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5 Signs Your Garbage Disposal Needs Repair

Although garbage disposals are designed to effectively dispose of food waste and prevent blockages in your plumbing, they may occasionally experience problems. If this is occurring frequently, then it may require repair or replacement.

If you’re facing frequent issues with your garbage disposal, it’s time to consider professional garbage disposal services from an expert to help keep your kitchen running smoothly!

1. Slow draining

An improperly functioning garbage disposal drain can be a severe source of havoc in any home, leaving standing water that will stain the sink and produce foul smells in your environment. Furthermore, stagnant water may allow pests to breed and fester within it.

Failing drains often arise due to clogs. Food debris, soap scum, and grease build-up in pipes obstruct water flow while slowing it down considerably. Regular cleaning of your drains is vital to keep them clear and functional.

First, turn off all power to your unit – either by switching off the breaker under your sink or switching it off on the wall – before shining a flashlight down into the drain to search for any obstructions, such as bones or other foreign objects that might obstruct its path. Use tongs or pliers if any appear.

If the source of clogging cannot be located, try using a natural cleaner, like mixing one-fourth cup baking soda and one-half cup vinegar into a solution that will fizz and foam, before pouring it down the drain and flushing with hot water from your faucet.

2. Water leaks

Even well-maintained garbage disposals will sometimes develop leaks. This often happens when pipes connecting it to sink drains or sewer systems are damaged; tightening joints and ensuring connections are watertight may solve this problem.

But if leaks originate within the body of the disposal, such as cracked seal or seal damage, that requires professional repairs or replacement.

3. Foul or foreign odors

Another telltale sign that it may be time for a garbage disposal repair or replacement is foul or foreign odors that persist after using drain cleaner, no matter how many times you rinse or use drain cleaner.

These could indicate food particles stuck inside and screeching metal-on-metal noises caused by worn-out seals, making use of your disposal difficult and noisy. A plumber could repair this issue, but first, ensure all power has been cut before starting repairs yourself.

4. Unusual sounds

When your garbage disposal makes strange noises, it could indicate something is amiss. A loud grinding sound could indicate something foreign–often a kitchen utensil or piece of metal–is jamming up its blades and jamming the entire system.

If your disposal is in this situation, shut it off immediately and schedule an examination with a qualified plumber immediately. If it just hums but won’t spin at all, then this could indicate electrical issues–perhaps due to a dead motor.

Humming noises usually indicate that your disposal is having difficulty grinding food, suggesting dull blades or an exhausted motor as potential causes. If this issue continues, replacement might be in order.

If there’s no sound when turning on, however, this could indicate power problems; resetting its reset button or circuit breaker may fix this; for any persistent issues, it would be best to contact a plumber for further advice and an inspection.

5. Clogged drain

If your drain doesn’t drain as fast, this could be an early indicator of a clog. Clogs tend to form over time as grease, hair, soap scum and other waste adheres to pipe walls and accumulates. Minor blockages may be resolved using baking soda and vinegar, but severe or repeated blockages warrant professional intervention.

Warning signs for blocked sewer lines in or around your home include the scent of sewage in or near it. A blocked sewer line can be extremely hazardous as wastewater cannot leave its plumbing fixtures, potentially flooding toilets and bathtubs before even reaching floor drains in basement or garage areas.

When this occurs, it’s essential that a plumber be called immediately as this situation could worsen further; additionally, clogs in main sewer lines allow tree roots into your plumbing pipes that may eventually grow into them and block off access altogether.

Jeff Campbell