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Essentially, garbage disposal units break down waste and drain it away, ensuring your kitchen is neat at all times. Consequently, they improve your home’s drainage system and help protect your plumbing pipes. Many people hardly notice the garbage disposal appliances in their residence when they’re working efficiently.
However, garbage disposals are routinely exposed to gallons of running water, food scraps, and lime, making them likely to break down. If your unit starts making strange noises, takes forever to crush light waste loads, or emits a nasty smell, then it’s about time you contact your Jacksonville, FL, plumber.
They can help you identify garbage disposal issues early and provide the appropriate solutions to avoid potential drainage system damages. Below are some of the issues that new or old garbage disposals may experience.
Jammed Garbage Disposal
If your home’s garbage disposal unit starts making a humming sound or has problems draining solid refuse, it could be a sign that it’s jammed. You should contact a professional plumber since the humming sound often indicates a poor power supply.
Clogs are a common occurrence in garbage disposal units. They may come about due to objects such as eggshells, fruit peelings, and bones obstructing the disposal blades from spinning. The blockages can also result from draining too much food waste at once or failing to pour hot water into the sink after disposing of cooking grease.
Failure to clean the blades regularly will make them blunt and slow down their crushing speed. Blockages near the top of the unit can be easily cleared. However, if they run deep within the drainage infrastructure, you may need the expertise of a plumbing service.
Slowly Draining Garbage Disposal
If you observe that your home’s garburator is taking more time to drain than expected, it could mean that the disposal or sink pipes may have a blockage. This may happen when you discharge a higher volume of waste than usual, for instance, during home parties.
The interior of your home’s drain pipes will get narrower with time as layers of leftover waste accumulate. The additional waste may end up blocking the pipes. If this problem is left unattended, the resulting damages may cost you a pretty penny to fix.
You may need the assistance of a plumbing professional with troubleshooting and resolving the problem. They can use advanced tools to remove any obstructions in the pipes.
Smelly Garbage Disposal
If you notice your home’s disposal emitting a foul smell, it’s a sign that there may be a problem. It could mean that the motor isn’t chopping food particles efficiently or there are drainage problems.
If your home’s garbage disposal isn’t thoroughly cleaned, food particles can accumulate over time, producing an unpleasant smell as they decompose. If you use home-based remedies to clean the system and the odor still lingers, that’s your cue to call a plumber near Jacksonville, FL, for assistance.
An odor that won’t go away even after cleaning the disposal may mean that it’s time to replace it. An experienced plumbing service may be in a position to deliver lasting solutions based on your needs.
Leaks in the Garbage Disposal Unit
Garbage disposal leaks are likely to happen due to a missing putty sealing around the unit, a non-functional O-ring, and an improper connection to the dishwasher or drainage pipe. A sharp object that finds its way into the disposal may also poke the casing of the disposal system, causing a crack.
These leaks may damage various items in your residence, including carpets and valuables stored under the sink. They may also promote mold and mildew growth and attract bacteria and insects that could create a health hazard in your home.
Luckily, your plumber can resolve the leaks by tightening loose parts or replacing worn-out parts such as the flange gasket or the O-ring. If the leak is due to an issue with the sink flange, your system may need advanced diagnosis and repair services. Some circumstances may warrant replacing the unit altogether.
No Noise When You Turn on the System
If the disposal unit doesn’t respond once you turn it on, an interior plug could be loose, or its reset button may have fallen out. It may also mean that the electrical switch needs replacing or the circuit breaker may have tripped in the electrical service panel due to an overload. Also, the motor could be dead. Your local plumber can help you get to the bottom of the matter quickly to avoid further damage to the unit.
They can check if the unit is on and if the reset button, usually located at the bottom, has popped outwards. They can also check the circuit breaker to ensure it hasn’t tripped. If the disposal still doesn’t turn on or make any noise, it could be beyond repair. At this point, your plumber may provide a professional opinion regarding the next course of action.
Smoke From the Disposal
If smoke or a burning smell is coming out of your unit, it could be due to a burnt motor capacitor or motor. This could happen if solid waste particles get jammed in the grinding chamber, causing the motor to overheat. A functional safety mechanism will grind the disposer into a halt, and then you’d have to reset it. If the safety button is faulty and the reset button fails to work, this may cause a fire or damage to the garburator.
Contacting a professional plumber helps protect your unit and residential property in such scenarios. Remember, you should never ignore awkward sounds coming from your home’s disposal unit. They may be due to the blades crushing a sharp object or a misplaced part of the unit. Also, they may tell you when something is jammed in the system, allowing you to seek solutions from your plumber before the situation worsens.
Contact a Reliable Plumber in Jacksonville, FL
At Bert Norman’s Plumbing, you are assured to work with experienced plumbers who deliver impactful solutions to all your plumbing problems. Since 1985, we have been at the forefront of addressing the plumbing needs of local residents and throughout Nassau County.
Besides plumbing maintenance and inspections, you can rely on us for garbage disposal installations, repairs, and replacements. Our professional technicians are available 24/7. Reach out to us today.