Signs Of A Failing Garbage Disposal

A functional garburator keeps your sink clean and drains operational. However, when garbage disposal starts acting up, problems arise with your sink and pipes. It also impacts the way you cook food, washes dishes, and clean your kitchen.

While some garburator problems respond well to repairs, others need a full replacement. Often when warning signs are ignored, the issues become irreparable. So, it is important to notice early warning signs your garbage disposal shows and act quickly to avoid expensive repairs and replacements.

The article below highlights some of the most common warnings signs by Jack’d Up Plumbing indicating your garbage disposal is failing to help you recognize the problem and solve it as quickly as possible.

Abnormal Noises

If you have ever let a steelware slide into your garburator without notice, you know how loud it can be. So, if you hear loud noises coming from your garbage compactor, use your hand and a light to check if some steel material is disrupting the blades. You may end up finding a lost spoon.

However, if you don’t find an apparent obstruction around the blades, it is possible that the components of the machine are misaligned. These misaligned components grind together when you run the garbage compactor.

In most cases, the problem can be solved by simple adjustments and tightening the components. Thus, it is important to pay close attention to the new disposal noises and get them solved right away. In the long run, the grinding of the components will damage the motor of the machine.

Inexplicable Clogs

We all know that it is suitable only to drain down small food particles to avoid clogs. But if you notice that no matter how small the food particles are, they always tend to block the garbage disposal, then the problem is with the machine and not your habits.

These clogs usually indicate that your load now needs an updated and higher-capacity garbage disposal unit.

Frequent Resets

The reset button on your garburator is to help your appliance recover from unprecedented events and prevent clogs and large loads. However, if your garburator is in good health, it will not need resetting often. So, treat your reset button as an emergency option only.

If you find yourself resetting your garbage disposal unit often, it may be a sign that the unit is aging out. Another common problem that can force frequent resets is loose wiring. To get the problem solved, you’ll need to call a professional plumber or sometimes an electrician to handle it safely.

No Power

If your garbage disposal is not getting on or is turning off itself while in use, check if the connected circuit has blown. If you have no doubts about the working of your electrical circuit, then schedule a garbage disposal inspection as soon as possible.

Generally, the unseen power outage indicates motor failures. The motor may be breathing its last breaths or may have completely blown out.

Persistent Odors

The garbage disposal unit’s odors can be unpleasant because they are derived from the breakdown of the wet food. Most of these odors are responsive to small and gentle cleaning actions and thorough cleansing. However, if the odors are not subsiding after deep cleaning and rinsing, you need to contact a professional garburator quickly.

The professional plumber can open the appliance apart and take out the trapped particle that could be causing the problem.

It is advisable never to use cleaning agents to clean your garburators. These products are often too strong for your plumbing system, and they also destroy the blades and other components of your garbage disposal unit.

Poor Performance

Most vegetables and permissible loads should move down from the garburator quite easily and quickly. So, if you notice the loads taking extra long to break in the garbage compactor, the blades may need to be resharpened or changed.

In worst-case scenarios, deteriorated blades may need the replacement of the whole unit. So, make sure that you get the problem assessed by a professional consultant.

Water Leaks

Over time, the water may start seeping from the disposal to the areas where it is attached to the rest of the plumbing system. After some time, the leaking area becomes large enough to be noticeable and leads to full appliance failure. Not only the unit, but these leaks can create puddles under the sink, pool on the floor, or drip from under the garbage disposal itself.

However, your disposal is not the only cause of this problem. A dishwasher or sink can be the culprit too. So, before reaching any conclusions, request a professional to assess the situation and find the main cause of the problem.

Conclusion

If you find any of or a combination of these problems happening to you during kitchen time, schedule a maintenance and assessment appointment with a professional garburator plumber. On-time diagnosis and repairs can save you from expensive replacements and repairs.