You don’t worry about your garbage disposal most of the time-after all, it sits out of sight and out of mind. You only worry about it when you have to clear a backup in your sink or flush food debris down the drain. You might also feel anxious when you have to fish a ring or other valuable out of the disposal’s depths. But for the most part, you don’t think about this home feature much.
Even though this device doesn’t play a starring role in your everyday comfort, you’ll notice when it doesn’t work properly. If your garbage disposal exhibits any of the signs listed below, then it either needs repair or replacement. Call your plumber right away so you can have a working disposal again as soon as possible.
1. Your Garbage Disposal Won’t Even Turn On
If you flip the switch for your disposal and nothing happens, then you know you have a problem. But before you call your plumber, check the circuit breaker or fuse connected to your disposal. You may have to hit the reset button on a nearby outlet, or you might have to go to your circuit breaker box and flip a larger switch there.
Once you’ve checked the breakers, try to use your disposal again. If it still refuses to move or make noise, turn it off and check the interior to see if anything has jammed the blades. If you don’t see any obstructions, and if the circuit hasn’t blown, then your garbage disposal has probably burned out, and you’ll need a plumber to at least inspect the device. He or she will probably have to replace it.
2. You Have to Press the Reset Button Every Time You Use Your Disposal
If you have to push the reset button on the outlet or flip the switch on the breaker every time you use your garbage disposal, then you either have insufficient wiring or your disposal has started to age. You’ll probably have to replace the disposal if it caused the problem. Again, contact your plumber for an inspection. If he or she says your disposal has worn out, then you should get a new one.
On the other hand, if your plumber says that the disposal didn’t cause the problem, then you have to speak to an electrician. Even an older electrical system should support a garbage disposal. If yours doesn’t, then you could have a serious, even dangerous, wiring problem on your hands. Have a professional check it right away.
3. Your Garbage Disposal Has a Perpetually Bad Odor
You’ve tried everything. You have used hot and cold water, citrus fruits, chemical agents, and other methods to try and get the smell out of your garbage disposal-but without success. At this point, you should probably consider having a professional disassemble and clean your garbage disposal. You can also replace the device and instantly have fresher air.
4. Your Disposal Takes an Excessively Long Time to Break Down Food
Your garbage disposal should have the power to break down food waste in a matter of seconds. If it takes longer, then the blades have probably dulled. You don’t need to replace your entire device in this instance, but you do need your plumber to sharpen or replace the blades.
5. Your Disposal Clogs or Jams Every Time You Use It-Even When You Flush Small Food Items
Again, your disposal should have the power to break down any kind of food waste. So, if this feature jams even when you put small morsels in it, then it at least needs an inspection. Call your preferred plumbing professionals, and they’ll tell you whether a repair or replacement will return your garbage disposal to normal.
6. Your Garbage Disposal Makes a Loud Metal-on-Metal Noise When It Runs
When your disposal makes a sound like metal on metal, then its parts have started to grate or move incorrectly, so it needs a tune-up. If you don’t give it a tune-up, the motor could burn out or the parts could wear so much that you’ll have to replace your garbage disposal instead of repairing it.
7. You See Water Leaking From the Disposal
Plumbers can fix the leaks around the device’s seals, but if the leak comes from a crack in the device, you’ll have to buy an entirely new disposal. Luckily, with a new model and a professional installation, you won’t have to worry about repairing your disposal again for a long time.
