When your garbage disposal goes wrong, try these quick fixes before calling in the plumber.
Find the reset button, usually on the bottom of the garbage disposal. Press it and then try the unit again. That may get you back in business.
If your unit is jammed, you can take a hex wrench and turn the disposal manually to try to free it up. There will likely by a hex-shaped hole at the bottom of the unit. Sometimes disposals come with a wrench just for this purpose.
If the disposal fails to respond at all when the switch is flipped, check to see if the power is applied. Check the switches, breakers, and fuses. If your disposal is plugged into a socket under the sink, you can try another appliance in that socket to be sure it is live.
Leakage may be from the disposal or from your plumbing. Try to locate the leak. If it is from the disposal unit, and not the plumbing, it may be time to replace rather than repair.
A disposal that seem to run alright but doesn’t grind the waste may have broken blades. It will be most likely be best to replace the whole unit in that case. If the water doesn’t go through at all, but the garbage disposal is working fine, there is a drainage problem that may require a plumber.
If you have tried these steps and nothing is working, it may well be time to call in a contractor to replace that garbage disposal gone bad.
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