If your garbage disposal isn’t working properly, your first instinct may be to replace it. Fortunately though, in many cases, garbage disposal repair services can make the repairs that are needed to get your disposal functioning properly again. This helps to extend the life of your unit while keeping otherwise usable units out of landfills. As a homeowner, you may wonder what the signs are that your unit needs repairs. Here are some of those indicators.
No Power
If you go to turn on your garbage disposal, and it simply won’t turn on, there is a possibility that the unit does not have power. Check to make sure that your unit is plugged in, as it can become unplugged due to vibrations. If it is plugged in, ensure that the circuit or breaker that the unit is connected to has not popped. If this doesn’t solve the issue, there may be wiring problems that a professional will need to address.
Unusual Noises
Garbage disposals are not quiet. They make different sounds as they grind up food particles. As a homeowner, you know what sounds normal for your disposal and what sounds abnormal. If you start to hear grinding, squealing, or screeching noises, you may need a repair. There are many issues that can lead to unusual sounds coming from your disposal, including a loose blade, an obstructed shredder plate, a worn-out motor, or debris in your unit that shouldn’t be there.
Frequent Clogs
If your garbage disposal routinely clogs, you should be more mindful about what you send down your drain. You should avoid sending large amounts of food, vegetable peels, or sizable chunks down the drain. If you’re already mindful of what you are sending down and your unit still regularly clogs, you may need garbage disposal repairs.
Just like with unusual noises, there are numerous reasons why frequent clogs may happen. You may have a bad motor, debris in your pipes, a jammed impeller blade, or malfunctioning or damaged plastic parts.
Abnormal Odors
There are many home remedies that can help you get rid of smells coming from your garbage disposal. This includes pouring a pot of hot water down the sink, using vinegar and baking soda, or grinding up citrus in your disposal.
If you’ve done everything you can to clean the disposal, and it still stinks, this is an indication that food particles are stuck in the disposal. Removing the food particles helps to remove the smell, as well as improves the overall function of your garbage disposal.
Water Leaks
Every month, you should look under your sink and ensure there are no leaks. This includes ensuring no water is leaking from your garbage disposal. If there is a puddle of water under your disposal, you should try to figure out where it’s coming from. If your disposal is cracked, it cannot be repaired and needs to be replaced. However, if water is leaking from the top or bottom, usually when the unit is in use, there may be a bad seal. Replacing it may stop the leak.
Poor Performance
Your garbage disposal should grind up food and send it down the drain. While you do not time your disposal to see how long it takes to grind things up, most homeowners have a general idea as to how long it takes for their unit to grind food up. If your notice yours seems to be taking longer than normal, the blades may be dulling or the motor may be going out.
Your garbage disposal is a tool that you may take for granted until it fails to function properly. When this time comes, you should call in garbage disposal repair services. They can inspect your unit, determine what the issue is, and then either recommend it be repaired or replaced. Their recommendation is based on the age of your unit, its condition, the availability of repair parts, and the cost to repair versus replace.
If repairs make sense, they can make the repairs that are needed to ensure your unit functions as it should.