Cold Water, Always
Run cold water while using the disposal and for about thirty seconds after. Cold water keeps grease solid so the blades can chop it and it flushes through. Hot water melts grease, which then re-solidifies further down the line and builds a clog you cannot reach.
This is the single most common mistake we see, and it causes drain problems that get blamed on the disposal when the disposal is working fine.
What Should Not Go In
- Fibrous vegetables: celery, corn husks, artichoke, onion skins. They wrap rather than chop.
- Coffee grounds. They pack into a dense sludge in the trap.
- Grease and oil in any quantity.
- Pasta and rice, which keep swelling after they are down.
- Bones and fruit pits, on anything other than a high-horsepower unit.
- Eggshells, despite the persistent myth that they sharpen the blades. They do not. Disposals do not have blades, they have blunt impellers.
Clearing a Jam Yourself
A disposal that hums without spinning is jammed rather than dead. This is usually a five-minute fix.
- Switch it off at the wall. Do not put your hand in the chamber.
- Use the hex wrench that came with the unit in the socket on the underside, and work it back and forth to free the impeller.
- Remove whatever caused the jam with tongs.
- Press the red reset button on the bottom of the unit.
If it hums again immediately, or does nothing at all after resetting, call us. Continuing to run a jammed motor burns it out.
Leaks and Odors
Where a disposal leaks tells you what it needs. A leak from the top, at the sink flange, is usually the mounting assembly and is repairable. A leak from the side is usually a drain or dishwasher connection, also repairable. A leak from the bottom of the body means the internal seal has gone and water is inside the motor housing. That one is always a replacement.
Persistent odor is normally buildup above the water line under the splash guard, which rinsing never reaches. Lift the guard and scrub the underside. Grinding a cup of ice cubes monthly also helps clear the grind ring.
If You Are on Septic
Much of Fauquier County and the rural parts of Prince William run on septic rather than municipal sewer. A disposal sends far more solids into the tank than it was sized for, which shortens the pumping interval. We will fix your disposal, and we will also tell you honestly if using it less is the better answer for your system.
Frequently Asked Questions
My disposal hums but will not spin. What do I do?
It is jammed. Switch it off, free the impeller with the hex wrench from underneath, remove the obstruction with tongs, then press the reset button.
Why does my disposal smell?
Buildup under the splash guard, above the water line, where rinsing does not reach. Lift the guard and scrub the underside.
Is a leaking disposal repairable?
It depends where. A leak at the top mounting or a side connection is repairable. A leak from the bottom of the body means an internal seal failure and the unit needs replacing.