Garbage Disposal Repair King City

There are several standard indicators that can let you know it's time to repair your garbage disposal. You might hear it making some odd noises, like grinding or rattling, that it's just not supposed to be making. Perhaps it's started to clog more often, or it's altogether stopped working. You might even notice it leaking or putting out some downright odious smells. It's tempting to put off garbage disposal repairs because the unit isn't something you pay much attention to until it stops working. Don't put off seeking the help of a professional if you notice any of the signs we've listed above.

Begin by confirming that the disposal is receiving power; do this by pushing the reset button found on the underside of the unit. Next, inspect the electrical panel to see if a breaker has tripped. If the unit makes a humming noise but the blades aren't moving, it may be jammed with debris. You can try to dislodge it using a wrench, but be sure to follow safety rules and turn the power off first before doing any kind of disassembly or repair work.

When a garbage disposal is making a humming sound but is not functioning, it generally means the impeller is jammed. You're hearing the motor running, but the blades are unable to turn because something is stuck in there. You can try to unstick the impeller with a wrench, but first, make sure you turn off the power. If that doesn't free the impeller (and if the power is off and the disposal won't start), then your disposal likely has another serious issue that means either the motor or some other part is going to need to be replaced.

When you hire a professional, you can be confident that the repair will be performed accurately and safely, with the minimum risk of future headaches. Disposals can be industrial-strength, but they aren't foolproof. If there's something wrong with your disposal, a pro can tell you whether you've been overloading it, overusing it, or just using it in a way that's not reasonable or foreseeable. And if the disposal isn't dead (it's possible to revive it), a pro can fix it and get it back in service. Whether it will work for you as reliably as it did before is up to you and your methods.

To keep your garbage disposal in good working order, you need to use it frequently and with the appropriate substances. Make sure to run it with cold water to keep the internal parts moving and to avoid any warm or hot water that might encourage rust. You definitely want to steer clear of putting anything hard (like bones or fruit pits) or anything that might turn into a clog (like fibrous or starchy foods) down the disposal. They could seriously dull the blades and/or cause the motor to overheat, which could lead to some very un-disposal-like problems.

Although replacing a garbage disposal may seem like a straightforward job for a confident homeowner, it can entail a number of intricate steps and potentially hazardous mistakes if not carried out with care. When plumbing and electrical work are both involved, a person doing the job without a pro's oversight runs the risk of creating any number of disasters—such as a leaking unit or a new disposal that's just a new way of saying an old phrase: "This house has an electrical problem." (It's happened, trust me.) So either do it right and safe, or don't do it at all.

A foul-smelling garbage disposal often indicates that food particles are lodged somewhere inside. First, you should let the cold water run and turn the unit on for a few seconds to allow trapped bits of debris to escape. If your disposal is still smelly, you can grind up some ice cubes and citrus peels to "naturally" clean it. If you want an even more effective cleaner, try this: Dump a half cup of baking soda and a cup of vinegar into the disposal. Let it sit for a few minutes, then run the disposal with cold water. Your disposal shouldn't smell if you keep it clean and handle any signs of odor right away.

It is usually not a good idea to use chemical drain cleaners in your garbage disposal because they can ruin the parts that make up the device. They can cause corrosion in metal parts and really pose quite an environmental and health risk. They are just toxic chemicals, after all. It is much better to use a mixture of baking soda, vinegar, and water to clean a disposal without causing any damage. If you find that your disposal often needs to be "cleaned" because it has a tendency to clog, it's probably time to call in a professional to figure out what's wrong.

The time it takes to fix a garbage disposal depends on what kind of problem it has and how hard it is to solve. If the unit is just jammed, for instance, it can often be repaired in less than an hour. When the problem is more serious, though, and involves kindred parts, or if it's a wiring issue, or if it's just a very bad clog, forget it: you're probably looking at one or two hours, at least, and maybe three or four, for the whole thing to get taken care of. That's what I think. But what do the professionals say?

How much does it cost to fix a garbage disposal? It depends on what's wrong with it and how much the service provider charges. You might pay less than $100 for a simple fix. On the other hand, a more serious problem could be you paying close to $200 for a repair. Some service providers charge a flat rate and then add on whatever parts they think are necessary. Since they're just thinking of the garbage disposal, it might be a good idea to ask how much they think it will cost you to get it back in working order.