How to Clean Out Your Clogged Garbage Disposal
Garbage disposals are used to grind up small scraps of food such as leftovers from dinner. The food is washed down the sink with running water. Unfortunately, the disposal's flywheel mechanism can become clogged from larger scraps of food or bones. You may fix the clogged drain yourself, but use caution to avoid the risk of injury to your hands and fingers or electrocution. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Flashlight
- Small tongs or pliers
- Allen or hex head wrench
- Wooden spoon
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Instructions
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Turn the garbage disposal off. Turn the power off to the garbage disposal at the circuit breaker.
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Shine a flashlight into the sink drain and down into the garbage disposal.
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Stick small tongs or pliers into the sink drain if you see the clog and it is reachable. Grasp the piece of food with the tongs and remove it from the disposal.
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Place an Allen or hex head wrench into the hole at the bottom of the garbage disposal. Move the wrench gently back and forth inside the hole. The wrench movement loosens and releases any clogs in the flywheel.
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Stick the handle of a wooden spoon into the sink's drain to the flywheel. Spin the flywheel with the aid of the wooden spoon. If the flywheel spins freely, the garbage disposal should be free of its clog.
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Turn the power back on at the circuit breaker. Run water and turn the garbage disposal on to make sure it is working properly.
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Repeat the procedure if the disposal remains clogged.
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Tips & Warnings
Call a plumbing professional or the manufacturer if you cannot unclog the garbage disposal on your own.
Never stick your fingers or metal objects into the garbage disposal when it is on.
References
- Photo Credit kitchen sink image by jedphoto from Fotolia.com
