In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some of the basics on how to prevent and remedy clogs in your home’s garbage disposal. While avoiding these clogs is also possible with proper usage and care, there may come times where clogs can’t be avoided.
At All Pro Appliance, we’re happy to help with not only garbage disposal repair, but also numerous other areas of appliance repair. We’ll assist you with the clearing of any clogs or other buildups in your garbage disposal, plus provide you with tips and expertise on how to prevent these in the future. Today’s part two of our series will focus on a general DIY method for clearing garbage disposal clogs – if you’re up for it. But we’ll also go over situations where simply leaving the job to the professionals is the right way to go.
DIY Clearing
Here are the general steps for clearing your home’s garbage disposal:
- Get a large bucket and some Channellock pliers.
- Locate your P-trap, also called an S-trap in some homes. This refers to the curved pipe found below the sink, one of the most common places for a clog to present itself.
- Turn off the water supply to the sink in question, and place the bucket under the trap to catch excess water.
- Locate the lowest point of the P or S shape in the trap pipe. Many of these pipes will have a quick-disconnect design that allow for removal simply; if not, you will have to use pliers to unscrew the slip-nut fitting. Once this is done, let the water drain into the bucket.
- Inspect and clean the interior of the trap, usually with a stiff nylon brush or a tool like a wire coat hanger.
- Check downstream in the trap arm that connects to the wall of the room, especially if you did not find a clog in the trap itself. This may require a drain snake or auger.
- Reassemble the trap, including aligning washers and tightening coupling nuts.
- Turn the water supply back on and run hot water for 30 seconds to clear out any leftover debris.
- While the water is running, turn the disposal back on to see if you’ve cleared the clog.
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