Tag: garbage disposal

Signs Your Garbage Disposal is Broken

Aug 04, 2022

Signs Your Garbage Disposal is Broken

  • Plumbing
broken garbage disposal

Remember life before your garbage disposal? It makes life so much easier to be able to scrape food off a plate and down the drain. Your garbage disposal gives you peace of mind that you’ll be free of drain clogs, but what happens when it’s broken? Not only does your plumbing instantly become more susceptible to blockages, but the broken disposal itself causes a host of problems on its own. Because it’s so out of sight, it can be hard to determine when exactly your garbage disposal is broken. If you know what you’re looking for, there are a couple of tell tale signs to watch for to let you know when it’s time to call a Lake Cook plumber.

Dead Garbage Disposal

One of the worst sounds to hear when you turn on your disposal is no sound at all. No sound could indicate a simple electrical problem; potentially something as easy to fix as a loose plug or or flipped reset switch. It could also (more troublingly) mean that the motor of the disposal is burnt out. The motor is the most key component in what makes your garbage disposal system operate, so if it’s out of commission,  you need to call in for a replacement.

Garbage Disposal Leaking

If your garbage disposal is broken, you may find amounts of leakage. Disposals can leaks from pretty much anywhere: top, side, bottom, into the dishwasher, and down into your plumbing system itself.  This is most usually the result of an O-Ring in need of replacement, lost putty sealing around the unit, or improper connections with the dishwasher and drain pipe. All of these are easily fixed with a quick visit from a plumber.

Loud Garbage Disposal

Just like with your car, unexpected grinding noises are the last things you want to hear when you flip on your garbage disposal. Thankfully, unlike your car, this is usually a simple, inexpensive fix that shouldn’t be too much of a headache for you. Normally when your garbage disposal is broken in this way, it’s the result of parts grinding together, which itself is usually caused by something stuck between the blades, a missing component, or is a part has been knocked out of place. While this may seem like an easy enough fix to DIY, we have to recommend using a plumber for the safety factor: the last thing you want is for the disposal to turn on unexpectedly while you’re working on it. A broken garbage disposal will be the least of your problems.

Blocked Garbage Disposal

This is probably the first thing you thought of when you found your garbage disposal was broken: something must be stuck in there stopping it up. While they are incredibly handy pieces of hardware, garbage disposals are prone to being jammed when common food items get stuck between the blades.  These include:

  • Eggshells
  • Shellfish shells
  • Celery
  • Fruit Seeds and Pits
  • Pasta/Rice
  • Veggie Peels and Fruit Skins
  • Non-food items (cigarette butts, sponges, plant clippings, silverware)

Fats, oils, and greases (FOGs) also have a tendency to stop up your disposal by coating the blades and limiting their effectiveness overtime. Though these shouldn’t be in the drain to begin with, as they are prone to causing major clogs in pipes as they congeal and solidify over time.

Smoking Garbage Disposal

When is a home appliance smoking ever a good sign? We didn’t think so. Smoke emanating from your garbage disposal is a surefire sign of a catastrophic motor failure. Or a circuit panel issue. either way, it’s not good, and you should call a professional immediately to come out and assess the full extent of the issue.

Garbage Disposal Broken? Call Lake Cook Plumbing today!

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By zachadmachinescom

Signs You Need Garbage Disposal Repair

Dec 23, 2019

Signs You Need Garbage Disposal Repair

  • Plumbing
garbage disposal repair by Lake Cook Plumbing

Are You Experiencing Garbage Disposal Issues?

Accidents happen, no matter how well you’ve maintained your garbage disposal. Knowing when it’s time to call in a plumber however, can be tricky. Your plumbing can be complicated, but the good news is that there are plenty of clues if the problem is with your garbage disposal. If your garbage disposal is damaged, it’s best to act quickly. If you think it’s time for garbage disposal repair, here are a few warning signs to watch out for.

