Sugar Land Plumbers – Professional plumbers deal with repairing malfunctioning garbage disposals weekly across the nation. In this article we will go over the top 5 common problems that professional plumbers deal with when diagnosing and repairing garbage disposals. If you came across this article while searching for assistance with your garbage disposal then consider getting in touch with us at, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® of Rosenberg and setting up an appointment for one of our friendly and courteous Sugar Land plumbers to assess the problems with your garbage disposal and make prompt repairs to get it back up and running.

  1. Garbage Disposal Will not Turn On

The first thing you should do is inspect if there is power to the garbage disposal. Inspect the fuse box or circuit breakers, if there is power then look on the bottom of the garbage disposal unit. There should be a small red button on most units, located underneath the unit near the bottom. This red button is called the reset button.  In the event that the button is popped out, then the disposal motor got too hot. This typically happens when there is a jam in the garbage disposal or it was left running for too long.

If it is due to a jam, then the jam will need to be cleared out and then after it is cleared then the red button will be pushed to reset the unit. There should be a small clicking sound when the reset button is pushed, if you hear this it is normal.  If it pops out again after clicking it then the disposal is still jammed.  If the button works but there is still no power going to the unit and it will not turn on then the disposal’s motor has probably worn out or burned up and you are better off purchasing a new garbage disposal.  Diagnosing a garbage disposal can be a dangerous task if you do not know what you are doing.  We recommend that you have professional Sugar Land plumbers handle this for you.

  1. Jammed Garbage Disposal

Disposals will become jammed if certain foods or other objects are placed in the disposal. Items such as corn husks or other fiber rich vegetable matter, bones, utensils, and glass are also classic examples of what can jam a disposal. Most garbage disposal units should have a small hole that is located underneath the motor in the center. This hole will allow a ¼” Allen wrench into it and will allow you to move the masher plate that is located inside of the disposal back and forth. This in most cases will typically free jams.

However, some disposals do not have Allen wrench sockets. In these types of disposals, you will need to ensure that the power is off to the unit from the fuse box or circuit breaker panel.  Then you can use an object such as a broom handle, plunger or mop. You will insert it through the top of the disposal and then try and move the masher plate back and forth to try and free up the jam.  Once freed you will need to inspect the red reset button at the bottom of the unit and if it is popped, push it back in, cut the power back on to the unit, and try again.

If you are unable to get the masher plate to move back and forth, then you will need to find professional Sugar Land plumbers to handle this for you. Garbage Disposal units can be extremely dangerous if you do not know what you are doing. Fingers and hands are amputated every single year due to garbage disposal accidents. You should never place your hands or fingers inside the unit. If you are uncomfortable handling the garbage disposal then it is best and we recommend that you contact a professional plumbing company to take care of this for you.

  1. Leaking Garbage Disposal

Sometimes the garbage disposal may leak somewhere in the system. The first thing to do when this happens is to check the connections first.  If the leak is located at the drain pipe then in all likelihood the rubber gasket will need to be replaced.  If the garbage disposal is a fairly new install, then you will need to inspect the flange and ensure that it is set tight.  However, if the leak is coming from inside the body of the disposal, in most cases you will need to replace the garbage disposal itself.  If you are unsure or can’t find the leak then contact a professional plumbing company to assess and inspect the disposal for you.

  1. Loud Noises from the Garbage Disposal

Often when this happens it is usually due to an object that the system is not able to grind such as a piece of metal, bone, glass or something else that will make all the fussing noises.  If this object does not eventually jam the system then it may find its way down through the drain system eventually.

Other times the loud noises can be due to broken flyweights, worn out blades or lugs, loose mounting screws or even worn out bearings.  The first thing to do is check out the mounting screws located directly underneath the sink’s drain. If the screws are loose then simply tighten them up.  Flyweights can be broken due to metal objects that have fallen into the system while it is on. Over time the lugs and / or blades will wear out and become less efficient.  There are a few garbage disposal models that will allow the replacement of these blades, but in most cases, a new disposal will need to be purchased. If your disposal is making loud noises and you are not sure what is causing then professional Sugar Land plumbers should look into this for you.

  1. Clogged Garbage Disposal

In the event that the garbage disposal has clogged up the drain it can be a daunting task to fix this.  Requiring shutting off power at the main and disassembling the trap itself and using a drain snake to clear out the clog and many other steps. In this scenario it is best to seek out the help of a professional plumbing company to take care of the problem for you.

About Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® of Rosenberg

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® of Rosenberg offers professional Sugar Land plumbers. We have on-call emergency plumbers twenty four hours a day, seven days a week and three hundred and sixty five days a year for your convenience. Our experienced and friendly expert Sugar Land plumbers provide on time plumbing related services to not only Houston but Katy, Rosenberg and Sugar Land Texas also. If you are in need of a professional plumber to make repairs, maintenance, or installation services then you need to look no further than Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® of Rosenberg.

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® of Rosenberg is a leading local plumbing company with high standards of service that you can rely on. When you contact us you can rest assured knowing that you are receiving the best plumbing services in the area. Our commitment to service and excellence is reflected in our rock solid A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. If you have a plumbing related problem in your home or business and you need help, do not hesitate to reach out to us today. One of our professional and friendly Sugar Land plumbers will be more than happy to answer any of your questions and schedule an appointment with you to assess the problem and resolve it at your earliest convenience. Give Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® of Rosenberg a call today if you are looking for professional Sugar Land plumbers. If there’s any delay, it’s you we pay.