Having garbage disposal issues? Here are some tips and tricks to get your garbage disposal running smoothly again.

Jammed Disposal:
Sometimes life gets away from us and we don’t always pay close enough attention to what is thrown down a disposal. A jammed disposal is the most common issue. This is something that is usually very easily taken care of. First things first, protect yourself by unplugging the unit. Get a flashlight to look down and see what might be causing the jam. Sometimes it is a foreign object, such as silverware or fish tank rocks, that you can easily grab with your hand. But sometimes it is an actual food item itself. Did you know there are certain foods that are actually not disposal safe? This is something I actually learned myself recently. Anything that is exceptionally starchy or fibrous should not be put down into a disposal. Examples of this would be (but not limited to) potato peels, lettuce, or even large noodles. If you can scrape your plate into the trash, it is always safer to do so! After removing the obstruction, plug that bad boy back in and enjoy!

Power Issues:
Occasionally, your disposal will lose power. This is never fun, but it is the easiest fix. Always make sure it is plugged in. Believe it or not, it is often over looked. Once you have made sure the unit is plugged in you can try pushing the reset button. If for some reason the reset button doesn’t work, try checking the breaker. This will happen intermittently throughout living at the home. Depending on the amount of power you are using on that particular circuit with other kitchen items and appliances, it can trip quite often. Check to see what else may have been in use at the time to determine what caused the breaker to trip. If the issue persists, it might be best to have an electrician check out the issue.

Cleaning:
My grandmother used to tell me, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” This is very true when it comes to garbage disposals. Cleaning is one of the most important things you can do to keep your disposal running smoothly and properly. The easiest way to do this is to throw a large cup of ice cubes (be sure it is the whole cube, not the shavings) and let ‘er rip! With the water running as usual of course. The ice will break up and dislodge any food that maybe stuck in the blades or housing. This will help with the smell that sometimes comes out of your disposal as well!

If your issue isn’t fixed with any of these tips, it is always best to submit a maintenance request to your property manager.

Thank you for reading! Check back for more information!