The garbage disposal is an indispensable part of your household and you likely use it in some capacity or another every day. That’s good news when it breaks down in that you usually can tell immediately what the trouble is. The bad news is that it can throw your entire household for a loop. Here in Olympia, WA, there’s a service on staff who can repair or replace your garbage disposal, but spotting the signs of trouble can do more than alert you to a problem: it can provide a clue as to what that problem is. Here’s a list of some of the more common signs of trouble with your garbage disposal, which you should take the time to learn.
- Leaks. A leaky garbage disposal is essentially unusable, since you’ll end up with puddles of water underneath it every time you run the sink. It’s best not to use the sink until a plumber can pinpoint the source of the leak and stop it, which may involve replacing a garbage disposal that is no longer worth repairing.
- No Power. A lack of power usually means an electrical problem, which is why you should always check the breaker box if your garbage disposal won’t turn on. If the breaker hasn’t been switched, then look for the reset button at the bottom of the garbage disposal and push it. If that doesn’t fix the problem, it’s time to call in a repair service.
- No Movement. If the power is clearly on, but the gears aren’t moving, you may be looking at something wedged in the gears that are preventing it from moving, or possibly an issue with the gears connected to the motor. Regardless, you should never attempt to clear a jammed garbage disposal yourself. Unplug it from its power source and call a plumber instead.
The Pros at Brooks Plumbing can handle garbage disposal repair or replacement!
