3 Signs That You Need Garbage Disposal Repair
Whether you have a garbage disposal in your home or in your office, it is always a good idea to have it inspected by a professional plumber to prevent further damage. Here are 3 common signs that you may need disposal repair. First, see if water is seeping out of the area where your disposal connects to your plumbing system. If the leak is large enough, you will likely need to replace the entire appliance. Leaks may leave puddles under your sink, pooling water under your cabinet floor, or even drip from underneath the disposal itself. Occasionally, leaks are mistaken for dishwasher leaks, but plumbers will be able to determine the cause and provide you with a solution.
Leaking
If you notice that your garbage disposal is leaking, you probably need to get it fixed. Depending on the type of garbage disposal, leaks can be simple and easy to repair. However, some leaking garbage disposals need a plumber to fix them properly. To prevent this, you should always check your garbage disposal periodically for signs of leaks.
One of the first signs that your garbage disposal may need repair is if it is leaking water from the bottom. This happens because of a broken seal or cracked shell. Most times, this leak happens around the bottom reset button of the garbage disposal. If this happens, you should contact the manufacturer or consider getting a new unit.
Another cause of leaking garbage disposal is the sink flange. The sink flange is usually sealed with plumber’s putty to prevent leaks. To repair a leak, you need to clean out the old putty and apply new putty.
Slow Draining/No Draining
If you have a slow-draining garbage disposal, it is important to first diagnose the problem. The most common cause of this issue is clogging. To clear the clog, you must unplug the disposal and remove the drain trap and discharge pipe. If you find that the drain is still clogged, it is time to call a plumber to get it fixed.
If the drain is not draining properly, you may need to use pliers to remove any foreign objects that have gotten into the disposal. You can also use an auger to dig out any debris from the drain trap. If this method does not work, you may need to use a plumber’s snake to get to the root of the problem.
A slow-draining garbage disposal can also produce a foul smell. While the smell is often caused by trapped food particles, it can also be caused by a malfunctioning motor. These problems can cause your garbage disposal to grind food in the sink for longer than usual, or it can result in a clogged drainpipe.
Humming Noise
If your garbage disposal is making a humming noise, you may need to get it fixed. The sound may be coming from a foreign object stuck in the disposal’s blades, a malfunctioning motor, or a misaligned drain. In some cases, it is the result of general wear and tears. If the humming noise persists, you may need to get it replaced.
The first step to take is to turn off the power to the garbage disposal. You may have to turn off the circuit breaker to do this. Once the power is off, insert an Allen key into the hole underneath the unit and gently wiggle it around. If the problem persists, you should contact our professional plumbing company to repair or replace the unit. You can also try using a flashlight to check if something is stuck in the disposal. If the object is stuck in the disposal, you can remove it with a gloved hand.
Another cause of the humming noise may be a failure of the motor or capacitor. The motor may overheat because of the waste products in the disposal. It could also overheat due to a jammed grinding chamber. This can lead to increased rpm and wasted energy.