One of the most popular or all household appliances is the garbage disposer, which is found in almost every home in America. Garbage disposers are designed to grind up scrap food into small pieces, where it then flows into the sewer system. One of the advantages of the system is the ability to quickly dispose of organic material, without leaving it in the trash, where it can attract bugs, rodents and other pests. While garbage disposals are very reliable, they can require periodic repair in order for them to perform as designed.
Typically garbage disposer repairs are related to either a power issue or something stuck inside the unit. In many cases, electrical problems are related to something being stuck in the disposer, which trips either the main breaker supplying power to the appliance or the breaker within the disposal itself. In cases where the electrical issue is related to a blockage, the blockage must be removed. If the disposer is not blocked, the cause of the electrical issue must be determined and corrected before attempting to use the disposer.
When something is stuck in the disposal it is critical that the item be safely removed prior to the disposer being used again. Methods of removal vary, but do not include placing your hand in the disposal! While sometimes it is possible to break free the disposal using the disposal wrench, in many cases it is necessary to remove the disposal from the sink and partially disassemble the disposer itself to safely remove the blockage.
Posted on behalf of Find Local Plumber
