| Garbage disposals get clogged up because there is a | | | | be cleaned with a snake or auger. The cable goes |
| build up of the wastes deposited into the drain. | | | | deep down into the trap and line, unclogging it. To |
| Wastes like potato peels, coffee grinds, and egg | | | | remove the P-trap, which is really a waste holding |
| shells, to name a few items, are not friendly to the | | | | dump and may be in the shape of an "S" and not a |
| its operation. Potato peels have a high level of starch. | | | | "P"; just look for it under the sink sticking out from |
| Starch builds up and solidifies in the drain. These | | | | the garbage disposal unit. Removing the trap is easy |
| deposits are not going to be washed down with | | | | if it is plastic, which the newer units are, but if the |
| water after a period of time. Also, drains get clogged | | | | trap is metal it could take some muscle force to |
| because not enough water is being used when | | | | undo it and get it off. |
| operating the unit. Without the proper amount of | | | | Now, make sure you have a plastic bucket under the |
| water, and permissible waste deposits, it is almost | | | | trap and disposal unit. Start to slowly move the auger |
| certain that there will be a clogged garbage disposal. | | | | or snake into the drain and stop periodically to flush |
| This is when a plunger, or even a snake, become | | | | the drain with hot water. Keep taking the snake |
| important tools in unclogging the sink drain. If the | | | | deeper into the drain until you find that you reached |
| plunger does not solve the problem then the next | | | | a stopping point. Keep in mind that there may be |
| solution is using an auger or a snake. | | | | bends and curves, but those are not stopping points. |
| Now, when the garbage disposal is operating slowly, | | | | Now, turn on hot water and flush out the sink drain. |
| that is, when the water is slowing going down the | | | | Flush really well with water. Stop, pull out the snake, |
| drain with the wastes, there is either a clog in the | | | | and put the P-trap back onto the unit. You should no |
| P-trap or in the line from the garbage disposal unit | | | | longer have a clogged garbage disposal. |
| going into the wall. The P-trap and the drain line can | | | | |