It can be challenging trying to fix a garbage disposal clog. Maybe you tried to dispose of too much food waste at once. Perhaps you put something down the drain that you weren’t supposed to, like fibrous vegetables, fruit pits, or that all-time clogging classic, grease. The question then becomes, how can you successfully and safely clear the clog?
Before you begin, there are two major safety tips to keep in mind when trying to repair your garbage disposal. First, never try to clear out a clog by hand. Second, make sure you disconnect the machine's power before attempting any sort of clog removal so that there’s no risk of the unit activating. Failure to do so could lead to serious injury or cause damage to your disposal.
Once your garbage disposal’s power has been disconnected, shine a flashlight down the drain to see what the clogging culprit is. Hard obstructions like bones or forks can get stuck in the disposal.
If your garbage disposal is making a humming noise but not much else, the unit’s safety system likely activated to prevent the motor from overheating. If there's an item lodged in there, use tongs or pliers to remove it.
After giving the disposal time to cool down, check on the bottom or side of the unit for a small, red button to reset it. The disposal should hopefully return to working as normal.
Take care if the source of your garbage disposal clog is food waste or grease. Your first instinct may be to flush it out with hot water. Resist that urge. Hot water will cause any fatty food items in the drain to congeal and get sticky, making the garbage disposal clog worse. Use cold water instead.
The tried-and-true baking soda and vinegar mixture works wonders with garbage disposal clogs. Sprinkle a bit of baking soda down the drain, followed up with some vinegar. After letting the mixture bubble for about ten minutes, flush it out with cold water.
Plungers are also useful for removing garbage disposal clogs. Cover the drain with the plunger and add a bit of water to your sink before plunging the drain. Don’t plunge with too much force. Too much pressure on the drain could cause the trap under the sink to come apart. We recommend placing a bucket under the sink just in case.
You can also try using an Allen wrench to manually free the blades on the flywheel. On the garbage disposal’s underside is a hexagonal hole to insert the wrench. Moving it back and forth will typically loosen the jam.
When you're ready for professional help, you can always call us for garbage disposal repair in Springfield, Missouri. United Plumbing can have your garbage disposal back up and running in no time at all. Reach out to us today.