How to Repair Garbage Disposals: Jam & Clogs
garbage disposal
Jamming and clogging are the two most popular problems of food waste disposers. Positively every single owner of these machines has encountered them at least once. And man, they sure are annoying.
Chapter 1: Your Garbage Disposal Stopped Working?
Surprisingly (or not), in most cases, machines not working is nothing else but the users’ fault. For some reasons, many use their garbage disposals like a trash can. We need to understand something: garbage disposals are designed to deal with food waste and positively only food waste.
Sometimes the motor might seem strong enough to grind other things, but trying that will definitely damage the machine permanently. So don’t.
If you ever, out of rebellion or out of carelessness, feed the machine with a foreign object like a coin or a metal spoon or even a rubber band (basically anything that the machine can’t grind), do expect it to jam.
In other cases, some garbage disposals are weaker than others and require gentler hands to manage. Feeding garbage slowly and avoiding large loads of bones (or any bone at all, for that matter) or fibrous materials will be best. If the machine is overloaded, the circuit breaker will stop the operation to protect it/the motor.
To sum up, there are two common reasons why the machines are not working properly:
Foreign objects stuck in the grind chamber
Circuit breaker reacting to overloading
Chapter 2: How to Repair Garbage Disposals
After understanding the reasons, it should be easier now to mend these occurrences. But life is rarely so convenient. If these suggestions don’t work with your situation, do call for professional help.
Nonetheless, let’s just see how well we do first.
Troubleshooting a Garbage Disposal
There are two causes: whether the circuit breaker is tripped or something is stuck in between the plate and the ring. We need to be able to tell them apart since the way they each can be “untangled” is different.
If the machine suddenly stops mid-session and there isn’t any sound coming out of it, that means the power is shut off and you might want to take a look at the load you’re processing. It’s most likely the work of the circuit breaker.
If the machine cease to spin and hums when you try to turn it off-on then there’s something preventing the plate from spinning even though the motor is running.
Circuit breaker reacting to overloading
With overloading, it’s simpler. You don’t need any tools. Basically, just wait for the machine to recover, realize that your machine has a limit and slow down the process from now on. Anyway, here’s what you should do.
Switch the machine off.
Look for the reset button (close to the bottom or under the unit). It should be extending out (about ¼ “ or 5 mm).
Reset the garbage disposal by pushing the button in, then turn the machine on.
If it doesn’t go in, let the machine rest for 10 minutes before putting it to labor again.
(Even if it does stay put in the first try, we still recommend leaving it alone for a few minutes.)
That should bring the food waste disposer back to normal.
Chapter 3: Foreign objects stuck in the grind chamber
If the machine hums, we need to remove obstacles from the chamber and unjam the thing manually.
Tools: Allen wrench, flashlight, pliers or tongs.
1. Turn off the machine. Make sure the power is cut off.
2. Use the Allen wrench (for unit with hex hole) or a long handled tool (for unit with NO hex hole).
3. With the wrench: under the unit should be an hex hole where the wrench can go in. Work the wrench as a handle and turn the motor slowly (it’s okay to use some force if it doesn’t turn easily) until it rotates a whole circle in both directions.
(the wrench is the optimal option)
With the long handled tool: go inside the chamber through the collar and spin the spinning plate by the impellers (Waste King models have a hole for this purpose) until it rotates freely.
4. Check the overload protector. If it’s tripped, you will see the button extending. Gently press it. If it does not go back in, let the machine rest for 10 minutes then try again.
5. Look into the chamber with a flashlight. NEVER PUT YOUR HANDS IN THE MACHINE. Pay attention to the edge of the plate, where it meets the grind ring. Use a pair of tongs or pliers to remove any visual debris/ blockage.
If the obstacles cannot be picked out with normal force, professionals are to be consulted.
6. Turn on the water and try to run the machine. The chamber should rotate normally now. If not, repeat the steps.
Due to the nature of problem, you may need to perform the tasks several times.
If the garbage disposal continues to jam after many attempts, service is advised and warranty should be invoked.
Zhejiang Rosun Kitchen & Bath Technology Co., Ltd. is a manufacture of quality garbage disposer and accessories since 1992 with a registered capital of USD 1.5 million. It’s located in Yuhuan, Zhejiang Province of China, covers areas of 75,347 sq. ft, owns 129,167 sq. ft of workshop with more than 200 experienced workers and staffs.
Rosun established Disposer laboratory with an independent R&D team, together with a complete production system from moulding, casting, precision machining, polishing and assemble workshop since it’s founded, Rosun has provided professional OEM & ODM services for numerous customers overseas and domestic.
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