It is always a wise idea to ask the help of an expert when something breaks inside the house. But there are things that you can do by yourself like troubleshooting your own waste disposal unit. It is built for heavy duty so if it stops doing its job, you can probably do something to fix it. Here are some of the most common problems and fixes for your waste disposal:
Water keeps coming back up into the sink
That usually means a clogged up drain, not a malfunctioning disposal. Be careful in using regular drain cleaners because they might cause damage to your waste disposal. Read the owner’s manual first or try making your own, disposal-safe solution with the use of vinegar and baking soda. You will also need a kettleful of boiling water and some dishwashing soap.
Just pour ¼ cup of baking soda into the drain and follow it up with ¼ cup of vinegar. You will hear a fizzing sound as a result of the baking soda’s reaction with the vinegar. After the fizzing is gone, pour half a kettle of boiling water. Then, squirt some dishwashing soap before pouring the rest of the hot water into the drain.
If that does not fix the problem, you may have clog that is caused by a solid object. You will have to take the pipe apart and remove the blockage manually. That is serious plumbing work and you may need to ask the help of a professional.
Loud metallic noise
Spoon, fork, and other kitchen utensils fall down into the dispenser more often than you may think. You can easily remove these objects yourself but make sure that the disposal is unplugged. Flipping the switch off is not enough to guarantee your safety so make sure that the unit is not connected to the electric source.
Just remove the safety rubber lid and pull the object out if it is within your reach. If it has gone partially down the blades, use a pair of tongs to extract it. Do not risk cutting your hand.
Leaking garbage disposal
Sometimes, the leak can be caused by as simple as loose screws or bolts. But if tightening them does not fix the problem, you may have a drain gasket that needs to be replaced. A rubber gasket is easy to replace and your manual should provide you the right size and type of gasket to buy.
If the leak is at the uppermost part of the disposal, most likely it comes from the flange. The flange is the part where the disposal connects into the sink. You may need some help as the garbage disposal will have to be taken down so the flange can be resealed.