How to Properly Use and Troubleshoot a Garbage Disposal

The garbage disposal was invented in 1927 by John Hammes. Whether considered a passing fad or a detriment to the public sewer system, it took many years for it to gain acceptance. Today's garbage disposal is powerful enough to mince food into small particles that can easily slip through household pipes on its way to sewer treatment.

Using a Garbage Disposal

Garbage disposals can handle lots of foods, but not everything. Do not put fibrous foods like celery in the disposal. The fibers can jam the moving grinders. Some people will tell you not to put potato or apple peels down the disposal, but Insinkerator, the leader in garbage disposals, says that it is OK to run small amounts at a time through the disposal, even a basic model. Just keep the disposal and water running while you feed it and wait for the scraps to clear before adding more.

Unless you have some super-duper model, bones and fruit pits will jam the grinders, so do not put them down the disposal. It's not good to send grease down any garbage disposal or through plumbing in general. It can solidify in the pipes and cause blockage. Do not pour drain cleaner or bleach into a garbage disposal.

The best way to use the disposal is to turn the disposal and cold water on before putting something into it. Turn the disposal off after you hear the grinding has ended (less noise), but let the cold water run a few more seconds before turning it off.

The following are some potential garbage disposal problems and how to deal with them.

Flip the Switch and Nothing Happens

You flip the switch for the garbage disposal and hear nothing. If the unit plugs in (versus direct wire) check to see that it is plugged in. Check outlets and appliances in the kitchen to see if they are working. If not, then check the fuse or circuit breaker box. If the electricity is getting to the kitchen, look for a reset button on the disposal and push it. The reset button will be on the side or bottom of the unit if your unit has one. Units that do not have reset buttons will reset automatically - just wait about 5 minutes. If those actions fail to start the disposal, then the motor may need to be replaced. Depending on the age of the disposal, you may choose to buy a replacement disposal.

Motor Hums, Not Grinding

After flipping the switch to the disposal, if all you hear is a humming sound, the flywheel could be jammed. Turn the unit off and press the reset button or wait five minutes if your unit does not have a reset button. Flip the switch again. If it still only hums, you can try to unjam it using an option described below.

Unjam Option 1. Either unplug the unit, or if it is direct wired, turn off the circuit breaker (pull fuse) to the unit. Look under the sink at the disposal. There may be a small six-sided opening where an Allen wrench can be inserted. The opening will be near the bottom of the disposal. Turn the wrench a full turn clockwise and then counterclockwise several times. Return the power to the unit, press the reset button and turn it on.

Unjam Option 2. When there is no option to use an Allen wrench to move the flywheel or if that fails to unjam the unit, try using a broom handle. First, either unplug the unit, or if it direct wired, turn off the circuit breaker (pull fuse) to unit. Insert the handle of a broom into the inside of the unit through the sink drain. Hold the broom at an angle and move it around the bottom perimeter until it catches on a blade. Try pushing the blade first clockwise and then counterclockwise several times. You shouldn't have to move it far. The objective is to dislodge whatever may be blocking it. Return the power to the unit, press the reset button and turn it on.

If neither unjam option works, you may need to replace the motor (or the whole disposal).

Source: SmallApplianceFixIt