Garbage Disposal Jammed? Here’s How To Safely Fix It
Garbage disposals are an extremely beneficial addition to your kitchen. They allow you to quickly and easily dispose of food waste without stinking up your kitchen like it would if you just threw the waste in the trash.
While garbage disposals are helpful, it’s important to be mindful of what can cause them to jam. If you’re struggling with a jammed disposal, ABC Southwest Plumbing & Air Conditioning is here to explain why this happens and how to fix it safely.
Contact ABC Southwest to learn more about our plumbing and HVAC services.
What Can Jam a Garbage Disposal?
Jammed garbage disposals can be a common problem, so it’s good to know how they happen and how to prevent them. Common causes of a garbage disposal jam include:
Food Buildup
If you use your garbage disposal frequently, food particles, grease, and waste can build up over time. If they build up too much, this can jam your disposal.
Drain Clogs
Chunks of food and grease can accumulate in the drain lines and the P-trap underneath. This can jam the disposal and impede water drainage.
Object Blockages
Food is the only thing that should be put in your garbage disposal, but sometimes things accidentally fall down there. Objects that fall into the disposal can get lodged and jam the blades.
Overuse
Running your disposal for too long or trying to grind too much at once can overwork the disposal’s motor shaft. When this happens, food waste can get tightly packed in the chamber, jamming the disposal.
Mechanical Issues
Many mechanical issues can cause your garbage disposal to jam. Issues such as broken or warped blades, worn-down grinding rings, or damaged seals can hurt your disposal’s grinding performance and cause jams.
Signs Your Garbage Disposal Is Jammed
If you’re not sure if your garbage disposal is jammed, there are many signs you can look out for. Signs your disposal is jammed include:
Decreased Performance Over Time
If you’ve noticed decreased grinding performance over time, this is a sign that your disposal is becoming jammed with debris and needs to be unclogged.
Humming Sounds
If you go to turn on your disposal and hear a humming sound instead of its usual grinding, this is a sign the garbage disposal is jammed.
Water Backing Up
If water is backing up into the sink or draining very slowly, this means something is preventing the water from flowing freely.
Foul Odors
Foul odors coming from your garbage disposal indicate that the disposal has failed to grind up food properly, leaving it somewhere inside the unit and creating bad smells.
Other Signs
Other signs of a jam include leaking from the bottom of the disposal, motor overheating, and the disposal suddenly shutting off while in use.
Fixing a Jammed Garbage Disposal
A jammed garbage disposal can be an obnoxious issue, but often, it can be fixed with simple troubleshooting. Before doing anything, make sure the system is off!
Reset the Disposal
Try resetting the garbage disposal by unplugging it. Locate the reset button, typically on the bottom or side of the unit, and press it. Then, plug it back in and test it.
Use a Wrench
Using a special garbage disposal wrench or a hex-head Allen wrench, insert the wrench into the bottom of the unit and twist it back and forth to release jams in the flywheel and blades.
Use a Wooden Object
Try using a wooden spoon handle or chopstick to poke any blockages. This can help dislodge or break up whatever is clogging the grinding chamber.
Use a Drain Snake
A drain snake can help remove blockages in the P-trap and drain line below the disposal.
Schedule Garbage Disposal Repair With ABC Southwest Today
If these troubleshooting techniques don’t work, turn to the professionals at ABC Southwest. We offer expert garbage disposal services, including repairs, to ensure your disposal is back up and running as soon as possible.
Contact ABC Southwest to schedule garbage disposal repair today.
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