If you have a disposal, you’ve probably wondered, “Do garbage disposals get full and need to be emptied?” Generally NO, but sometimes when things go wrong, it can happen. First, make sure that the disposal is not clogged with standing water. Next, avoid flushing potato peels down the garbage disposal. Avoid overheating your garbage disposal as well.
Unclog A Garbage Disposal With Standing Water
Trying to unclog a garbage disposal with standing water may seem like an impossible task. It’s also a job that can be difficult to complete on your own, which is why you should consult a professional for assistance. If you want to ensure that your disposal doesn’t get clogged again, you should monitor what you put in it. You can even use a garbage disposal cleaner to get rid of leftover water.
If you find a standing water pool in your sink, you’ll want to use a plunger to force the water out of the sink. To use a plunger, you need to place it over the drain hole and push it until no water remains. To make the process easier, you can also use a cup to scoop out the water. When the sink is clear, you can look inside the garbage disposal unit to determine if it’s clogged.
To start the disposal, locate the hexagon on the outside of the disposal. Insert the hex wrench into the hexagon hole, and move it clockwise and counterclockwise four or five times. This should loosen the clog and allow you to spin the rotor freely. You may also want to use tongs to grab the clog pieces. Alternatively, you can use a regular wrench to unscrew the clog.
Avoid Putting Potato Peels Down A Garbage Disposal
Using a garbage disposal to discard leftover food is not a good idea. While you may love the convenience of a garbage disposal, it can clog your drain. Peeling potatoes leaves behind large amounts of starch and other particles that can clog drain lines. The residue that potato peels leave behind can also get stuck in the drain trap and other piping. Even worse, this buildup can clog up your disposal and cause it to stall.
The easiest way to avoid clogging up your garbage disposal is to not put starchy foods in it. Starchy foods like potatoes swell up and form a thick paste that sticks to the blades and can cause a jam. These foods should be disposed of in a trash bin or compost bin outside. If you’re worried about clogging, you can use a drain snake to clear up clogs inside the P-trap.
Potato peels and onion skins can cause a clog in a garbage disposal. These items can slip through the blades and cause the disposal to jam, causing it to stall and need to be emptied. Potatoes can also clog drains because they don’t mince finely enough. Potato peels are starchy and can create a thick paste when mixed with water, resulting in a costly plumbing repair.
Avoid Overheating A Garbage Disposal
To avoid overheating a garbage disposal, you should know how to fix it. First, you must remove any blockage that may have caused the garbage disposal to jam. Then, you should test to see if garbage has been flushed out properly. If this step does not work, you can press the reset button located on the bottom of the disposal. Press this button and wait 15 minutes before you run the disposal again.
If you do not know how to fix the problem yourself, you can call an expert. Firstly, you should test the electrical outlet that powers your disposal. The circuit that powers it may have been shut down to prevent damage. If it is, you need to replace the switch. Otherwise, you may need to call a service technician to fix the problem. Alternatively, you can try the same steps to avoid overheating a garbage disposal.
If your garbage disposal suddenly starts to make an odd noise, it could be overheating. It may be jammed or defective parts that cause a grinding chamber to produce unusual noises. You can try using a cup plunger to push the food out of the clog and run the disposal to clear it. If you still cannot clear the clog, you can also use a snaking technique or plunger to force the blockage.