How To Fix A Clogged Garbage Disposal

Also see what happens when something gets ground up.

How to fix a clogged garbage disposal. If the disposal is still clogged follow these steps. Push the bottom end of the wooden probe against the impeller the blades that grind up the garbage and rock it back and forth to free it. Turn off the power and insert a long dowel a wooden spoon or a broom handle never your hand into the drain opening. Use channel type pliers to disconnect the slip nut fittings on the drain trap and remove the trap. If you detected a clogged pipe turn of the disposal then fill the sink with soapy water and leave it for 30 seconds.

Garbage disposal has one function to ground up debris so it doesn t clog the pipes but there will be at least a small part of it coming down with each wash. The trap will be full of water and most likely food waste. Learn how with this video. If the blades are still stuck rotate them with an allen wrench or a specialty garbage disposal wrench. You will need to manually run it to remove the clog.

If your garbage disposal sink is clogged there are several ways you can try to fix it without having to call a plumber. Turn the allen wrench to the left and right until the unit is no longer jammed. Pressing the overload button underneath the disposal may fix the issue right away. Insert a 1 4 inch allen wrench or the specially designed tool into the hex socket at the bottom of the garbage disposal. Garbage disposals are usually an easy fix but always remember to unplug the unit before attempting to clear a jam.

Before trying to unclog it always switch off the garbage disposal s power source for safety purposes. It s easy to fix a garbage disposal when it gets stuck. First pour roughly a quarter of a cup of baking soda into the disposal. If your garbage disposal is still clogged you ll need to call a plumber. There is no need to try and evenly spread the baking soda around the disposal because the ensuing reaction with vinegar will do that job.

After you have poured baking soda into the disposal drain pour about a half of a cup of vinegar into the drain with it. Check the reset button and turn the disposal on. In some cases you may find that your disposer is clogged under your sink. Oftentimes a sink can be unclogged using a plunger or baking soda and white vinegar. Manually turning the blades on your disposer will help you identify where the clog is.