3 Quick-Fixes for Your Garbage Disposal Unit
We all know how frustrating it can be to find out that there is something wrong with your disposal unit. This, of course, leads most of us to end up with a pile of nasty food scraps backed up into our sink. Luckily, the nature of many of these problems is not complicated. In this case, these simple problems come with simple solutions. In this article, I will explore the three main fixes that are most commonly required to get your disposal unit working again.
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- Clogged Disposal Unit
Many people impulsively contact a plumber the moment their disposal unit stops working but this often unnecessary. You can begin the process of fixing your unit yourself by turning it off. While the unit is off, simply get a flashlight and look into the unit to see if you can identify the obstruction. The method you use to unclog your unit will depend on what you find to be the obstruction. However, before you do anything, you will want to completely cut power to the unit. If it is a valuable object clogging the unit, then you will want to carefully fish it out with a set of pliers. If it is food, you may want to try and manually turn the blades in order to break up the build-up of food. Last but not least, you may have to plunge the sink in order to get any food that is stuck to your pipes to come off. By following this process step-by-step you should be able to unclog your sink without having to call or spend money on a plumber.
- Leaky Disposal Unit
What we rinse down the sink is certainly not supposed to come back out. Leaky disposal units can be particularly annoying. With water spilling into areas where it doesn’t belong, it is easy to misidentify the leak as being the product of a less-than-average quality unit. However, these leaks are typically caused by a poor installation. With that being said, you should not give up too fast because the problem may be fixed quickly and cheaply. The leak could be coming from the pipes that are attached to the unit rather than the unit itself. If this is the case, then you should be able to identify the source of the leak relatively easily and follow the appropriate steps in order to fix it.
- Disposal Unit Will No Longer Turn On
The third problem that plagues disposal sink owners is a garbage disposer that will no longer turn on. This can be one of the most frustrating problems because the source of the problem can appear to be much more elusive. However, there are a number of things that you can check relatively effortlessly. There is a plug in the socket under the sink that may have come out. Check that first. If it is out, you will simply have to put it back in. It is also possible that the breaker for your whole kitchen has been tripped so check your breaker panel. If your garbage disposer has a reset button, locate it and press it. Sometimes the unit just needs to be reset. Finally, it is possible that an object has fallen into the disposer and caused the power to trip. This problem may seem like a difficult one at first but it can often prove to be the easiest to fix so do not give up too quickly. Check these 4 things to find out whether or not the problem can easily be fixed by you or if it needs the attention of a professional.
These problems are the three most common that garbage disposal owners tend to run into. If you are having issues with your disposal unit, you should be able to find a solution within this list and the provided links within. It may be wise to call someone with the appropriate expertise if you cannot find a solution or if you are uncomfortable doing the work yourself. This list of the three most common problems with garbage disposal units and the accompanying solutions can save you time, money and stress.
