In this section of Home Tips for home improvement, we will learn Garbage Disposer Repair and Care - Troubleshooting and fixing garbage disposal problems.

A garbage disposer is a must-have home and kitchen appliance to dispose of home and kitchen garbage and wastes.

Before we move on to Garbage disposals repair and care and fixing disposer problems, we need to understand how to use the disposer so that it performs at its best and lasts longer.

Here are some of the very important points that you should keep in mind while using a garbage disposer:

1. Use cold water when grinding food in the disposer as hot water can melt fats and clog drainage pipes.

2. Do not overfill the disposer with disposals or wastes. Do you overfill your car or your stomach?

3. Do not pour any chemicals into the system.

4. Do not fill and grind disposals and wastes with more fiber such as bones. Also do not try to grind inorganic wastes like metal, glass or rubber. Wastes that can be grinded in the disposer are often mentioned in the manual that comes with the appliance. Follow the rules to avoid future problems.

5. Keep the system clean by running water before and after you use the disposer.

If your garbage disposer doesn't run at all or it just hums, there must be some problem with the power. This may also happen because of an overload. Do following to solve this problem with your garbage disposer:

1) Push the reset button of the system usually located at the bottom of the disposer and allow the system to cool off. Once the system is cool enough, push the reset button, and try the disposal again.

2) Make sure if the disposer is receiving power supply. In case you find problem with the power supply, replace the fuse or reset the circuit breaker.

3. If the disposer runs in an intermittent manner and doesn’t dispose off garbage properly, it is most likely that the switch or the stopper is defective. Check and if required, replace it.

* Any repair work on the garbage disposer should be performed only after switching off the main power supply.

This happens often when the disposer gets jammed or clogged. Do following to clear a jammed disposal:

1) Refer to the manual.

2) There is a hex-shaped hole at the bottom of the disposer. Get a hex wrench that fits the hole. Using the hex wrench, force it back and forth in both directions to free the impellers.

3) If you find object such as a piece of metal, rubber or glass or anything else clogging the disposer, pull it out using a pair of tongs or pliers. Don’t do this with your hand.

In case you are still not able to solve the problem, call an expert or a repairperson.

If your garbage disposer is running and the wheels seems to be spinning but there is no grinding, then most probably the blades are broken. Check and replace the blades or the entire unit.

If your disposer grinds poorly, make sure that you are running enough water while operating the disposer and that you are not grinding wastes not recommended by the manufacturer. Check the manual.

If there are leaks below the disposer, find out the source of the leak, and tighten the connection. Replace the drain gasket or the disposer’s mounting screws if required.

If your disposer makes too much noise, make sure if some unwanted object is there in the disposer or not. If there is nothing as such, you may need to replace the blade, impeller, or motor by an expert.

Replacing the blades or impeller or motor can be expensive. Instead, you can replace the whole disposer.