Sometimes Even the Best Garbage Disposal Clogs Up. What Do You Do?

Almost Every Garbage Disposal Clogs Up At Someinsert an "Allen Wrench" into the end of
Pointthe shaft and turn the shaft by hand to get it
Garbage disposals can be a helpful tool in yourspinning again. Sometimes the wrench is included with
kitchen if used properly. They make cleaning up afterthe disposal. If not, a standard "Allen"
dinner and rinsing dishes off a snap. But they all havewrench will do the trick.
a tendency to get clogged upif a few basic rulesHow To Unclog A Garbage Disposal With A Wrench
aren't followed.Make sure the power switch is off before trying the
The Best Garbage Disposalnext step! If you're not sure or if you have an air
People often ask what is the best garbage disposalswitch, turn off the breaker that feeds the disposal.
to get to avoid these problems. Without going into aTurn the water on and insert the wrench into the
full blown garbage disposal review, myhole for the shaft in the bottom of the disposal. This
recommendation is to choose a model with as muchhole should be in the center of the bottom of the
horsepower as your budget allows. And make suregarbage disposal. Now rotate the wrench back and
the model you pick has a way to free things upforth a few times until you can turn the shaft all the
manually if it gets jammed.way around easily.
What If There's No Wrench Hole?
It Makes A Difference How You Use ItIf the disposal has no hole for a wrench at the
No matter whatkind of garbage disposal you have,bottom you can always try using a broomstick. Take
how you use it has more to do with keeping itabout a 2 foot long piece of broom stick, stick it in
working properly than what brand or model it is. Eventhe top of the disposal and try to rotate the grinding
the best garbage disposal clogs up sometimes,head while pushing down. While this doesn't usually
especially if it gets a lot of heavy use.work nearly as well as the wrench method, on some
garbage disposals it's your only choice.
You ShouldAlways Turn The Faucet On FirstI Thought I Left My Rings On The Sink
So how should you use a garbage disposal? First ofOnce you've got the shaft turning, turn the switch
all, always run water in the sink when you are usingback on. The disposal should drain now. If not, or if
your garbage disposal and leave the water runningyou weren't able to get the shaft unstuck,there may
several seconds after you turn the disposal off.be some sort of foreign object ( hopefully not a
Remember, everything that you put through thediamond ring) causing the jam. Making sure the switch
garbage disposal goes directly into your drainageis off, look down inside the disposal. It will probably
piping so make sure you use enough water to washhelp to use a flashlight. If you can see anything inside,
it down the pipes.try to remove it with a pair of needle nose pliers.
Easy Does ItThe Final Solution
The second rule is that you probably shouldn't try toIf you can tell there is something inside but can't get
put too much of food through the disposal. I've seenit with the pliers it may re wire removing the disposal.
garbage disposal clogs created by someone trying toIf the shaft won't turn at all, then the next step is
grind what looked like whole carrots. All of the drainlearning how to unclog a garbage disposal.
piping under the sink was packed with grated carrot.Removing A Garbage Disposal
Asking For ProblemsThe trick to removing a garbage disposal is taking
It is certainly inviting to just dump everything into theyour time. The drain fitting usually attaches on the
garbage disposal and flip the switch, but that is askingside with a clamp that just needs to be unfastened,
for trouble. I actually know of one case whereso take this apart first. If the sink bowl is backed up
someone was dropping eggshells down his disposal.and full of water make sure you have a container
He must have eaten a lot of eggs because theready to catch the water.
ground up shells coated the inside of his 3"Disconnect It From The Sink
drain pipe and finally stopped it up completely. TheOnce the drain is undone remove the mounting
whole drain pipe wound up having to be replaced.assembly that connects the disposal to the sink. This
Put The Big Pieces Somewhere Elsewill be either a big nut, a bracket held in place with
Hopefully that story reinforces why you should bescrews or, on Insinkerator disposals, a clamp ring that
careful how you use your garbage disposal. Puttwists down. Once the bracket is loose you should
bigger portions of food in either the garbage can or abe able to remove the disposal from the sink, take
compost pile and use the disposal for the small stuffthe rubber splash shield off and look inside.
that would otherwise get rinsed down the drain. YourRemove Whatever Is Jamming The Blades And Put
drain pipes will thank you.Everything Back Together
Garbage Disposal ClogsNow you can get whatever is jamming the blades
Sometimes no matter how careful you are theout and then, before you put everything back
garbage disposal clogs up anyway. No problem,it'stogether, turn the switch on for a minute and make
pretty easy to learn how to unclog a garbagesure the blade spins now. If everything works, put it
disposal. There are just a few basic steps to follow.all back together. Be careful and get all of the seals
Does The Motor Need To Be Reset?back like they were and then run some water
First, find out if the motor is locked up. If you turnthrough and check for leaks. Try the switch once or
on the switch and the disposal just hums, it is mosttwice to make sure it works and clean up your mess.
likelylocked up. If you leave the switch onthis usuallyThat's How East It Is To Unclog A Garbage Disposal
results in the motor cutting off, so many garbageYou now know how to unclog a garbage disposal. If
disposals have a reset button (usually on theyour garbage disposal is working fine right now you
bottom). Turn the switch off, wait several secondsmay be thinking "so what?". The odds
and push the reset button.are that one day you will need this information. When
Find For The Wrench Holethe time comes to fix your garbage disposal, review
The next step is to unjam the disposal. Most garbagethis article and it will be a breeze.
disposals have a place in the bottom where you can