Why is my garbage disposal not working?

Reasons why your garbage disposal gets jammed

How do I know if my garbage disposal is clogged? The first sign would be your sink is having difficulty draining. There can also smell foul odors that come up from the drain. If your drain is gurgling that is also a sign of a jammed disposal. Here are some of the reasons why your garbage disposal gets jammed are:

Grease and oil is the worst enemy of all drains and pipes. Due to the fact water slides right off oil, it tends to build up in your drain and disposal unit. Grease thickens and coagulates as it cools in the pipe. The best and easiest way to prevent this from happening is to never pour oil or grease into the disposal drain and to wipe out any pots, pans or dishes into a trash can.

[The next culprit as to why your garbage disposal gets jammed is food accumulation.]1 Small bits of food you wash down the drain are generally fine for disposals; since this is what they were designed to do. It’s understandable that you want to get through the chore of daily dishes, but dumping large chunks of food down the disposal drain isn’t wise. It doesn’t always break down, and as a result, can clog the garbage disposal. You should avoid ever putting egg shells, banana or potato peels, coffee grounds or similar food items down your disposal.

[Are you running enough hot water in the disposal unit?]1 Be sure to run hot water while using your unit to avoid clogged disposal units. Hot water helps break down the food matter, and after you shut off the disposal, continue to run the hot water for about 30 seconds.

If your garbage disposal is clogged it could be due to a clogged waste line. At times, the clog is deeper down in your waste pipes. Like every machine and human, garbage disposal units age. The blades in the disposal eventually wear down and are unable to grind waste material. If this is the culprit, you need to purchase a new unit.

Is the garbage disposal in your Montgomery home acting up? Call Cole Plumbing at (334) 458-9413) and schedule a service call today!