How to Fix a Clogged Garbage Disposal Unit?

You finish dinner, scrape the plates, turn on the faucet, and flip the garbage disposal unit switch. Instead of the familiar grinding sound, you hear a hum. Or worse, nothing happens. And dirty water just sits in the sink.

A clogged garbage disposal unit can quickly turn an ordinary kitchen cleanup into a problem. Fortunately, many minor clogs and jams have fairly simple causes. Food may be stuck inside the unit, grease may have built up in the drain, or the garbage disposal unit may simply need to be reset. Even your garbage disposal unit can have an off day.

Sometimes, though, the problem isn't the garbage disposal unit itself. The clog may be farther down the drain, where running the garbage disposal won’t help. In this blog, we'll look at what can clog your garbage disposal unit, how you can safely fix it, and when it's better to call a plumber.

Is Your Garbage Disposal Unit Clogged or Jammed?

First, pay attention to what your garbage disposal unit is doing. It may be making a little kitchen drama, but the clues are usually right there.

A clogged garbage disposal unit usually means food, grease, or other debris is preventing water from flowing properly through the unit or the connected drain. A jam is slightly different. Something may be preventing the grinding components inside the unit from moving. Here's a quick way to tell what may be happening -

What You Notice	Possible Problem
Water drains slowly	Food or grease buildup
Water doesn't drain	Larger drain blockage
Garbage disposal unit hums but doesn't grind	Jammed unit
The garbage disposal unit makes no sound	Power or reset issue
Water backs up into the other sink	The shared drain may be clogged
The garbage disposal unit runs, but water stays in the sink	The clog may be farther down the drain

That last situation catches a lot of people off guard. Your garbage disposal unit can be working while the drain connected to it is clogged. So before assuming you need a new unit, look at how the entire sink is behaving.

How to Fix a Clogged Garbage Disposal Unit?

Before you play detective with your garbage disposal unit, there’s one safety rule you don’t want to learn the hard way -

Never put your hand inside a garbage disposal.

Turn off the unit and disconnect its power before trying to remove anything. Otherwise, a simple clog could turn into a trip to the ER. Because garbage disposal unit designs vary, you should also follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer. Once you've done that, work through the following steps.

1. Turn Off the Garbage Disposal Unit

If your garbage disposal is humming but not grinding, don't keep flipping the switch. That humming sound can mean the unit is jammed. Continuing to run it may cause the motor to overheat.

Switch it off. If you suspect a spoon, bottle cap, piece of glass, or another object has fallen inside, disconnect the power before trying to remove it.

2. Give the Unit Time to Cool

Has your garbage disposal unit suddenly stopped working after you tried running it several times? The motor may have overloaded. Turn it off and wait for it to cool before trying anything else.

Continuing to turn it on won't make the jam disappear and may put additional stress on the unit. This is also a good time to look into the drain opening with a flashlight. If you see something that clearly shouldn't be there, disconnect the power before attempting to remove it.

3. Check the Reset Button

Many garbage disposal units have a small reset button underneath the unit. The button may trip when the motor becomes overloaded.

• Once the unit has cooled, find the reset button and follow the manufacturer's instructions for resetting the garbage disposal unit.
• Then restore power and test it.
• If it starts running normally again, great.
• But don't stop paying attention just yet.

If the garbage disposal unit runs but water continues to drain slowly, you may still have a clog in the connected drain.

4. Check for a Jam

Some garbage disposal units have a socket underneath the unit that lets you manually move the grinding mechanism with the appropriate wrench.

• Turn off and disconnect the power before doing this.
• Insert the correct tool according to the manufacturer's instructions and gently move it back and forth.

This may help free food or another object that has stopped the mechanism from moving. Don't force it. If the mechanism won't move or you aren't comfortable working with the unit, call a professional instead.

5. Remove Anything You Can Clearly See

Use a flashlight to look into the garbage disposal unit.

• You may spot a small utensil, bone, fruit pit, or other obstruction.
• If the power is completely disconnected and the object is easy to reach, you may be able to remove it using long-handled tongs or pliers. Do not use your fingers.

