QUESTIONS & ANSWERS from "Ask-the-Wizard":

ANSWER:

Brian:

Here's a link for you that shows the setup from the dishwasher to the garbage disposal to the drain:

http://www.insinkerator.com/service/install_disposer.html

It also shows a great multi-media tutorial on how to install a garbage disposal for the first time, or how to replace an existing one, and more.

Hope this helps.
Home-Wizard.com
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QUESTION from "Cheryl W.": 

If the garbage disposal is running, but will not drain, backs up, probably due to overload, is there a chemical you can use to unplug the drain?

ANSWER:

Cheryl:

If your garbage disposal is running fine, that is, if the motor is turning freely when you turn the switch on, but the water is backing up in the sink, then the culprit is likely a clog in the drain pipe coming out of the bottom of the garbage disposal. If you haven't already, you might want to try "Drano", by SC Johnson Wax, which is "guaranteed" to get your drain flowing again. Well actually, by "guaranteed" they mean that if it fails to clear your clog, Johnson Wax will gladly refund what you paid for their product (so save your receipt). But depending on what is clogging your drain pipe, it may actually require a professional to remove the obstruction if Drano doesn't work. But a product like Drano is a great place to start. 

Note: Johnson Wax claims that all Drano products are safe for garbage disposals, with the exception of Drano Kitchen Crystals Clog Remover. Please remember to READ ALL DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY. In particular, you do not want to turn on your disposal and have Drano splash back on you.

Hopefully Drano will solve your clog problem, but if you want to avoid this kind of problem with your garbage disposal in the future, you should follow the routine maintenance tasks for your garbage disposal that are described in the Home-
Wizard Maintenance Library: http://www.home-wizard.com/maintenance/garbagedisposal.asp

And please remember, NEVER put your hand into your garbage disposal. Even if it is unplugged, the blades are very sharp and can cut your fingers.

Hope this helps.
Home-Wizard.com
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QUESTION from "Molly": 

Is it best to use cold or hot water when using the disposal? Or does it matter either way? I thought hot, but recently heard to use cold. Thank you!

ANSWER:

Molly:

When you operate your disposal, you should use cold water, not hot. Hot water can melt fats which makes it easier for them to clog the disposal mechanism and your pipes. Running your disposal with cold water also helps to keep the mechanism to operate cooler when its running.

But when you are not operating your disposal, it is fine to run hot water through it.

Hope this is helpful.
Home-Wizard.com
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QUESTION from "silvi.007": 

My garbage disposal is running fine, the drains and doesn't back up but their is a terrible odor that comes back. We rarely use the disposal because we can hardly stand the smell. This problem has just begun over the past few months.

ANSWER:

silvi.007:

Its great that your disposal is running fine, and it sounds like it just needs to be cleaned regularly.

The following is the procedure for cleaning your garbage disposal:

1) Place ice cubes in the disposal, grind them up, and flush with cold water. This will help sharpen the blades and remove buildup from the inside of the disposal.

2) Pour a cup of vinegar into the sink drain and let it sit for about one hour, then flush down with very hot water. This will help to remove scale build-up.

You should do this at least once a year, but more often depending on for what and how much you use it.

Hope this is helpful.
Home-Wizard.com
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Additional comment from "Art from PGH":

FYI - regarding the garbage disposal smell -- make sure to take out and thoroughly clean the rubber "funnel" that covers the opening (assuming it is removeable and you've disconnected the power), as well as the opening the "funnel" seats against. We had a friend who had this problem and when they removed the "funnel" they found about a 1/2 inch of gunk that had built up and smelled terrible. After cleaning the smell was gone!
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QUESTION from "Art from PGH": 

We're moving to a house that has a septic system and heard that it is not good to use a garbage disposal since the septic is not designed to take the volume of waste.

1) Is this true (there are only two of us)?

2) Is a trash compactor a viable alternative (i.e. for all the food waste that would normally go into the garbage disposal)?

ANSWER:

Art from PGH:

Regarding your first question, yes, you can use a garbage disposal when you have a septic system, HOWEVER, since you will be adding more solid waste to your septic system, you need to be VERY CAREFUL to check your septic tank level more often. As you probably know, if your septic tank fills up with solids, these solids can over-flow and go into your leeching pipes which will be very expensive to remedy if they become plugged. And since you are new to the house, you will not have history on how often you should have your septic tank pumped.

The other point about your garbage disposal, is that some towns and cities do not allow garbage disposals to be installed where there are septic systems. And since you are new to this house, if you want to be in compliance, this is something you may want to check.

Regarding your second question, yes, a trash compactor is a viable option. In general, trash compactors are considered good for the environment because they reduce the trash's volume by about 80%, so it takes up a lot less room in a landfill. However, a couple of thoughts about using a trash compactor for food waste. First, food waste will not compact down as much as other household garbage; and secondly, depending on how "green" you want to be, an alternative to a garbage disposal is to set up a compost system in your yard, which will naturally bio-degrate your food waste. If you are interested, here is a link to some instructions on how to set up a home compost pile: http://www.ehow.com/how_137794_set-compost-system.html

Regards,
Home-Wizard.com
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QUESTION from "Ross": 

When looking into the disposer, the small center piece spins but not the blade.  I used the hex, I reset, and the center piece spins, but is not attached to the inner blade.  Did a weld break or something?

ANSWER:

Dear Ross:

Please be VERY, VERY CAREFUL when looking into a garbage disposal that is turned on. You should be wearing EYE PROTECTION, and if it were me, I'd be wearing a FACE AND NECK SHIELD. A garbage disposal typically has a slotted rubber boot across the opening to the sink, that helps keep things from flying out when it is running. I assuming that you are pushing this back so that you can see inside. But again, please be very, very careful.

