Category Archives: garbage disposal repair

Apr '24

What is The Smell Coming from My Garbage Disposal?

Have you ever noticed a foul odor coming from your garbage disposal? If so, you’re not alone. This unpleasant smell can be quite bothersome, but fortunately, there are several possible explanations and solutions. In this article, we will explore the common causes of smelly garbage disposals and provide tips on how to eliminate the odor.

Possible Causes of a Smelly Garbage Disposal

Food Residue: One of the most common causes of a smelly garbage disposal is food residue that has been left behind. Over time, small particles of food can accumulate in the disposal unit and start to decompose, leading to an unpleasant smell.

Blocked Drainage: If the drain pipe connected to your garbage disposal is partially blocked, water and food particles may not drain properly. This can create stagnant water and contribute to the foul odor.

Bacterial Growth: Naturally occurring bacteria in your kitchen waste can multiply rapidly in the warm and moist environment of a garbage disposal. This bacterial growth can produce strong odors.

Lack of Cleaning: Regular cleaning is essential to prevent odor buildup in your garbage disposal. If you neglect cleaning it for an extended period, the smell may become more noticeable.

How to Eliminate the Odor

Now that we have identified some potential causes of the smell, let’s discuss ways to eliminate it:

1. Run Cold Water: Whenever you use your garbage disposal, make sure to run cold water for at least 20 seconds before and after grinding food waste. This helps flush away any remaining particles and minimizes odor-causing buildup.

2. Use Citrus Fruits: Cut up citrus fruits like lemons or oranges into small pieces, and then grind them in the disposal. The natural acidity of the fruits can help neutralize odors and leave your kitchen smelling fresh.

3. Baking Soda and Vinegar: Sprinkling a generous amount of baking soda followed by white vinegar down the drain can create a bubbling reaction that helps loosen and remove food residue. Leave it for a few minutes before rinsing with cold water.

4. Ice Cubes and Salt: Tossing a handful of ice cubes and a tablespoon of salt into the garbage disposal and running it can help dislodge any stuck-on food particles while sharpening the blades. The salt acts as an abrasive agent.

5. Clean the Rubber Flap: The rubber flap or baffle located in the drain opening of your garbage disposal can accumulate food debris. Gently scrubbing it with a toothbrush and soapy water can prevent odor buildup.

6. Regular Maintenance: Make it a habit to clean your garbage disposal at least once a month to prevent lingering odors. A mixture of warm water and dish soap, along with a good scrubbing, should do the trick.

7. Avoid Certain Foods: Some foods are more likely to cause unpleasant odors when ground in a garbage disposal. Avoid putting items like onion skins, eggshells, and greasy or fatty foods down the disposal to minimize potential smells.

8. Professional Inspection: If you have tried all of the above solutions and the odor persists, it may be time to call a professional plumber. They can inspect your garbage disposal system for any underlying issues that may require repairs.

running water helps the smell of a garbage disposal.

After using the garbage disposal, always run cold water for at least 20 seconds to flush out any remaining particles and keep the drain clean and odor-free.

Preventing Future Odors

Now that you have successfully eliminated the odor from your garbage disposal, it’s essential to take preventive measures to avoid future smells:

Dispose of Food Properly: Before using your garbage disposal, ensure all large food scraps are thrown away in the regular trash. Using the disposal as a primary means of waste disposal can lead to more frequent odors.

Flush with Water: After using the garbage disposal, always run cold water for at least 20 seconds to flush out any remaining particles and keep the drain clean and odor-free.

Regularly Clean the Unit: Develop a cleaning routine for your garbage disposal. A quick scrub with warm soapy water and a toothbrush can help remove any potential odor-causing buildup.

Regular Plumbing Maintenance: Consider scheduling regular plumbing maintenance to ensure your garbage disposal and associated drainage pipes are functioning correctly. A professional can inspect for any issues and provide preventative measures.

By following these tips and practicing good maintenance habits, you can keep your garbage disposal smelling fresh and clean. Remember, prevention is key, so don’t neglect regular cleaning and avoid putting problematic foods down the disposal. With proper care, your kitchen will be odor-free and a more pleasant place to be.

