Many people often wonder how to fix a garbage disposal. The truth of the matter is that the garbage disposer is just like any other piece of equipment – it can only be as good as the owner makes it. The reason why the phrase “fix garbage disposal” is in quotes is simply because there is a very common mistake that many owners make: thinking that the garbage disposal is simply a trash can which is used as a means of disposal rather than an organ for processing food. The truth is, the garbage disposal is actually built-into-your-kitchen-oven-drill-heated-and-rotated-for-the purpose-of-disposing-of-food waste.
When you first open the door of your garbage disposer, you will find a wide stainless steel liner sitting on top of a layer of water. The lid itself may be made from aluminum or copper, but it is important to note that neither material will protect against the elements. For this reason, it is crucial that you periodically wipe away any water from the interior walls of the disposal (which will serve to prevent rusting). When you do, you will notice a plastic cover on top of the compartment, which is the lid, but is designed to be peeled off as well (to avoid water retention).
There are several maintenance issues you can address with the garbage disposer and they are listed below. In each of these scenarios, the proper way of addressing the problem will depend on the type of unit you own.
If you own a smaller unit, then the issue that concerns you most will probably be the one addressed in the next section. The reason why this area of the garbage disposal is so vital is that it is where all of your food scraps end up, after being processed and left to dry. Food debris such as meat fragments, coffee grounds, and other small particles of food will build up, resulting in an odor and buildup of solidified matter on top of the waste, which will block the flow of the drain pipe.
To solve the buildup problem, you will want to drain the garbage out of the drain and then wash it down with a sponge. As you do so, make sure to thoroughly rinse all of the dirt off the walls of the drain. If you have a larger unit, you may want to remove the cover completely and wash the inside walls in a bucket of water (as well as scrubbing the inside surfaces with a scrub brush). This process is known as draining the garbage disposal down and will help to rid the machine of all build-up, so you won’t be left with a full-blown problem which could potentially cause the unit to stop functioning.
To prevent the unit from jamming, you should make sure you regularly clean out the garbage disposal’s drainage systems by vacuuming them on a regular basis. This way, they will always be free and clear of debris and particles which will build up. You also want to keep the water level in the drain area at an appropriate level for optimum efficiency.