  • It’s tripping your circuit breaker. Garbage disposals use a lot of wattage which means when in use, you may experience some flickering lights or a slight power surge. If however, your garbage disposal starts to trip the circuit breaker, there could be a wiring issue with either the disposal or your home’s electrical panel.
  • It makes loud, unusual noises. If something is wrong, you’ll definitely hear it, as the sound of metal on metal is very unpleasant. Loud, unusual noises are usually an indicator of a loose part or damaged part, and require urgent repair. 
  • It’s leaking. Unfortunately, a leaking garbage disposal can mean the entire unit needs to be replaced, especially if there is a crack in the disposal itself. Watch out for signs of a leak, such as any dark or wet spots on the floor and cabinets.
  • It’s not working, period. The most obvious sign of a damaged garbage disposal is when it stops working entirely. The good news is that most garbage disposal issues are easy fixes which rarely require an entire replacement.

Your Garbage Disposal Works Hard Enough

A garbage disposal is a fantastic kitchen appliance, and it deserves proper care and maintenance. No homeowner wants to deal with the cost of replacing the garbage disposal, especially when it can be avoided. Keeping your kitchen drain clear and clean sometimes requires the help of a licensed plumber. Stay clog-free by treating your disposal right, call your local experts at Lake Cook Plumbing for garbage disposal repair ! 

By zachadmachinescom

5 Simple Garburator Maintenance Tips

Aug 16, 2019

5 Simple Garburator Maintenance Tips

  • Plumbing
garbage disposal maintenance in Illinois by Lake Cook Plumbing

Your home’s garburator can be a great help for cleaning and keeping your kitchen smelling fresh. In fact, it can also help reduce the amount of garbage you contribute to your local landfill. However, having a garburator means you have to keep it well-maintained. If you don’t, you’ll wind up making your kitchen smell worse and cause all sorts of problems for your garburator. Fortunately, Lake Cook Plumbing can offer you some easy garburator maintenance tips that can keep your garburator working its best!

Here Five Garburator Tips:

Use it often and use it with cold water

Like plenty of things, your garburator can get a bit rusty if it doesn’t do its job often. Running it often prevents rust and corrosion, helps clear potential obstructions, and ensures all the parts are working. In addition, when you use it, make sure you’re running cold water when it’s grinding up food waste. The cold helps solidify grease and oils that could otherwise clog up the trap.

Biodegradable food only!

Garburators aren’t meant to take every type of garbage. When you consider putting something in there, ask yourself if it’s some kind of biodegradable food, like meat. If it isn’t, then it probably shouldn’t go in there. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. Some of them are:

  • Bones and other solid trash
  • Celery and other fibrous foods
  • Coffee grounds and other foods that make lots of sediment
  • Fruit pits
  • Excess grease and oils
  • Pasta and rice
  • Potato peels and other starchy foods

 Don’t stick your hand in there!

This should go without saying, but don’t put your hand down the garburator. Sure, you might be able to dislodge something that’s causing a clog. However, even if the garburator is off, the sudden release of tension may cause the blades to spin around fast enough to hurt you. If you need to dislodge an obstruction, use some tongs or a similar tool. Still can’t get it out? Call us to help you fix your garburator.

Keep the inside of your garburator clean

It’s easy to forget about the inside of your garburator. However, it’s important to remember that this part of your system is just as important as the rest. A simple mix of baking soda and vinegar down the drain can do wonders at cleaning the pipes. Alternatively, you can put a bit of dish soap down the drain. While doing that, have the garburator run for a minute while the cold water runs.

Chop up larger items yourself

Your garburator’s blades are sharp, but they aren’t able to handle everything. If you have larger food waste, chop it up into smaller pieces first before you dispose of it. By doing this, you can avoid causing clogs. In addition, try and put larger items down the disposal one at a time to ensure the disposal can handle it.

Why is Lake Cook Plumbing the company to choose for my plumbing needs?

Lake Cook Plumbing has been helping Illinois residents keep their plumbing in working order since 1954. With 65 and counting years of experience in the plumbing industry, we know a thing or two about handling plumbing problems of all kinds. We’re committed to providing our customers high-quality service, upfront pricing, and being available whenever our customers are available. Call Lake Cook Plumbing today to learn more about our professional plumbing services!

By zachadmachinescom