Garbage disposals are awesome! In fact, it’s not uncommon for someone to think they’re SO awesome that they can take on just about anything! Well, unfortunately, even garbage disposals can be conquered. What we’re talking about here is the jammed disposal! Having been in the Kansas City plumbing industry for over 40 years now, I’ve come across my fair share of jammed disposals. While occasionally it truly is the result of a garbage disposal on it’s last leg, that is definitely not the most common occurrence. The primary reason why a disposal gets clogged up in the first-place is the fact that someone tossed something in there that should probably be in the trash can.

In a previous post, we walked through 8 items you should never put through the garbage disposal. So, with that said, today we’re going to break down how you can actually treat a clog because no matter how cautious you are, you can’t keep guard on the disposal 24/7! ??

➡️Check the User Manual

When you purchase and have your new garbage disposal installed, you should’ve received a user manual with it. Before testing out any methods discussed in this article, I’d recommend taking a quick glimpse at it. More often than not, they’re not going to be much help (or if you’ve had the disposal for awhile, you may no longer have it handy). If you do though, see if it has any tips! If not, feel free to continue on to the following unclogging methods.

⚠️Safety Tips

First and foremost, before messing around with the disposal, we want to make sure you’re not putting yourself in harm’s way. So, let’s go through some basic plumbing safety tips. Always shut off the electrical power switch. Typically, this is near the disposal or on a nearby wall. If you can’t find it for some reason, then you must go to the breaker and turn it off. Even with that taken care of, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Rule number one when tinkering with the garbage disposal is NEVER put your hand in the garbage disposal! You may have heard this from time-to-time growing up, but it can’t be stressed enough. If you’re going to turn a jammed garbage disposal into a DIY project, keep your hands clear.

✔️ Method #1: Quick Scan

For some clogged garbage disposals, getting it cleared out is easier than you’d think. The Quick Scan Method is what we’d recommend starting with. Once the power switch is turned off, you’ll want to grab a flashlight. Shine it into the disposal and see if there’s any large items caught in it. If you spot something, you can take a pair of pliers and try to remove it. If you were successful in removing it, then wait 15 minutes for the disposal to cool. After that, turn on the motor and press the reset button. If it’s still clogged up, time to proceed to method number 2. ?

✔️ Method #2: Wooden Spoon

If you weren’t able to pull it out with pliers, chances are something has hardened and is now latched on to the blades. For this method (remember to have the power turned off), take a wooden spoon against the blades and move it slowly back and forth. If the blades start moving freely, then you’re on the right track. If this works, as stated above, wait 15 minutes for the motor cool and then turn it back on.

✔️ Method #3: Unclogging Mixture

If steps 1 and 2 didn’t do the trick, it’s quite possible you have something strong caught in there. However, there’s one more attempt you can make before calling in your Kansas City plumber. As always, start this step by making sure both the breaker and disposal are turned off. Once completed, grab some baking soda and white vinegar. You’ll need to pour 1/4 cup of baking soda and 1/2 cup of white vinegar in the disposal. You’ll notice that it will quickly start fizzing and foaming up. After about ten minutes, go ahead and turn the breaker and disposal back on. Run some hot water through it. If no issues occur, then you’ve likely just fixed your first ever garbage disposal! Welcome to the club!

As a side note, try to avoid from using any of those harsh or industrial-level drain cleaner. The majority of garbage disposals contain plastic parts. When you pour these industrial drain cleaners down, they can quickly eat away at your garbage disposal and you’ll eventually run into a huge mess later on down the road.

? Baking Soda + Vinegar = The Perfect Duo!

If I could recommend two things to always keep in-stock in your pantry, I advise you to consider baking soda and vinegar. The combo of these two items can actually be the cure for a number of areas around the house. As mentioned above, it can be the perfect recipe for freshening up your pipes. Harsh cleaners can do a number on them when used, which is why always recommend utilizing baking soda and vinegar instead. While you’re in the kitchen, you might also consider utilizing this mixture to bring back some of that shine on your stainless steel sink. Some other possibilities for using it include cleaning up carpet stains and getting rid of some gunk that might be leftover on your pots and pans. Stay tuned for a future blog post focusing solely on this mixture and the wonders it can do for various household tasks!

?Call In the Experts!

Having done each of the three steps above, you might still be running into some issues with your jammed disposal. If so, we don’t recommend trying any other tactics. Unfortunately, this is no longer a DIY project and it’s time to call in a Kansas City plumbing expert. Go ahead and turn the disposal off while you wait for the plumber to show up and make sure to not flush anything else down it. Our team of experienced plumbers are always ready to go in a moment’s notice. Give me a call at 816-348-3481 and we’ll have someone over there right away.

Want to learn another quick trick for unclogging a garbage disposal? Here are some helpful videos from our friends over at Hoffman Brothers.

?Take It Next Level!

Want to go above and beyond to make sure your garbage disposal always lasts it’s full lifespan? Well, there’s two main tips we have for you: First, make sure you know what your garbage disposal can handle. Even the highest-powered disposals will eventually meet their match. If you have some trash, then use the trash can! Don’t give that to the disposal. Secondly, try to remember to put half a lemon in your disposal every three weeks. This will help freshen up the blades to keep them operating correctly, as well as give your disposal a nice smell! Don’t hesitate to give us a call if you need any assistance with your Kansas City plumbing project or just need some garbage disposal advice!