E.T. Lawson at Your Disposal

- 11:02 am - April 20th, 2018

A garbage disposal in any kitchen is a blessing… that is, until it becomes clogged and stops working properly. Even if you’re careful about what you put down your garbage disposal, clogs can happen. Generally, clogs are caused by dropping a foreign object, such as utensils, into the disposal; feeding garbage into the disposal too rapidly; or failing to run enough water while the garbage is being processed. You should also know the limitations of your disposal by checking the owner’s manual.

If you do find yourself face to face with a clogged garbage disposal, try out these steps:

• Shut off the electrical power switch. For maximum safety while working on your garbage disposal, you may even want to go to your electrical panel and shut off the breaker or remove the fuse, to ensure the disposal won’t accidentally turn on. Note: NEVER put your hands in a garbage disposal, whether there’s power going to it or not!
• Look in the disposal! Shed some light on the situation with a flashlight. If you can see the obstruction, you’ll be better able to clear it out
• If you see an object causing the stoppage, use a pair of pliers to reach in and remove it
• Wait 15 minutes for the disposal motor to cool
• Turn on the power and push the reset or overload protector button, which is located on the bottom of the disposal

If you find that these steps haven’t helped, you can try rocking the blades of the garbage disposal back and forth to free them up using a long wooden dowel, wooden spoon or broom handle. If nothing seems to work, its time to call in the professionals! E.T. Lawson’s plumbers have years of experience handling clogged disposals, running toilets and other common plumbing problems. Contact us today for all your plumbing needs!