Garbage disposals are a great tool to have in the kitchen, but they can clog if you are not careful. While garbage disposals are designed to handle most food waste, you can sometimes encounter problems when the waste reaches the trap pipe. Not turning the water on high enough to flush the disposal while it is in use, and grinding things like egg shells, coffee grounds, potato peels, and banana peels are common causes of clogs.
Fixing a Garbage Disposal Clog
When your garbage disposal clogs, the problem is usually found in the P or S-shaped pipe located just after the disposal pipe. Here is a guide to unclogging the disposal:
- Place a bucket beneath the pipe and use channel pliers to disconnect the slip-nut fillings. Remove the trap and be careful of the water that will likely spill out.
- Next, check the pipe you removed for clocks. The sharp bend in the pipe is the most common place to discover a clog. Use a scrub brush to remove the clog.
- Reassembly the drain pipe and then run water through your disposal for a few minutes to clear loose debris from the system.
What if My Drain is Still Clogged?
If you did not find a clog in the removed section of pipe, it is likely in the drain arm. In this case, you will need a sink auger. If you cannot solve the issue by removing the drain pipe, call our team to repair your garbage disposal in Riverside, CA. The experienced technicians at Professional Plumbing, Inc. are ready to assist you with any plumbing issue.