Oct '23

Simple Methods to Eliminate Foul Smells From Your Garbage Disposal

A bad odor in your kitchen is the last thing you want when cooking and eating meals or sharing juicy gossip with your loved ones. People typically associate the kitchen with the pleasant aroma of delicious foods. But a terrible odor in your kitchen will ruin all that.

Where do bad odors in the kitchen come from? They can come from unwashed dishes in the sink, leftovers in the trash bin, and dirty nooks and crannies in the kitchen. But Specialized Property Management Houston warns the garbage disposal unit is one of the most common sources of bad odors in the kitchen.

Garbage disposals help you get rid of small food scraps conveniently. Often, they will do this job without any problems at all. But sometimes, the scraps that enter the unit get stuck inside it. These food particles can cause bad odors when they start to decay.

Normally, you can remove any debris in the disposal by running plenty of cold water through it. If the device is jammed, you can un-jam it by pressing the reset button or turning the impeller by twisting the knob at the bottom of the disposal unit with an Allen wrench.

However, even after you do all this, the garbage disposal may still emit a bad odor. That is very normal; anything that handles food waste will smell. But this does not mean you have to live with the bad odors. There are ways to get rid of that smell.

7 simple ways to stop bad odors from your kitchen garbage disposal

1. Salt and ice

When used together, the abrasive power of salt and ice can get rid of the materials that cause bad odors inside your garbage disposal. Fill the disposal unit with ice cubes and add a tablespoon of salt (large rock salt, preferably). Put on the garbage disposal and let it run until it grinds up the ice and salt mixture. Run cold water to wash away the debris.

baking powder to get rid of garbage dispoal odors.

The vinegar and baking soda mixture kill bacteria that cause bad odors.

2. Baking Soda and white vinegar

The vinegar and baking soda mixture kill bacteria that cause bad odors. The frothy reaction that results from mixing vinegar and baking soda also helps remove any mineral deposits inside the unit. Pour a ¼ cup of baking into the disposal, followed by a cup of vinegar. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes before you run cold water into the drain.

3. Use borax

Borax is a powerful mineral that has been used by our grandmothers for many generations. This all-purpose tool cleaning agent, also known as sodium tetraborate, will destroy odors, mold and mildew, and soap residue or other stuff inside the disposal. Scoop 3 tablespoons of borax into the drain and let it sit for 15 minutes. Run warm water into the unit to flush away the debris.

4. Clean the unit with mouthwash

The same antiseptic properties that let mouthwash kill the bacteria that cause bad breath will help it get rid of odors in your garbage disposal. To clean the disposal with mouthwash, pour four ounces of minty mouthwash into the drain and let your garbage disposal run until the bad smell is gone. Rinse the unit by running water into it. Make sure the mouthwash you use has antibacterial properties.

5. Use dish soap

Run hot water into the kitchen sink until it is full. Add a few drops of dish soap to the water. Remove the stopper and turn on the disposal. Let the water and soap drain completely from the sink. The water will work its way around the blades and chamber of the disposal unit to remove any grease and debris inside it. To keep suds from forming, do not use too much dish soap.

cleaning your garbage disposal with citrus is a good practice.

Lemon, lime and other citrus peelings can clean your garbage disposal and remove bad odors.

6. Clean with citrus

Lemon, lime and other citrus peelings can clean your garbage disposal and remove bad odors. Citrus rinds contain natural oils and mild acids with antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. To use this method, grind a handful of citrus peels in the disposal. You may cut them into slices or even use the whole fruit. Friction from the rough peels will clean the unit, and citrus oils will kill odor-causing germs.

7. Clean with scouring powder and bottle brush

You should not wait until your garbage disposal becomes smelly before you clean it. At least once a week, pour ½ cup of scouring powder into the disposal, add some cold water and run the unit. The gentle abrasion of the powder will clean the blades. You should scrub the inside of the unit with a bottle brush and dish soap at least once a month.

Finally, you want to avoid grinding the following stuff in your garbage disposal: fats, oils and grease, meats, starchy foods (such as potatoes and rice), stringy vegetables, eggshells and coffee grinds. These foods will only stick to the garbage disposal blades and cause bad odors.

