What Can You Do About a Clogged Kitchen Sink Garbage Disposal?

Don’t you hate it when your kitchen sink clogs up, just a few weeks after unclogging it? That’s what you get when you keep hurling the wrong stuff down your kitchen sink.

Clogged sinks are not only annoying but also expensive. The average cost of hiring a professional plumber to unclog your sink is about $300. Expect to pay a lot more if you clog the garbage disposal because of the work needed to unclog it.

That said, the next time you have a clogged kitchen sink garbage disposal, don’t panic. There are a couple of steps you can take to unclog it and get everything back to normal. If you want to know how to unclog your kitchen sink garbage disposal, you’re in the right place.

In today’s post, we’ll be showing you everything you can do to remove a clog in your garbage disposal.

Why Is My Garbage Disposal Clogged?

Before we get to the gist of the matter, it’s important to understand the reasons why your garbage disposal isn’t draining. That way, you can avoid clogging it, or at least reduce the frequency. Here are a few reasons for garbage disposal blockages:

Flushing The Wrong Food Down The Drain

The notion that garbage disposals can handle all types of food is ill-conceived. It’s hard for the garbage disposal to handle hard-to-chop foods like bones, corn on the cob, and seeds. This means they’ll remain in the garbage disposal and lead to a clogged drain.

Stringy foods like pasta and noodles also wrap around the garbage disposal blades and impede their functionality. The grease and oil will eventually harden and do the same.

Dropping Foreign Objects In The Garbage Disposal

The garbage disposal is only meant for food, and specific types of food, for that matter. Dropping foreign objects into it will cause the garbage disposal engine to burn up. That’s because it wasn’t designed to handle hard materials.

Inadequate Flushing Water

Sometimes the garbage disposal clogs up because it doesn’t have enough water to flush the food away. Over time, the accumulation of food will eventually prevent water from flushing down the drain.

How To Take Care Of A Clogged Kitchen Sink Garbage Disposal

Now that we know everything about why the garbage disposal clogs, let’s look at how to unclog it. You can unclog your kitchen sink garbage disposal in a few simple steps, and here they are:

Shut Off The Electrical Power Switch

First things first, turn off the power to the garbage disposal. You’ll find it under the sink cabinet, near the garbage disposal. If you don’t find it there, check on the walls near your garbage disposal. Simply flick the switch off, and you’re good to go.

If you can’t find it anywhere, consider switching off the main power supply. Don’t try to fix the garbage disposal before shutting it off. You may hurt yourself in the process.

Peer Into The Garbage Disposal

The second step in unclogging the garbage disposal is figuring out the reason for the blockage. To do so, you’ll need a flashlight to peer into the darkness. Maybe it’s just silverware or another solid object that’s caught up in the garbage disposal.

Remove The Object

If there’s an object stuck in the garbage disposal, you’ll have to remove it. You can use a pair of pliers to reach into the garbage disposal and yank out the object. A pair of tongs will work as well.

Wait Then Turn It on

Wait for at least 15 minutes after the object is out of the garbage disposal system. This is to allow time for the disposal motor to cool. After waiting, you can turn the power on and push the reset button.

The above steps should do the trick and unclog your garbage disposal. However, there are instances when the clog isn’t because of a foreign object. In such cases, you’ll have to follow these steps instead.

Turn Off The Power

Like in our previous case, the first step is to turn off the power. Always do this for your personal safety and the garbage disposal’s functionality.

Insert A Wooden Rod Into The Drain Opening

Find a wooden rod, broomstick, long dowel, or any long object, and push it into the drain hole. Don’t make the mistake of shoving your hand into the drain hole even when the garbage disposal is off. If you have a defective switch, the garbage disposal might turn on and slice your hand.

Free The Impeller Blades

Using the wooden rod, probe the drain hole until you feel the impeller blades. Once you feel it, push against it and rock the blades back and forth. Do this until you feel the blades snap free, and then try moving them with the rod.

Wait To Turn It Back On

If the impeller moves freely, don’t turn the garbage disposal back on yet. Wait at least 15 to 20 minutes before turning it on again. This should give the motor sufficient time to cool, so you can turn the garbage disposal on.

Tips For Maintaining Your Garbage Disposal

Proper maintenance is essential for preventing garbage disposal clogs. Here are a few tips to keep your garbage disposal in tip-top shape.

• Only put food objects in the garbage disposal
• Keep the garbage disposal clean always
• Only use cold water when you run your garbage disposal
• Break up large objects before throwing them in the garbage disposal
• Don’t use drain cleaners on your garbage disposal

Sometimes, taking care and unclogging can be a handful. In such cases, you can leave it to this company to do the handy work; they’ll have your back.

Unclogging Your Garbage Disposal Made Easy

Be sure to keep the above in mind, the next time you have a clogged kitchen sink garbage disposal. That way, you can unclog the blockage and get it working again. If it’s too much work, you can always leave it to the pros.

Don’t forget to check out the other posts for more informative content.