How to Unclog a Garbage Disposal

by Paul

Garbage Disposal

Image from Getty

Garbage disposals are designed to grind the food waste and make them liquid. The motor of the disposal and the step by step process does the whole job.

The clog is a very big problem for garbage disposals. The pipe of the disposal gets stuck and the waste cannot be produced while it is clogged.

The main reasons behind getting clogged are given below:

  • Dropping Metal elements in the disposal
  • Dropping food waste very rapidly
  • Running less water to flush while it is processing the waste

The disposal cannot process every object that is given to it. There are some limitations that a disposal can process to keep it unclogged. There are a few ways to keep the disposal clean and unclogged. I am going to describe the whole unclogging process in step by step. So how to unclog a garbage disposal? See below:

Below you can find a guide on how to unclog a garbage disposal:

1. Shutdown the Disposal:

The first step is to shut down the disposal to check the problem. To shut it down you have to turn off the power button or you have to go to the main power source and pull out the fuse. But careful! Don’t put your hands in the disposal. Sometimes power off may not work and the disposal might leave on. So it is advised to not to put a hand in it.

2. Take a Look in the Disposal:

You can get a torch light and it will help you to look down the pipe, hence increasing your chance to find out the stuck object in the disposal.

3. Take Out the Object:

If there is something stuck in the disposal, then you just have to get a pair of pliers to pull out the object. And when it is removed your disposal work out fine like the previous time.

4. Wait for a Few Minutes:

Wait for 15 minutes and cool down the motor of the disposal. This will help the disposal to work well.

5. Turn On the Power Button:

The final step is to turn on the power button and push the reset button that is on the bottom of the disposal. This will help the disposal to run again and process the food waste.

What Else Can I do?

But if the disposal is still clogged then you just have to follow the steps given below:

  • You have to switch off the power button and get a long dowel or a wooden spoon to put it in the drain opening. But remember not to put your hand in the opening. It is not confirmed that the motor is fully off.
  • Then you just have to stick the wooden head on the blades of the disposal and make the blades move around and unclog it.
  • When the blades move freely then you just have to wait for 15 minutes and let it rest. This will help to cool down the motor and get the motor running.
  • Lastly, you have to turn on the power button and press the reset button to install the disposal.

The garbage disposal is a kitchen helping tool. The unclogging process should be known to all who uses a garbage disposal to make their life easier.

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