Three Signs Your Garbage Disposal Has a Problem

When something doesn’t work right in your home, especially in your kitchen, it can throw off the entire routine of the household. The garbage disposal in particular is a common source of frustration. It’s an appliance that makes life a lot easier, but when one doesn’t work it can become a big problem quickly. Because garbage disposals are electrical appliances that are also close to water, it is important to troubleshoot them safely. If you are unsure how to proceed calling a professional plumber can save you time and hassle.

When you flip the switch on the wall and don’t hear the tell-tale noise of the small motor running under the sink, you know immediately that something isn’t right. This usually means that the disposal isn’t receiving power as it should. You can try to fix it by looking for and pressing a reset button on the disposal. If that doesn’t work, unplug the appliance and try the outlet with a hairdryer or something similar to see if the problem is with the disposal itself. Finally, if the outlet itself isn’t working try resetting the circuit breaker the appliance is on.

Another sign that the garbage disposal is having issues is if you turn it on and hear the motor humming, but not the grinding sounds of the blades. This can mean that the disposal is clogged. Make sure you turn the disposal back off and unplug the unit before trying to dislodge whatever is stuck between the blades. Once you have safely removed the food or debris, turn the disposal back on and see if the blades run smoothly.

A third way to tell that your appliance isn’t working properly is if the sink and disposal are slow to drain. If you have checked to see if there is food or debris caught in the blades and the disposal still doesn’t work, this can mean a clog further down in the drain. This can be a particularly tricky problem to fix. If you have a small snaking tool you can try to dislodge the clog, but if the problem persists you may need to call in a professional.

A leaking disposal and bad odor can also be signs of caught food, a clog or a faulty disposal. Once you have safely tried the DIY steps and the disposal still doesn’t work, it’s time to call in a professional plumbing service. For those in need of garbage disposal repair in the Santa Cruz area, visit this website for more information.