The garbage disposal under your kitchen sink gets a lot of work over its lifetime.
The kitchen appliance shreds food waste and other items into small pieces that easily pass through your home’s plumbing system. It can become frustrating when your garbage disposal is not working as expected, maybe worse yet leaking water.
CAUTION NEEDED: Never place fingers into the disposal drain and never reach into a garbage disposal – when operating or idle. Never attempt to dispose of non-organic material’s or metal objects.
Following are some of the most common reasons your disposal is no longer working:
Jammed disposal: This is the most common culprit. Food scraps, utensils, or other hard objects can get stuck in the disposal’s grinding mechanism, preventing it from turning.
Electrical problems: The disposal might not be getting power. Check if the circuit breaker is tripped, the GFCI outlet is reset (if you have one), or the power cord is loose.
Overheating: Garbage disposals have overload protection that shuts them off if they overheat. This can happen from running the disposal for too long or trying to grind up tough materials.
Clogged drain: Even if your disposal is working, a clog further down the drainpipe can prevent water from flowing freely and make it seem like the disposal is clogged.
Faulty motor: In some cases, the motor itself may be worn out and need to be replaced. This is less common than the other reasons, but if you’ve tried everything else and your disposal still isn’t working, it might be time to call HT Strenger Plumbing.
To learn more about the importance of the Garbage Disposal in your home, or to schedule an HT Strenger technician for a home visit, call us at 847-234-9440 or schedule online.
