A garbage disposal insinkerator is one of the most important appliances in the kitchen. It helps maintain an odorless kitchen and eliminates food waste. Overtime, problems arise which are caused by different factors. Here are some garbage disposal insinkerator issues you can fix by yourself.
Garbage Disposal Reset Button Does Not Work.
Most of the time, resetting the overload button is needed to clear a garbage disposal jam. Sometimes, though this button trips. If you notice that the red reset button has dropped down at least 5mm, this is a sign that the button is not working.
Step 1: Check the circuit breaker panel. Locate the circuit breaker specific to the garbage disposal and turn it off and turn it back on to reset the breaker.
Step 2: Go back to the where the garbage disposal is located to check the button remains pushed to the disposal. Turn on the garbage disposal power and let running water flow. This should keep your unit working. If after resetting the button again does not solve the problem, the wall switch should be checked.
Step 3: Get a non-contact voltage detector while the wall switch is on to check the voltage of electricity supplied to the unit. You should hear a beep and a flashing light to ensure there is electricity. Do the same with the outlet under the sink connected to the garbage disposal. If beep and flashing are absent, you might need to replace the wall switch.
Garbage Disposal Is Jammed.
Step 1: Ensure that the garbage disposal switch is turned off and the garbage disposal plug form the wall outlet is not connected.
Step 2: Using the garbage disposal wrench of a hex head wrench with the appropriate size, insert it on the hole at the bottle of the insinkerator and rotate it clockwise and counterclockwise to remove the jam.
Step 3: With a broom handle or a plunger handle, reach for the garbage disposal from the drain located in the sink. Rotate the grinding plate by using the end of the wooden handle to release the jam. If there is a grinding wall in your insinkerator, rotate this part of the disposal.
Step 4: With the wrench you have used earlier, double check if the problem is already solved.
Step 5: Replace the plug and turn the garbage disposal insinkerator as well as the sink faucet to let water flow.
Step 6: At the bottom of the insinkerator unit, push the red reset button.
Glass Stuck Inside The Garbage Disposal Insinkerator.
Step 1: Ensure to prevent getting electrocuted by turning off the switch of the garbage disposal and remove the plug from the wall outlet. Conversely, if the disposal is connected to a circuit breaker, turn it off as well. With the use of s screwdriver, disconnect the wires found on the garbage disposal housing.
Step 2: With gloves on and a pair of pliers, remove the glass pieces from the grinder and place them safely inside a paper bag to dispose of it properly.
Remove the garbage disposal unit from the drain. Place your hand on the bottom of the unit and rotate it at around a quarter of a full rotation to dislodge the unit from the sink.
Step 3: From the sink, place the insinkerator unit upside down a a piece of cloth or cardboard. With a wrench or wooden stick or rod, remove the remaining glass pieces trapped within the grinder and gently rotate the grinder until all pieces are dislodged and you can rotate the grinder smoothly.
Step 4: Put the garbage disposal unit back and reconnect the wires you earlier disconnected from the housing. Plug in the unit, turn on the water from the faucet and switch it on to ensure the grinder and flywheel are operating smoothly.
Garbage Disposal Insinkerator Leaks.
Step 1: Locate where the problem is coming from by placing a newspaper under the garbage disposal. With a stopper placed on the opening of the disposal, turn on the water to fill in the sink. If there is a leak, you will notice that a part of the newspaper will get wet. When you remove the stopper and water leaks as the pipe is draining, there might also be a problem with the drain pipe.
Step 2: From the wall outlet under the sink, unplug the connection and if your garbage disposal insinkerator is connected to a circuit breaker, turn the circuit breaker off. Check if the disposal is loose by rotating it clockwise. If it is tightly secure, then your next step is to remove the garbage disposal from the sink but first, not completely.
Step 3: Turn the compression counterclockwise to disconnect the P-trap and remove the unit by rotating it at least a quarter of an inch clockwise while holding the bottom of the insinkerator. With a screwdriver, secure tightly the mounting screws and replace the disposal. Repeat step number 1 to check for leaks. If there is leaking, remove the disposal again and tighten the mounting screws.
Step 4: If the sink drain is not leaking, reconnect the P-trap. Cover the drain with a stopper and fill in the sink with water. Tighten the drain pipes with a set of pliers.
Garbage Disposal Insinkerator Noisy.
Step 1: Turn off the switch before doing any repair. With the wrench that came with the unit, crank the garbage disposal unit by inserting it at the bottom of the garbage disposal.
Step 2: Move the wrench back and forth up to a whole rotation. Continue working on the wrench until rotates in both directions.
Step 3: Get a flashlight and check the grinder if there is an object trapped in the chamber, if there is, remove it with a set of pliers. For objects that are not visible, you can use a magnet so metal objects can attach to it.
Step 4: Turn the garbage disposal insinkerator power back on and let running water flow. If the noise has disappeared, your disposal should be working correctly.
