Unclogging a Garbage Disposal

Garbage disposals are a great tool for the kitchen, at least until they get clogged. When this problem arises, many people are faced with an expensive plumbing nightmare. For those who would prefer to do their own plumbing maintenance, it is good to know that the junk in that disposal can be removed. In order to do this you'll need to do some actual plumbing work. Nothing to fear, though, just use these simple steps and you are going to be able to complete the task.

Before beginning any home repair you want to make sure that you know exactly what the problem is. When you turn on the switch for the disposal and nothing happens then you may simply have a short in the electrical system. In that case, simply reset the disposal unit by pushing the reset button on the unit. Most units do have them either on the bottom or side of the disposal and they are clearly marked.

If, when you turn on the unit, you hear a humming sound, then the disposal is clogged. In this event—before you do anything else—try running hot water down the drain. The water needs to be as hot as you can make it, so boil it before pouring it down. This hot water will break up, or melt, any grease buildup in the drain. If that does not work, then you are going to need to resort to the "real" plumbing.

In order to do any work you will need to get together your tools. So, gather together a plunger (sometimes the easiest solution is the simplest), adjustable pliers, old towels and a large bucket. You can then follow these steps:

1. Turn off the power to the disposal unit. Don't just assume the power is off, but unplug the unit from its power source or turn off the circuit breaker in the electrical panel for your home. This is to avoid any accidents that may happen.
2. Try to use your plunger to clear the clog. This may work, and if so, you are finished.
3. Make sure the water is turned off by using the shut-off valve located under the sink. This valve will look like the one used to turn off water to your toilet or to your sprinklers.
4. Place the large bucket under the sink's pipe bend (the trap).
5. Remove the bolts that hold the disposal unit to the pipe and also remove the pipe's bend. There will be some mess associated with this part of your job. Don't be surprised when this happens, that is why you placed the bucket where you did so that it can catch all of the resulting mess.
6. Check the removed pipe and the disposal unit for any obstructions. If you find any you can go ahead and remove them. If you don't, then you may have to go ahead and snake the pipe in wall.