How to Unclog a Garbage Disposal
When your garbage disposal clogs, don’t rush out and call a plumber. There may be simple methods for dealing with the problem.
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Attention, homeowners: Don't pay another repairman until you check out this video series on simple repairs you can make yourself.
You Will Need
- A flashlight
- An extraction tool
- An Allen wrench
- A broom handle (optional)
- A wooden spoon (optional)
- A replacement garbage disposal unit (optional)
Steps
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Step 1
Reset the unit
Locate and press the disposal’s reset button. Often, a disposal that's overloaded will trigger the unit to shut down.
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Step 2
Turn off the power
Turn off the electrical power to the disposal unit at your main electrical panel. Or, if you can easily access the power source to the disposal, unplug it.
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Step 3
Look for the source of the clogging
Examine the disposal unit with a flashlight and search for the object that might have caused the unit to clog.
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Step 4
Remove the object
Remove the object with an extraction tool such as pliers or tweezers.
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Step 5
Use an Allen wrench
Spin the disposal’s grinding unit with an Allen wrench in the hexagon-shaped slot in the underside of the disposal.
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Insert a broom handle or wooden spoon into the disposal chamber and push it back and forth against the grinding arms.
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Step 6
Attempt to run the disposal
Remove any loose material in the disposal, turn on the power, and attempt to operate the disposal with the water running.
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Don’t unbolt the screw in the center of the disposal chamber. The center bolt holds the unit together.
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Step 7
Replace the unit
If the clogging object cannot be cleared with these techniques, you may have to replace the unit.
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Did you know? The first garbage disposal was developed in 1927 by an inventor working in his basement.
