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Many of us take our garbage disposal for granted, but when it stops working, it can shut down most kitchen tasks. We depend on this contraption to help break down a variety of soft food items when cooking and cleaning up after meals. Without a fully functioning garbage disposal to discard extra food waste, we would end up spending way too much time scraping food into a trash can or composting bucket, and end up with a smelly kitchen.
Yet garbage disposals can experience all kinds of annoying problems such as leaks, pooling water, unusual noises, slow draining, not turning on, and inability to grind properly. These issues might result from regular wear or improper use. We surveyed several plumbers to find out what they notice are the most common garbage disposal problems that homeowners face.
The winner is…frequent clogs.
Plumbers agree that they most often get calls to fix clogged or jammed garbage disposals. “This prevents the disposal from grinding properly, and typically happens when homeowners put the wrong types of food waste down the drain,” says Al Fagundes, founder and CEO of A. Fagundes Plumbing and Heating Inc. in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. A clogged disposal can unfortunately lead to slow drainage flow and bad odors, or even a complete system failure as the worst case scenario.
What causes frequent clogs?
More often than not, the clogs are triggered by improper use. “Many homeowners mistakenly treat disposals as catch-alls, which leads to blockages, especially when hard-to-grind items like bones or large amounts of food are involved,” says Courtney Zalesak, vice president at Malek Service Company in College Station, Texas.
Garbage disposals aren’t designed to handle fibrous, starchy, or greasy foods, says Fagundes. “Items like potato peels, celery, eggshells, coffee grounds, and grease can either wrap around the blades or create a sticky buildup inside the pipes, leading to clogs and poor drainage,” he explains. Other food items to keep out of the garbage disposal include nuts, bones, pasta, fruit pits, seafood shells, and fibrous vegetables like cornhusks and kale. Another common mistake is overloading the disposal, which can burn out the motor.
Learn how to repair this common problem.
It is possible to unclog a garbage disposal yourself by following a few key steps. For minor jams, the first step is to turn off the power and use an Allen wrench in the bottom slot of the disposal to manually free up the impellers, says Fagundes. “If there’s a clog, I recommend using a plunger or a plumber’s snake—never chemical drain cleaners, as they can damage the disposal and pipes,” he says. If the unit is completely dead, the reset button on the bottom might get it working again, but in some cases the motor may need to be replaced.
Danny Pen, president of New Era Plumbing & HVAC in Dracut, Massachusetts, echoes this approach and offers additional advice. “If water isn’t draining, try a plunger or a wet/dry vacuum before taking apart the pipes. If that isn’t helping, disconnect the trap under the sink and clear it manually,” he says.
If you’re not up for this DIY project, call a plumber. Expect to pay about $70 to $150, depending on the location of the clog and the type of obstruction.
Avoid future garbage disposal clogs.
Fortunately, there are ways to help prevent a clogged garbage disposal, and most of them are in your control. To keep your garbage disposal in tip-top shape, Fagundes recommends homeowners do the following:
- Run cold water while using the disposal to prevent grease buildup, allowing it to run a few seconds after the food grinding is complete.
- Avoid dumping problematic foods (see above for a complete list).
- Feed food waste gradually instead of all at once to prevent overload.
- Clean the disposal regularly using ice cubes and a little dish soap or a mixture of baking soda and vinegar to break down gunk. You can even freeze vinegar in ice cube trays or add a bit of table salt to ice cubes for a more effective result.
Another trick is to grind up citrus scraps, such as used lemon wedges and orange rinds. Grinding acidic citrus rinds removes any food scraps clinging to the garbage disposal and leaves behind a pleasing citrus scent.
You can also consider purchasing a new garbage disposal, such as a high-power model with a special anti-jamming feature. Some newer disposals come with an anti-jamming feature that can detect a jam and automatically reverse the blades, which will often dislodge the clog.
