Signs You Have a Bad Garbage Disposal

• Confirm the garbage disposal is plugged into the electrical outlet. 
• Press the reset button which is typically a red button located on the bottom
• If this doesn’t start the garbage disposal, check your main fuse service panel and if the circuit breaker of the garbage disposal as flipped, flip it back.
• If that didn’t start your garbage disposal, there could be a wiring issue with the unit. Locate the switch that disposal power switch on the wall or under the sink.  
• Turn the circuit breaker off that you just checked. 
• Disassemble the switch that controls the disposal and inspect the wire connections. Sometimes it is nothing more thana loose connection that can be tightened up. 
• Once you have the wire connection secured, if the unit isn’t working, you may need to replace the switch itself. At this point, you may want to schedule a contractor and have them make any further attempts of garbage disposal repair or replace the unit.

 You may be able to avoid having a garbage disposal repairs when you know these signs a garbage disposal is going out: 

• Unusual Noise
• Frequent Reset Required
• Puzzling Clogs
• Loss of Power
• Unrelenting Odors
• Performance Decreasing
• Water Leak 

Why is my garbage disposal humming?

The most common reason a garbage disposal hums is because there is something stuck in the blades. It could be food or any foreign object, even a dishcloth. As long as there is something stuck there and the blades are jammed and unable to rotate as designed, you need garbage disposal repair. 

How do I fix a garbage disposal that just hums?

A humming garbage disposal may not be something that requires professional garbage disposal repair service when you know How to repair a garbage disposal with these six steps. Often the plumber or contractor will find that there is nothing more than some food pieces stuck in  the blade or drain hole causing the garbage disposal to jam and hum. Before you make that garbage disposal repair call, try these things first: 

1. Unplug the garbage disposer and turn the electrical power off to the motor. 
2. With an Allen wrench hex head, loosen the breaker socket at the bottom section of the unit. 
3. By turning the wrench backward and forward, the flywheel will turn and should free whatever is jammed in the blades.
4. If the isn’t a hex hole or if you don’t have an Allen wrench, using a broom will sometimes unstick what is stuck. You should force it down and against one of the blades, then rotate backward and forward manually.
5. Turn all the power back to the unit and plug it back in, trying the unit to see if the function is restored. 

If these steps did not get your unit working again, you’ll need to call a plumber that does garbage disposal repairs. 

How hard is it to replace a garbage disposal?

Before calling a plumber for Garbage disposal repair and replacement, you may want to read the following steps and give it a try yourself.  A garbage disposal can cost as little as $50, but when the plumber gets through installing the unit, you may be looking at $200 or more. Save some money and DIY with a few basic tools: 

• All the parts needed for installing your new garbage disposal will come with the unit. Take the time to check what is in the box and become familiar with the parts.
• With a double sink, plumb the garbage disposal to discharge right to a tee under the sink opposite of where you’re installing the unit at a ¼ inch drop so that it can drain properly.
• Knock out the knockout to the dishwasher with a hammer and screwdriver. Be sure to get the knockout piece out of the disposal. 
• Install the cord and plug to the new garbage disposal. The new unit probably won’t come with the electrical cord so you can reuse the one you have or buy a new one. 
• Assemble support for removing the garbage disposal. With a garbage disposal weighing up to fifteen pounds, it is difficult to hold it up with one hand and mount the new unit with the other hand. If you have ever looked under a kitchen sink, you know there isn’t room for more than one person to help. Use scrap wood with a half inch space under the old unit that will allow it to drop down. You can reuse this support for the new unit as you install it. 
• Reuse the old discharge tube if possible. It may be longer than what your new garbage disposal needs, but that can be easily adjusted with a hacksaw. If it is too short, you’ll need to purchase a new one. 
• If the old flange hasn’t been leaking and is intact and tight, leave it and use it again. 
• Removing an old snap ring can be a frustrating process without this trick: Start at the break in the ring and insert a thin-blade flathead screwdriver between the flange and the ring then pull down on the ring with the screwdriver and scoot it around the ring. It should pop off easily. 
• With the new sink flange installed, you need to keep it from shifting around as you assemble the parts under the sink. A flange that moves too much can begin leaking. Have somebody press the sink flange down on, applying weight to hold it in place. 
• Hanging a new disposal requires rotating the lower mounting ring to tighten the seal between the garbage disposal and sink flange. The lower ring will ride up, but that final inch will require some muscle. This can be with a tongue-grove pliers and squeeze them together.  

• Keep foreign objects out of the disposal. 
• Break up large pieces of food before grinding. 
• Always use cold water with your garbage disposal. 
• Keep your garbage disposal clean by pouring a small amount of dish soap with cold water after each use. 
• Grind ice cubes in the unit once a money to maintain sharp blades.

Need help with your garbage disposal in St Louis, MO? Call 314-348-7503 today!