Clogged Garbage Disposal Plunger
Before trying to unclog it always switch off the garbage disposal s power source for safety purposes.
Clogged garbage disposal plunger. Moreover using chemicals to unclog it simply isn t an option. If the disposal is still clogged follow these steps. Then turn it on again to see if this clears the clog. Activate the reset switch at the side or on the bottom of the unit.
How to unclog a garbage disposal with a plunger. Turn off the power and insert a long dowel a wooden spoon or a broom handle never your hand into the drain opening. Food can clog garbage disposals when it isn t broken down enough to be flushed out of the drainpipe. A disposal generally has no problem grinding most food waste but it s what happens after the grinding that usually causes a clog.
If the disposal is not running check to see if it has overheated. Turn the faucet on until the plunger is about 1 2 inch deep in water. Causes of a garbage disposal clog. Check our guide on how to unclog a garbage disposal.
Plunge the drain for about 20 30 seconds. If the clog is in the disposal drain pipe you can often clear it using a regular sink plunger. A clogged garbage disposal is on top of the list of reasons why people call a handyman since many of us simply can t bother with unclogging it ourselves. The thought of having to disassemble the pipes in order to clean the garbage disposal of the garbage can be really stressful.
Push the bottom end of the wooden probe against the impeller the blades that grind up the garbage and rock it back and forth to free it. The short answer to the question of how to unclog a disposal with a plunger is you re using the wrong end. Either something tough like a bone or a large amount of thick food waste like. Then simply begin plunging the drain as you would a toilet in an up and down motion.
Turn on the garbage disposal. Next allow the sink to fill with water just enough to cover the edges of the plunger. Lift the plunger and check if the water drains. First place the entirety of the plunger head over the garbage disposal drain.
If the clog is in the disposal running it may break it up. In these situations it s helpful to use a plunger first to try to loosen food that has. Often this has to do with how ground food waste reacts to water or lack of water after the disposal unit grinds it up and sends it on its way toward the drain line. When a garbage disposal is clogged it likely has lost it s ability to properly spin and unclog itself.