5 Warning Signs Your Garbage Disposal Needs Professional Repair

Formica Plumbing and Sewer Co.

15 October 2024

Garbage disposals make cleaning up the kitchen a lot easier since you can dispose of little bits of food down the drain. However, there's a list of things you shouldn't put down the drain or you'll need garbage disposal repair.

Formica Plumbing & Sewer Co. is the top-ranking plumbing in Bedford, OH. When your garbage disposal doesn't work like it used to, give us a call and we'll come out and fix it. If you aren't sure when to call, keep reading to learn about the signs to look for.

1. You Always Have To Reset It

There are a few reasons you may be resetting your garbage disposal so often. You'll likely need a motor replacement rather than a garbage disposal repair, but your plumber will be able to tell you after looking at it.

Too Old or Too Small

Once a garbage disposal reaches the end of its life, it will malfunction more often and need to be reset. If you can't remember the last time you got a new one, it's probably time to replace it.

The size may also be an issue. If it's too small, it won't be able to keep up with the workload and will have to overwork itself, causing it to need resetting.

Electrical Problem

Resetting all the time could be due to electrical problems. The appliance itself could be the source of trouble if the flywheel reset button trips, or it could be due to the circuit breaker.

2. It Makes Loud Grinding Sounds

Garbage disposals naturally make a lot of noise, but if you hear what sounds like metal pieces grinding against each other, it's time to look into garbage disposal repair or replacement.

Broken Parts or Motor Failure

If pieces inside the garbage disposal break and fall out of place, you'll likely hear them grinding against each other. You may also hear a similar noise if the motor fails. Both problems may be due to age if you've had it for a long time, or they could be caused by overworking the system with excessive food or large pieces of food.

Jammed Blades

Food may get jammed in the blades or somewhere else in the garbage disposal and create grinding sounds. If you can't easily remove the food yourself, calling a plumber will be necessary.

3. Bad Smells Never Go Away

If you've had drainage issues accompanied by foul odors, you likely have food trapped within the system that needs to be removed as soon as possible.

Trapped Food

If food gets trapped in the disposal, it will eventually begin to smell bad as it starts decaying. Food may occasionally get trapped in hard-to-reach areas that you can't reach with regular cleaning. If you can't access it on your own, you'll need to call a plumber to deep clean it for you.

Mold Growth

Trapped food is a prime place for mold growth. If the smell turns from old food to moldy, it's likely because there's mold growing inside the disposal. Try deep cleaning it yourself if you can, but a plumber will be able to fully clean it with a drain snake or other supplies.

Mold can cause serious health problems if it gets bad enough. If the garbage disposal starts leaking, mold could begin growing inside the cabinets where the water pools up.

4. Water Drains Slowly or Backs Up

If water takes time to go down the drain or you have standing water in your sink, you need a plumber for clog removal. Clogs are most likely due to food or non-food blockages that go down the sink, but grease can also cake up in the pipes and cause a clog.

Many people misunderstand how garbage disposals should be used and put almost anything down there. Unfortunately, improper usage leads to broken pipes and water pollution, so avoid putting non-food items in there like medication or plastic.

Pipes Are Caked With Grease

Never put grease down the drain, as this can cause serious clogs. It will be a slow process that you don't notice right away because the grease will stick to the sides of the pipes and build up over time. A plumber may need to use hydro jetting to thoroughly remove all grease from the pipes.

Food Blocks the Pipes

The only food items that should go down the garbage disposal should be small pieces that can't get stuck in the system. Large food items or large amounts of small items can clog the pipes and cause water to back up. You may also have a backup if you put food down the drain and forget to flip the switch.

Garbage Disposal Isn't Working Correctly

Water may also back up if the garbage disposal is broken or malfunctioning and isn't allowing water to pass through. If it can't grind up food or let it pass through, water will back up in the sink.

5. Food Is Stuck in the Gears

A jammed impeller is a common reason to call for garbage disposal repair. The impeller has two spinning pieces that push food toward the gears. If food gets stuck somewhere in the process, the gears won't be able to grind anything down and it may start to smell.

Too Much Food

Large items like long fruit or vegetable peels, bones, whole pieces of bread, or entire eggshells can get stuck and cause blockages. Only allow small pieces to go down the garbage disposal.

Although large foods cause problems, coffee grounds are an issue because the small, tough particles can get into places where other foods can't and cause the gears to stop working. Coffee grounds in large amounts are also an issue.

It Needs To Be Cleaned

If you're not in the habit of regularly cleaning your garbage disposal, you'll be more likely to have a jammed system. Clean it regularly to knock stuck food loose.