Once the obstruction is out, check that nothing else remains inside before restoring power.

6. Plunge the Sink

What if the garbage disposal unit turns on normally but the water still isn't draining? Now you're probably dealing with a drain clog. A sink plunger may help with a blockage close to the drain opening.

• If you have a double sink, seal the second drain with a stopper or a wet cloth. You need the pressure from the plunger to act on the clogged drain instead of escaping through the other side.
• Add enough water to cover the plunger cup. Place the plunger firmly over the drain and plunge several times. Then remove it and see whether the water begins to move.

If the water drains normally again, you may have cleared the blockage. If it drains slowly or comes right back up, there's likely more buildup in the line.

What If Your Garbage Disposal Unit Works but the Sink Won't Drain?

This is where the problem often moves beyond the garbage disposal unit itself. Your garbage disposal unit can grind normally while food, grease, or sludge blocks the drain farther downstream. You may notice -

• Water sitting in the sink after the garbage disposal unit runs
• Water coming up in the second sink bowl
• Gurgling from the kitchen drain
• A bad smell that keeps returning
• Water backing up when the dishwasher drains
• A sink that repeatedly drains slowly
• A clog that returns soon after you clear it

At that point, resetting or running the garbage disposal unit again probably won’t solve the problem. You can only flip that switch so many times before taking the hint. If the clog keeps coming back and you can’t tell why, a sewer camera inspection can show what’s going on farther inside the line.

Professional drain cleaning can clear material farther down the line that you can't reach from the sink. Depending on the type and location of the clog, a plumber may use drain snaking or another appropriate cleaning method.

If you're wondering which approach may work better, our guide to drain snaking and hydro jetting explains the difference.

Get Rid of That Stubborn Clog - Call (775) 331-3636

What Causes a Garbage Disposal Unit to Clog?

A garbage disposal unit makes kitchen cleanup easier, but it can't handle everything that goes down the sink. Not everything left on your dinner plate belongs down there. Common causes of garbage disposal unit and drain clogs include -

• Cooking grease and oil
• Coffee grounds
• Pasta and rice
• Potato peels
• Celery
• Onion skins
• Corn husks
• Large amounts of eggshells
• Fruit pits
• Bones
• Too much food at once
• Nonfood objects

Grease is one of the biggest problems. You may pour it down the sink while it's warm and liquid, thinking it will wash away. But as it cools, it can stick to the inside of the pipes. Food particles can then collect on the grease and gradually create a kitchen drain clog.

Starchy foods can cause trouble too. Rice and pasta may look harmless, but they soak up water and expand. Stringy foods like celery bring their own problems and can get tangled inside the garbage disposal unit.

Sometimes, the cause is even simpler. Putting too much food down at once can overwhelm the garbage disposal unit and leave you needing clogged drain repair or professional drain cleaning if the blockage moves deeper into the line.

Signs You Should Stop DIY Troubleshooting

You don't need to call a plumber every time a little food gets caught in your garbage disposal unit. But you also shouldn't spend hours fighting the same clog. It's time to consider professional help when -

• The garbage disposal unit keeps humming but won't run.
• You can't safely remove the obstruction.
• The sink won't drain at all.
• Both sides of a double sink are backing up.
• The clog keeps returning.
• You notice water leaking underneath the sink.
• Your dishwasher causes water to back up into the sink.
• You hear frequent gurgling from the drain.
• Several drains in your home are slow at the same time.
• You notice sewage odors.
• Basic troubleshooting hasn't worked.

Pay particular attention if several drains are slow or backing up at the same time. At that point, your kitchen garbage disposal unit may simply be where you first notice the problem. A deeper drain or sewer line blockage could be responsible.

A professional plumber in Reno can identify the source of the blockage and clear it properly, so you don't have to deal with the same problem again.

Put That Drain Problem Behind You - Call (775) 331-3636

Questions You May Have About Clogged Garbage Disposal Units