Jun '23

How to Fix Your ‘Garbage’ Disposal

Garbage disposals help to ease the stress of tidying up after meals. They let you wash small pieces of food waste into the sink drain without fear that the particles will clog your drains, explains Ridgewood Property Management. Since their introduction in 1927, garbage disposals have become a required appliance in most kitchens.

But the trouble with garbage disposal units is they can stop working without warning. Sometimes you will hear the unit humming even though it is not working. Other times your garbage disposal will leak or simply fail to come on. What do you do when your garbage disposal acts up?

How to fix your garbage disposal

There are several reasons why your garbage disposal would stop working. Below we explain the steps for fixing different kinds of garbage disposal problems.

The garbage disposal doesn’t power on

If the unit does not emit a humming sound after you flip the switch, it probably has an electrical fault. There are a few things that can keep the appliance from getting power. To solve this problem, do the following:

Check if the appliance is firmly plugged-in.
If it is plugged in, push the reset button on the bottom of the appliance. If the unit’s circuit breaker has tripped, this step will reset the garbage disposal.
If that doesn’t work, check the main service panel to see if the circuit breaker has tripped. If the breaker has tripped, reset the lever.
If this doesn’t work, it could be a wiring problem at the switch, or your garbage disposal is faulty.
Disassemble the switch to inspect the connections. If there are any loose connections, secure them or replace the entire switch if the problem is very bad.
Turn on the power, and if the unit still doesn’t power on, you may need a new garbage disposal.

The garbage disposal hums but doesn’t grind

If it makes a humming sound when you flip the switch but doesn’t grind, the flywheel of your garbage disposal is jammed. A jammed flywheel will force the circuit breaker to trip or make the appliance’s reset button pop out. To solve the problem:

Shut the power supply to the unit by switching it off and shutting off the breaker at the electrical service panel.
Take the offset wrench for the disposal unit and insert it into the flywheel hole at the bottom of the appliance.
Turn the wrench clockwise to dislodge any food particles impeding the impeller. Do this until you feel the flywheel turn freely.
Alternatively, insert a wooden spoon handle or similar wooden object into the disposal through the drain opening. Use this as a lever to free the stuck flywheel.
Sometimes, the best option is to remove the object jamming the appliance. Point a flashlight into the disposal to find the object; remove it with a pair of pliers.
Press the reset button and run some water into the unit. Turn the unit on and off several times while you are doing this.

Garbage disposal drains slowly

A slow-draining garbage disposal is mostly caused by clogs inside the drainpipes. The simple fix for this problem is to disassemble the drain trap and discharge pipe to get rid of any food waste inside them.

Disconnect the discharge pipe from the disposal by removing the bolts.
Disconnect and remove the drain trap with the discharge drain pipe.
Inspect the disposal for clogs and clean the appliance (ensure the power is turned off).
Check the branch drain line for clogs and clear it with an auger.
Reassemble the drain trap and couple the discharge tube to the garbage disposal.
Run the water and turn on the disposal unit to ensure the water is flowing freely.

To prevent future occurrences of this problem, don’t allow starchy foods – like mashed potatoes or cooked rice – to get into your garbage disposal. At least once a month, clean the appliance by throwing some lemon peel and ice cubes into the unit and grinding them up.

beans.

The garbage disposal is leaking

There are several places where you can have leaks in a garbage disposal. The common leak sites are at the sink flange, the hose that connects the disposal to the dishwasher and the discharge hose for the appliance.

A leak at the sink flange, where the disposal connects to the sink, is fairly easy to fix. All that is needed is to disassemble the connections between the sink and the disposal unit before forcing some plumber’s putty into the space between the flange and the sink.
If the leak is at the dishwasher connection, you may only need to tighten the hose or, if that doesn’t work, replace the hose completely.
Fixing a leak at the discharge drainpipe entails checking the connections to see if they are tight and replacing the gasket seal between the disposal unit and the pipe.

