How many clogged sinks would we all have without the kitchen garbage disposal? Think of all the food byproducts we put down the kitchen sink. Without our garbage disposals our kitchen sinks might be permanently clogged. We’ve seen how invaluable these devices are; particularly when they do become clogged because then our kitchens come literally to a grinding halt. These disposals need to be kept clean and we homeowners and gourmet chefs need to be very careful of what we put down the kitchen sink.
So now you have a clogged garbage disposal. Here are some ideas and steps to hopefully fix the issue. The very first thing to do is to turn off the power to the unit. The last think you need is to have the unit come on, or unclog, as you are working on it!
Remove the splash guard from the opening of the unit, so that you can get a better look down inside the disposal.
Look for any obvious objects that might be clogging it. If you do see an object use some tongs, if you have them, to try and remove the debris. If you have thick rubber gloves, use them with care to get the object out. These gloves need to be thick so that the blades do not cut through them.
If no obvious things show up as being the source of the clog, then it’s time to use the tried and true plunger to see if you can break the clog. Seal up any outlets from the sink so that you get the best seal, and therefore best pressure, possible when using the plunger.
If the efforts are not successful with the plunger then we suggest you call in your licensed plumber who will have the skills and tools to unclog your garbage disposal.
As with virtually all mechanical devices, preventative maintenance or care with your garbage disposal will help keep you away from this situation. We put so many things down these disposals that it is a wonder they are not clogged more! The following is a partial list of what we should never put down the sink. Shells from eggs, shrimp and crabs should go in the garbage can, not down the disposal.
This same rule applies for all peels from vegetables and fruits. No bones of any kind, popcorn kernels, etc. as well. If in doubt do not put the object down the sink. No manmade objects such as bottle caps, plastic, grease, etc should ever go down the sink.
When you do use the disposal, run cold water for 30 seconds after the waste has gone down. This is the recommendation of the manufacturers and we seldom follow this guideline.