Odd Noises
Once you have turned on your device and hear any unusual sounds, such as subtle humming, buzzing, or whirring sounds, it’s likely the impeller is jammed, usually due to a solid object between the shredder ring and the impeller plate. The humming sound is concerning as it tells us although the motor itself is intact, the blades may be unable to move and function properly. So despite your device being powered on, if you have no frayed electrical wires, the blades may not be turning and twisting due to a clogged blade or motor leading to a failure to grind.
Frequent Resets
The average garbage disposal device lasts upwards of 12 to 15 years for those who are keen on routine maintenance. So if your device is reaching the last of its days, you may notice that you have to push the reset button more often than not and these repetitive attempts to flush down food waste may be tedious. If anything, this indicates the motor is weakening and needs to be replaced with a professional garbage disposal installation. Dallas homeowners should note it may be due to bad electrical wiring as well. Either way, you must not delay and swap with a garbage disposal installation to restore optimal performance.
Consistent Clogs
This goes in tandem with the odd noises as you can tell your garbage disposal is clogged if the motor is humming but the unit itself is not grinding at all, it is way too noisy and stops spinning before you even turn it off. If the device is jammed from a blockage, don’t bother running it all as it can burn out the motor. The only way you can reduce the likelihood of a garbage disposal installation is to remain extra vigilant about what you wash down your kitchen drain and be sure to ban the following items:
- Coffee grounds or tea leaves
- Pasta or rice
- Small animal bones
- Nuts, seeds, and shells
- Fruit pits
- Any peels, including potato, onion, or banana peels
- Eggshells
- Any string fruits and vegetables like celery
Foul And Lingering Odors
If you inhale a putrid smell from your kitchen sink every time you stroll by, it’s due to food waste that has not been fully and thoroughly disposed of. Once food particles are left to fester within the device itself and are unable to drain to the sewer later. This will likely result in foul odors. If you’ve had to pinch your nose due to a wafting sour smell, it’s due to organic decay which is probably smelling up the whole kitchen. Although you can try home remedies such as pouring boiling water down the drain or even sprinkling in some vinegar and baking soda, these are only temporary solutions and do not save the fact you need a qualified garbage disposal installation. Dallas residents don’t want to trigger an allergic reaction due to these toxic fumes, so it’s best to not be complacent about a garbage disposal installation.
Lackluster Performance
If you can’t tell by now from the strange sounds to whiffing in bad odors, sometimes your device is too broken beyond repair and will bypass these signs of deterioration. For example, if there is a burning smell of literal smoke fuming from the unit, the motor or motor capacitor is damaged. This explains why your device is jammed due to a clog, usually found in the grinding chamber, causing the motor to overheat. If your garbage disposal is just too slow, it may be that its parts from the motor to the impeller blades are slowly receding and wearing out, and you require an expert garbage disposal installation.
Water Leakages
Should you find that water is beginning to pool under the kitchen sink or even that the cabinet area in and around the sink is more damp than usual, you must investigate the leak. If the leak is towards the bottom of the sink or from the sides the leakage is normally reserved to the spot where the drainage line is attached to the side of the garbage disposal. Sometimes the internal seal of the device wears out due to rust and corrosion and loosens up, and you need to tweak it with a quick fix. However, it can be more cost-effective to ask for a new garbage disposal installation instead of a repair.
No Power
And last but not least, if your garburator won’t turn on at all if you press the switch even after hitting the reset button on the bottom or side of the device which serves as a miniature circuit breaker–it’s likely there is a problem with the wiring. Sometimes if your device becomes overloaded its reset switch will trip to stop any further damage to the unit. And so, this serves as a failsafe safety mechanism to protect the device itself. If we discover that the fuse has blown out and your device is no longer salvageable, we will recommend you proceed with a garbage disposal installation. You will save yourself the hassle of frequent and costly repairs by asking for a quality replacement from your local Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Dallas.