Finally, not all garbage disposal problems can be solved. Sometimes the only fix is to get a new appliance. If you still can’t figure out the problem after troubleshooting your garbage disposal, it may be time to let a professional plumber take a look at the disposal unit.

May '23

How to Fix a Leaking Garbage Disposal

Garbage disposals are one of the most hardworking appliances in the kitchen. These small machines constantly grind away food scraps to ensure they don’t become a problem inside your home’s drain system. They cut down on the work you must do cleaning the kitchen sink.

But hidden away from view as they are – beneath the kitchen sink – it is often hard to see the physical condition of your garbage disposal. For most homeowners, the garbage disposal is fine as long as they can hear the appliance working and there are no clogs in the kitchen sink.

But PG Management warns that apart from getting jammed, other things can happen to garbage disposal. Your garbage disposal can leak, and when that happens, it can cause all sorts of problems in your home. Since it is hidden from view, you may not even know the unit leaks.

A leaking garbage disposal will cause foul odors in your kitchen, damage the area under your sink, encourage mold growth, and force you to do expensive repairs. That’s why you must know how to fix a leaking garbage disposal quickly and safely. This post will show you how.

How to fix a leaky garbage disposal

There are two areas where leaks are most likely to happen in a garbage disposal; the leak could result from damage to the rubber gasket at the top of the appliance or due to issues with the flange which goes through your kitchen sink.

Needed tools and materials:

Wrench or pliers
Screwdriver
New gasket (if this is the problem)
Plumber’s putty

Fixing a leaking garbage disposal when the gasket is damaged

If the leak is from the very top rim of the disposal – the point where the rubber seal meets the flange – the leak could be due to a damaged rubber gasket. Rubber gaskets leak for four main reasons:

The gasket has aged and becomes brittle. As a result, it no longer provides a watertight seal.
There was no water in the garbage disposal for a long time, which allowed the rubber gasket to dry up and crack.
In the past, the garbage disposal was removed and reinstalled without replacing the gasket, as is required whenever you remove an old disposal.
The gasket was not evenly locked on all three sides during the installation.

To replace the rubber gasket, follow these steps:

Disconnect the drain, unplug the power cord, and if you have a dishwasher, disconnect the dishwasher drain hose from the disposal.
Remove the disposal by twisting the mounting nuts counterclockwise to unscrew them. Use a wrench that is the right size.
To install the new gasket, find a convenient workspace. Position the disposal so the gasket is visible. Peel off the old gasket and replace it with the new one, ensuring it aligns appropriately and sits flat.
To be sure you get the right gasket for your disposal, take your old gasket, along with the model number of the disposal, when going to the store.
Once the gasket is in place, you can replace the disposal. Make sure the gasket sits flat before you lock the disposal into place. Check the mounting groves to ensure they are locked in.
Reconnect the drain and dishwasher drain hose before you plug the power cord.
Test the garbage disposal.

Fixing a garbage disposal that’s leaking from the flange

A garbage disposal can also spread from the flange. The flange passes through the kitchen sink to connect to the garbage disposal. It will leak if the flange is not tight enough or well-sealed with the plumber’s putty. To reseal the flange, you have to take down the disposal.

Follow these steps to do that:

Disconnect the drain, unplug the garbage disposal power cord, and remove the dishwasher drain hose if you have a dishwasher.
Unmount the garbage disposal by unscrewing the mounting nuts on the sides; turn them counterclockwise with the right wrench.
Free the flange by loosening the bolts that hold it in place. Check the bottom flange to locate the clip that holds it in place; pop it out with a screwdriver. Pull the flange out from the top of the sink.
Now you can reseal the flange. But before you do that, clean the sink opening to remove any old putty. Roll out a generous amount of plumber’s putty. Apply it to a uniform width by snaking it around the opening.
Push the flange into position and return the clip holding the bottom flange into its place.
Tighten the screws. Remove any excess putty from the sink. Reconnect the drain, dishwasher drain hose, and power cord.
Test the garbage disposal.

If this doesn’t work or it feels like too much work, please call a professional plumber to help you solve the problem. It could also be that you need a new garbage disposal. If this is true, a good local plumber can help you choose the right garbage disposal for your home.