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GARBAGE DISPOSAL CLOG

Has your garbage disposal lost its ease and convenience? Do you hear loud grinding and humming?

Rescue Plumbing can help remove any clog in your garbage disposal! Call us today (773) 799-8848!

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you can plunge the sink to test draining

SIGNS OF A GARBAGE DISPOSAL CLOG

Garbage disposal clog is a common problem. A garbage disposal can be your kitchen’s best friend or worst enemy. While it is very good at chopping up food waste, when the disposal becomes clogged, it could become a problem.

  • The garbage disposal is not running smoothly, meaning it frequently stops or doesn’t grind at all
  • The garbage disposal is louder than usual. Loud grinding noises and humming can mean the disposal is not tearing up waste when turned on
  • There is a bad smell coming from the garbage disposal due to a blockage of rotting food

If you notice any of these signs, stop using your garbage disposal immediately. A broken disposal can be dangerous since the impeller blades are sharp.

A clogged garbage disposal can hamper the use of your kitchen sink. There are many things that can cause a clogged garbage disposal.

We understand a quick fix can be tempting, but remember garbage disposals can be dangerous.

Grease Clog

Whether you have a garbage disposal or not, never dispose of grease or oil in your kitchen sink drain. Grease will become a thick paste inside the drain and that can cause tough clogs.

If you suspect you have a grease clog, mix baking soda and white vinegar, then pour it down the drain. This mixture creates sodium bicarbonate that works to dissolve build up.

Let the baking soda and vinegar sit in the drain pipes for at least 15 minutes, then run hot water. This natural cleaner does a great job at clearing a clogged disposal.

Food Waste Clog

While it may seem like a garbage disposal can handle anything. Certain food scraps can’t go into the garbage disposal drain.

Most notably, you should avoid starchy vegetables like potato peels and banana peels. These things are difficult to break down and can get stuck on the blades or in the drain pipe.

Our plumbers also recommend against putting hard objects like fruit pits into the garbage disposal drain.

A clogged garbage disposal can also be caused by too much food added at one time.

If you suspect a clog due to food particles, make sure the garbage disposal unit is unplugged then use a tool to remove some of the material.

While usually, foreign objects should never go in the disposal, to remove food particles, use a wooden spoon or broom handle to remove small pieces of debris. You can even use a drain snake or utensil like tongs.

Note: Never stick your hand into a garbage disposal. If you can’t unclog it any other way then call a professional. Rescue Plumbing can help unclog your disposal! Call us today (773) 799-8848.

Won’t Turn On

If you flip the switch, but your garbage disposal doesn’t turn on, it may be due to the electric connection. A simple fix could be hitting the reset button on the outlet. The next thing to check is the main power panel of your home.

Stuck Blades

Sometimes a garbage disposal unit will get stuck. This could be from a multitude of causes, a simple fix is to turn off the disposal. Go under your kitchen sink in the cabinet and use a hex wrench (otherwise known as an Allen Wrench or Allen Key) to manually turn the blades.

Before you attempt some DIY fixes, first consult the owner’s manual to make sure you do it in the safest way possible. Prior to beginning any work, unplug the garbage disposal so it will not turn on. There is usually a plug for the motor under the sink on a wall nearby.

If something is interrupting the water flow and causing slow draining, a simple fix is to plunge the drain opening. Simply take a plunger directly to the sink drain (make sure to seal the plunger around it) and plunge. This process will add pressure to the drain which should push out any clogs.

Flush the Disposal

Another option is to run hot water through the pipes, this works better than cold water because the hot water can help dissolve any debris.

Our experts recommend against using chemical drain cleaners, these often cause more damage to the pipes or any plastic parts in the disposal. The caustic chemicals are also unsafe to breathe in.

If you’re dealing with frequent clogs that often fill your sink with standing water, then you need a professional plumber to clear your sink! Call Rescue Plumbing to start your unclogging process (773) 799-8848!

Garbage disposals make it easy and convenient to get rid of waste. However, ease and convenience are compromised when the garbage disposal is not functioning properly.

Here are a few ways you can prevent a clog in your garbage disposal:

  • Do not flush cooking oils, grease, or stringy food products such as meat and cheese down the garbage disposal. Instead, discard these types of wastes in a trash can for garbage pickup.
  • Avoid flushing large items down the garbage disposal
  • Periodically run cold water into your sink, enough water to fill your sink, then let the water go down the pipes quickly.
  • Clear your garbage disposal by adding rock salt and ice cubes to grind then run water to wash any debris it cleared.
  • Clean your garbage disposal regularly by turning it off and carefully removing it for deep cleaning and the clearing of any built-up debris.
  • Periodically clear your dishwasher line and p-trap

These methods will help prevent clogs from forming in your sink. And when you’ve completed these preventative measures, we recommend adding citrus peels to your garbage disposal to cleanse any odors.

Rescue Plumbing plumber ready to tackle a garbage disposal clogged with dish soap, and food waste

WE CAN CLEAR YOUR GARBAGE DISPOSAL CLOG

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Making Mashed Potatoes that will cause a garbage disposal repair

RESCUE PLUMBING CAN REPAIR YOUR CLOGGED GARBAGE DISPOSAL

Rescue Plumbing can unclog a garbage disposal in no time! Our licensed plumbers have repaired and replaced garbage disposals across the Chicagoland area. We are experts at everything garbage disposal!

Read more about our clogged garbage disposal jobs!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

You have questions, the Rescue Team has answers.

The most common way to unclog a garbage disposal with standing water is by using the jam buster wrench tool that comes with the garbage disposal unit. Place the jam buster wrench tool into the slot underneath the garbage disposal and manually turn left and right to free up the garbage disposal.

If that does not work you must remove the p trap attached to the garbage disposal to see if the clog is in the p-trap or the bend coming off the garbage disposal.

The most common way to unclog a garbage disposal that won’t drain is by using the jam buster wrench tool that comes with the garbage disposal unit. Place the jam buster wrench tool into the slot underneath the garbage disposal and manually turn left and right to free up the garbage disposal.

If the garbage disposal is still clogged the drain line will need to be snaked.

While you can put Drano into a garbage disposal, our experts recommend against it since chemical drain cleaners like Drano can cause damage to your drain pipes that will cause a leak. Also Drano type chemical drain cleaners are harmful to ones health.

Fumes created by these chemicals sitting in your drains can be released into your homes air and if they are breathed in they will damage your lungs.

  • a plunger can be used to unclog a garbage disposal
  • standing water in a sink drain led to this complete garbage disposal replacement
  • Rescue Plumbing team solves disposal problems

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Professional Garbage Disposal Clog Services

RESCUE PLUMBING

Here at Rescue Plumbing, we get a lot of calls from customers who say that their garbage disposal is clogged. Our plumbers will be there with a fully equipped van. Each plumber will have brand new garbage disposals and drainage piping to connect them. Call our friendly staff today!

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