Very few things in life provoke as much hassle as a broken appliance. Luckily, Affordable Plumbing and Sewer is here to help. Today’s subject – a jammed garbage disposal.

It happens to the best of us. You’ve just eaten dinner, you’ve grabbed all remaining plates and silverware, and you are now beginning your absolute favorite part of the day. Washing dishes. The last thing on your mind here is sink repair.

You quickly wash the dishes, making sure to scrub each one clean. You watch as the remaining scraps of food disappear into the disposal unit. You’re almost done. The TV beckons. But then it happens. A flip of the switch. A defeated whir. What’s left of your meal rests sadly at the base of your disposal. No fear here. Follow these simple instructions and quickly become an appliance expert.

First, let’s start with the simplest solution. Check the bottom of the disposal unit for the reset button.

Give it a healthy push and try rerunning it. If that doesn’t fix the problem, move on to the next potential solution.

Most importantly, make sure to turn off power to the disposal system itself. Don’t rely on only turning off the wall switch. Ensure your safety by cutting the disposal’s power from the circuit breaker. After you’ve completed that – you can subsequently begin to diagnose the problem further.

Secondly, carefully reach your hand into the disposal. We recommend gloves. Physically clear the food remnants from the base. Often, the culprit of a faulty disposal is a simple obstruction that prevents the movement of the blades. After you’ve cleared the area, restore power to the disposal, and flush hot water through the system for about 10 – 15 seconds. Afterward, try rerunning the disposal.

If it works, congratulations! You’re now a bonafide sink repair expert. If not, no worries. We’ve still got you covered.

Repeat step one and turn off the power to the disposal unit. Then, use a hex key (or allen wrench) on the flywheel turning wrench hole to turn the blade manually. Pro-tip – consider taping the correct hex key near the disposal for ease of access in the future.

Afterward, restore power to the unit, press the reset button, run hot water, and try again.

If the problem persists beyond this point, it may be time to consult with an expert. Luckily for you – Affordable Plumbing and Sewer has the tools and the personnel to help you with any sink repair you might require. Contact us today for all your sink or sewer line repair needs. Happy fixing!