Avoid grease, oil, and fat, which harden in pipes. Fibrous foods like celery, corn husks, and onion skins can wrap around the parts, while coffee grounds, eggshells, pasta, and rice can build up into clogs. Bones, fruit pits, and anything that is not food should go in the trash. Run cold water while the disposal grinds and for a few seconds afterward.
Turn the disposal off and cut its power at the breaker or unplug it first. Never put your hand inside. Many units have a hex socket on the bottom where a hex key can turn the motor to free a jam, plus a red reset button you can press afterward. If it still hums or trips again, the motor or internal parts may need repair.
Many disposals last around 8 to 15 years depending on use. Replacement usually makes more sense than repair when the unit jams constantly, leaks from the body of the housing, needs frequent resets, or grinds slowly even after a jam is cleared. We will tell you honestly whether a repair is worth it or whether a new unit is the better choice for your kitchen.
Odors usually come from food scraps stuck under the splash guard or caught on the grinding chamber walls. To freshen it, scrub the rubber splash guard, grind a handful of ice cubes, and follow with a few citrus peels and cold water. If the smell keeps returning, a partial clog in the drain line may be trapping waste, and that is something we can clear.
The location of the leak tells you a lot. Drips from the top usually mean the sink flange seal has failed, while leaks at the side often come from the dishwasher hose or discharge pipe connection. Water coming from the bottom of the unit usually means the internal seals have worn out, which typically calls for replacement. We trace the source and check every connection.
Request Service Today
"*" indicates required fields
