Home Tips : Garbage Disposal Problems & Troubleshooting

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.

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.

A good garbage disposal can last a decade or more with proper care and usage.

Simple problems are easy to fix; with a serious problem, you're usually better off replacing the entire unit. When you buy a new disposal, installation instructions are included.

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

If something has been put in the disposal that should not have been, including metal, rubber, glass objects, or fibrous food waste such as artichokes and corn husks, shells, or large whole bones, use tongs or pliers to pull the material out. Never use your hand.

TIP: To clean a garbage disposal of built-up sludge and debris, fill it with ice cubes and a cup of rock salt, then run it for about five seconds. If your garbage disposal smells bad, you can deodorize it by running warm water down it while you grind a lemon.

SAFETY FIRST:
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.