With that said, if the motor is turning freely, but the blades are not moving, then it sounds like you have a broken coupling. Depending on the age of your disposal, you might want to call around to local service technicians to see if it makes sense to replace the coupling, or if you are better off replacing the entire disposal.

Hope this is helpful.
Home-Wizard.com
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QUESTION from "lstraughte": 

What is wrong with my garbage disposal:  it leaks water from the base when water is draining, with or without the motor running?????

ANSWER:

Dear lstraughte:

When you say that you have water leaking from the “base” of your garbage disposal, I assume that you mean where the garbage disposal connects to your sink?

Assuming that it is, then here’s how you can fix this leak:

1) Turn off power to the disposal at the electrical service panel, or completely unplug the unit.

2) Where the disposal mounts to the bottom of your sink, turn the disposal clockwise to loosen it, and then remove the unit from the mounting flange.

3) There will be three mounting bolts holding the flange on. Try to tighten these bolts. If they are loose, this could be the cause of your leak. But if they are already tight, then the leak may be caused by failed plumber’s putty that is there to seal this flange. Therefore, loosen the bolts and push the sink flange slightly above the surface of the sink. Squeeze some plumber’s putty between the sink flange and the sink, completely around the flange. When done, then tighten the mounting bolts drawing the sink flange tight to the sink surface. Wipe away any excess putty that oozes out.

4) Reinstall the disposal and turn power back on at the service panel.

5) Check for leaks.


Hope this is helpful.
Home-Wizard.com
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QUESTION from Dan on 4/7/2008:

I have water leaking from the bottom of my garbage disposal it seems to be coming through the motor and out the bottom holes of the disposal any ideas?

ANSWER FROM HOME-WIZARD.COM ON 4/8/2008:

Dear Dan:

If your garbage disposal is leaking from the bottom through the motor, then the problem is likely that it is leaking through the flywheel seal and into the motor. 

If you can, remove the garbage disposer from the drain system, disassemble the unit and replace the seal, or take the unit in for service.

Remember to DISCONNECT THE POWER before doing any work around your garbage disposal. And course never put your fingers inside the unit. Even when the unit is turned off, the blades can be very sharp.

Hope this is helpful.
Home-Wizard.com
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QUESTION from NICK651 on 3/5/2008:

How do I replace garbage disposal blades housing on a sinkmaster 450. It looks like housing holding blades is roting?

ANSWER FROM HOME-WIZARD.COM ON 3/6/2008:

Dear NICK651:

My understanding is that the blades for a Sinkmasteer 450 are NOT replaceable.

Regarding the housing, you might want to check with the manufacturer, but I would think that this is a case where it would be better to replace the entire garbage disposal unit, rather going through the effort/cost of replacing the housing, and having the motor go bad later.

Hope this is helpful.
Home-Wizard.com
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QUESTION from JC on 2/11/2008:

One day my garbage disposal system was working fine, the next, I can hear the motor faintly trying to run but disposal does not move. Anything I can do before calling a plumber???

ANSWER FROM HOME-WIZARD.COM ON 2/11/2008:

Dear JC:

Have you tried unplugging the power from your disposal, and then using an allen wrench in the bottom of the unit to turn the rotor back and forth to dislodge what could be stuck in it?

Remember, NEVER put your hand inside of a garbage disposal, even when its turned off, as the rotor blades are very sharp.

For routine maintenance to help keep problems like this from happening to your garbage disposal, please look in our online Maintenance Library.

Hope this is helpful.
Home-Wizard.com
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QUESTION from Laura Flowers-McLinn on 2/6/2008:

I just filled up the sink with onions and other produce and turned the garbage disposal on. The water will not go down now and the stuff is in the sink. It is chopping it all up, it just won't go out. What is wrong? WHat can I do?

ANSWER FROM HOME-WIZARD.COM ON 2/6/2008:

Dear Laura Flowers-McLinn:

If your garbage disposal is running fine, that is, if the motor is turning freely when you turn the switch on, but the water is not going down the sink, then the culprit is likely a clog in the drain pipe coming out of the bottom of the garbage disposal. 

The first thing you should try is to use a toilet plunger to loosen whatever has clogged your drain pipe. NOTE: Do NOT use a plunger if you have put any drain cleaner chemicals into your sink, as you do not want to risk any of it splashing on you. But if you haven't put any chemicals in yet, then its alright to use a plunger.

If you have a dual sink, then use wet rags or towels to stop up the sink that does not have the disposal. Place the plunger over the disposal opening. If the plunger is not completely under at least about 3-4 inches of water, then add some more, so that the plunger will have a good seal. Then push the plunger strongly up and down.

If this does not get your water flowing freely, then the next step is to try using a product like Drano, which is "guaranteed" to get your drain flowing again. Well actually, by "guaranteed" they mean that if it fails to clear your clog, then they will gladly refund what you paid for their product (so save your receipt). Depending on what is clogging your drain pipe, it may actually require a professional to remove the obstruction if Drano doesn't work. But a product like Drano is a great place to start. 

Note: Drano claims its products are safe for garbage disposals, with the exception of Drano Kitchen Crystals Clog Remover. Please remember to READ ALL DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY. In particular, you do not want to turn on your disposal and have Drano splash back on you.

Hopefully either the plunger or Drano will solve your clog problem, but if you want to avoid this kind of problem with your garbage disposal in the future, you should follow the routine maintenance tasks for your garbage disposal that are described in the Home-
Wizard Maintenance Library: http://www.home-wizard.com/maintenance/garbagedisposal.asp

And please remember, NEVER put your hand into your garbage disposal. Even if it is unplugged, the blades are very sharp and can cut your fingers.

Hope this helps.
Home-Wizard.com
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