

Remember to always follow the #1 rule of garbage disposal troubleshooting, and we definitely recommend keeping ALL your limbs out of the disposer. Luckily, these scenarios are often a relatively easy thing to fix and your friends at ® are here to help, with some simple instructions for unclogging this useful appliance in a safe manner. If your disposer is running but water is not draining and backs up into your sink then the drain is most likely clogged. If your disposer will not turn on or it stops running, then the disposer is jammed. The motor will be running but the disposer will not drain any further. Your disposal will keep pushing it into the drain line until the drain line, usually the p‐trap or outlet tee, is so compacted it can no longer push any more. Rice is one food you really don't want to put into a disposal as it will expand as water is absorbed into it. Sometimes water will cause certain food particles to expand and cause a stoppage. Often times if not enough water is used while the disposal is in use it can cause food particles to clump together and get caught in the drain outlet tee or in the p‐trap itself. The most common cause of garbage disposer trouble is the drain line becoming clogged after food waste has been ground‐up by the disposer and pushed through into the drain line. And it certainly isn't a good idea to put a few pounds worth of potato peelings, all the turkey bones, or the last half of that pumpkin pie down there! Any of these types of items can get caught in the disposer and jam the turn table, keep it from turning, and cause the motor to overheat and shut down. Not so! Garbage disposals are for small amounts of food waste - NOT bottle caps, plastic utensils, cigarette butts, paper cups, or napkins and the like. Since they are called garbage disposers many people think you can put any garbage you want down them. With more food prep and added use, the chance of accidentally clogging a garbage disposer becomes greater during this time than at any other time of the year.Īs with most modern inconveniences, a disposer clog usually happens at the most inopportune time possible and often because not everyone knows what should or should not be put into a garbage disposer. Relatives, close friends, new acquaintances, office colleagues and other guests are often invited over for holiday festivities.

During the holiday season, garbage disposers are used quite possibly more than at any other time of the year. Garbage disposers can be a huge convenience, but they can quickly turn into a huge inconvenience when they aren't working properly. NEVER PUT YOUR HAND INTO A GARBAGE DISPOSER! The #1 rule of garbage disposal troubleshooting… ADA Compliant & Independent Living Aids.
