  This is usually pretty easy to fix.  

1. First and foremost!  TURN OFF THE DISPOSAL CIRCUIT BREAKER AT THE SERVICE PANEL!  
2. Second, TURN OFF THE DISPOSAL CIRCUIT BREAKER AT THE SERVICE PANEL!
3. Clear any food out of the disposal hopper, and check to make sure there is nothing stuck in any of the impellers.  Be careful!  Impellers are not sharp but you can still get hurt if you do not take it slow and easy.  Do this at your own risk!  Make sure all of the impellers spin freely.  Don't do this until the circuit is off.  If there is still power to the circuit and you accidentially turn on the disposal while your hand is in it, you will most certainly loose at least a few fingers.  Don't risk it.  We can't stress this enough.
4. 

   Flywheel socket
   There is probably an offset wrench in the cabinet under the kitchen sink.  If not, you can purchase one for a couple of dollars at any home improvement store or local hardware store.  Note the brand and model of your disposal before going to purchase a wrench to make sure you get the right one.   Once you have it, take the wrench and insert it into the flywheel socket in the bottom of the disposal and then turn it clockwise to dislodge the jam. When it dislodges, you'll feel the flywheel start to turn freely.  
5. Once this is completed, turn back on the electrical circuit at the panel and go back to the sink.  
6. Look under the sink at the disposal. On the bottom of the disposal (underneath) is a red button. If you can't get under the disposal to see it, just feel around with your hands. It's the only button on the bottom of the disposal. Press it in.
7. Turn on the water, and then turn on the disposal to test it. 
8. If the disposal still will not work properly, you should submit a service ticket for further assistance.

The disposal works, but I hear a rattling sound.

If you hear a rattling sound when you turn on the disposal, you have something caught in the impellers that is not organic and needs to be removed.

1. First and foremost! TURN OFF THE DISPOSAL CIRCUIT BREAKER AT THE SERVICE PANEL!
2. Second, TURN OFF THE DISPOSAL CIRCUIT BREAKER AT THE SERVICE PANEL!

Entry to disposal hopper
3. Now, go back to the disposal put your hand inside the hopper.  Fell around for anything that is not supposed to be there - bits of plastic, bone, etc. Clear all loose debris out of the disposal, and check to make sure there is nothing stuck in any of the impellers. Be careful! Impellers are not sharp but you can still get hurt if you do not take it slow and easy. Do this at your own risk! Make sure all of the impellers spin freely. Don't do this until the circuit is off. If there is still power to the circuit and you accidentially turn on the disposal while your hand is in it, you will most certainly loose at least a few fingers. Don't risk it. We can't stress this enough.
4. Once this is completed, turn back on the electrical circuit at the panel and go back to the sink.
5. Look under the sink at the disposal. On the bottom of the disposal (underneath) is a red button. If you can't get under the disposal to see it, just feel around with your hands. It's the only button on the bottom of the disposal. Press it in.
6. Turn on the water, and then turn on the disposal to test it.
7. If you still here a rattling sound, repeat these instructions (making sure to shut off the circuit again).   If you still hear the bad sounds, you'll need to submit a service request.

The disposal works but is draining very slow.

If your disposal is working fine but is slow to drain, you can use a liquid drain cleaner such as Liquid Plumber, but use it with EXTREME CAUTION!  If you turn on the disposal and the drain cleaner splashes you, you could be seriously injured.  To unclog your drain properly, perform the following:

1. NEVER, EVER USE A CONCENTRATED SULPHURIC ACID DRAIN CLEANER IN THE DISPOSAL!!!!!
2. After adding the liquid drain cleaner, let it sit for at least 10 minutes.
3. Put a kitchen bowl over the disposal mouth.  
4. Turn the disposal on for 5 seconds.  IMPORTANT! DO NOT PERFORM THIS STEP UNTIL YOU HAVE PLACED A KITCHEN BOWL OVER THE MOUTH OF THE DISPOSAL!
5. AFTER shutting the disposal off, remove the bowl.
6. Run hot water through the disposal.  If the water still backs up, do not run the disposal again.  Instead, repeat these instructions.  If the problem still is not solved, stop using the sink and submit a service request.