Garbage Disposals: Troubleshooting & Repair
SEE NEXT: Typical Garbage Disposal Problems / Easy Repairs
Before working on the receptacle or wires connected to it, turn off the circuit breaker or remove the fuse to disconnect the circuit. Test the bare ends of the wires with a voltage tester to make sure they are not charged.
Indispensable in the modern kitchen, a garbage disposal helps make food preparation and cleanup easy and fast. Attached to the underside of a kitchen sink's drain, a garbage disposal works by chewing up food scraps fed down the drain with a heavy flow of water.
A shredder breaks the food down in the grinding chamber, then an impeller arm and plate force the liquid and particles down the drain.
Dishwasher drain water also runs through the garbage disposal so that any large particles are chewed up and drained away.
Two types of garbage disposal are commonly available: the familiar continuous-feed style, activated by a switch as you run the water, and the batch-feed type, activated by turning a stopper after loading the disposal with garbage.
Most garbage disposals have electric-powered motors, but one new type operates solely on the force of water from the sink spout. These are particularly practical where there is no electrical outlet for a disposal beneath the sink.
 Garbage disposals work best if you:
* Use cold water when grinding food (hot water can melt fats and clog the mechanism and the pipes)
* Do not overfill
* Do not pour bleach, drain cleaners, or other chemicals into the unit
* Do not grind overly fibrous materials, bones, or coffee grounds (check the owners manual) or materials like glass, metal, or rubber
* Run water before and after you use the disposal
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