Garburators (also known as garbage disposals) bring easy convenience to many Toronto kitchens, making it simple to manage food waste. While handy most of the time, when your disposal gets clogged, it can be incredibly frustrating.
Nasty food odours, slow draining sinks, and that annoying grinding noise can leave you wondering why you ever invested in one. Rest assured, most garbage disposal clogs are a common plumbing issue.
It could be that you’ve overloaded your garburator, put the wrong things in there, or have an insufficient water flow. Or it could be something more serious.
Our Toronto garburator experts will walk you through some of the more common reasons clogs happen, how to fix them, and how to prevent them from happening in the future. Understanding what’s happening and how to address it will put your mind at ease and help you take proactive steps to get your garburator working great again.
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Understanding How a Garburator Works
Before you unclog a garbage disposal unit, it’s a good idea to understand how it works. A garbage disposal grinds food waste into tinier particles that can be easily flushed down the drain pipe.
Spinning blades (powered by a motor) break food from those scraps down so they don’t clog your plumbing. However, not all food items should go into a disposal, and not using it right can sometimes result in it getting clogged.
Some of the most common reasons disposals get clogged include:
- Potato peels and fibrous vegetables (like celery and corn husks) can wrap around the blades or get stuck in the drain.
- Eggshells can create waste from the membrane lining and bits of shell that stick to the sides of the pipes.
- Coffee grounds can clump together and build up over time.
- Grease and oil exacerbate the issue, congealing and thickening over time and getting mixed with other food scraps.
- Overloading your disposal and forgetting to run water while the disposal is in use can also make these issues worse.
Barring food buildup, it could be that something solid got dropped in there that shouldn’t. Your disposal motor could also be having a mechanical issue and needs to be serviced or replaced.
Step-by-Step Guide to Unclogging a Garbage Disposal
If you’re dealing with a clogged garbage disposal, here are the steps to safely try and clear that blockage.
Step 1: Safety First: Turn off the power. Before you do anything, make sure the power is turned off and disconnected. Switch off the disposal at the wall and unplug it from the outlet under the sink.
Step 2: Check for visible blockages. Once the power is disconnected, use a flashlight to look inside the disposal. You may be able to see the object or food particles causing the clog. If you see something, use pliers or tongs to carefully remove the debris. Never use your hands to reach inside the disposal.
Step 3: Use a hex key to manually turn the motor. Most disposals have a hex key slot on the bottom of the unit. Insert the hex key into the slot and turn it back and forth to manually rotate the blades. Doing this might help dislodge any built-up particles or stuck objects.
Step 4: Cleaning the disposal with a natural solution. After you’ve removed anything you can see and manually turned the motor, it’s a good idea to clean the disposal. Pour a mixture of vinegar and baking soda into the disposal and let it sit for a few minutes. Then, flush it out with hot water. This natural solution helps break down any remaining food build-up and gets rid of those food smells.
Common Reasons Why Garburators Get Clogged
Overloading the disposal with food: If you put too much food into the disposal at once, or put more food over time without letting it break down, it will clog. The blades can only handle so much and overloading will jam and clog your disposal.
Incorrect disposal of fibrous or starchy materials: Certain fibrous and starchy foods like celery, corn husks, potato peels, and pasta can tangle around the blades or swell with water, clogging up your disposal. It’s better to put these into your regular kitchen garbage.
Build-up of grease and oil: Pouring grease, oil, or fat down the drain will (eventually) cause a clog. Although it can seem convenient, it’s a really bad habit. These oils congeal and solidify, creating a sticky build-up that traps other food particles and blocks the pipes.
Preventative Tips to Avoid Future Clogs
Perform regular maintenance: Maintenance can go a long way in preventing clogs and keeping your disposal running great for longer. Every week, grind up a few ice cubes in the disposal. The ice helps to sharpen the blades and remove any small food particles that might be stuck. You can also grind up citrus peels to keep the disposal smelling fresh.
Disposal best practices: To keep your disposal running smoothly, always run cold water while the disposal is in use. Cold water helps solidify any grease or fat so it can be chopped up and flushed away, rather than sticking to the pipes. Feed the food waste into the disposal slowly and gradually instead of stuffing it down all at once. Keep your drain clean and clog-free.
Avoid these foods: Certain foods shouldn’t be put into garbage disposal units.
- Fibrous vegetables like celery and asparagus
- Starchy foods like pasta, rice, and potato peels
- Coffee grounds
- Eggshells
- Grease, oil, and fat
- Bones or fruit pits
Putting these into your regular kitchen garbage bin instead will keep your disposal running smoothly and headache free.
When to Call a Garburator Professional
In that case, hiring a licensed Toronto plumbing expert who has the tools, experience, and training to safely dismantle and inspect the disposal, diagnose the problem, and suggest whether a repair or replacement is your best move. Trying to fix more complex issues on your own can cause further damage and be unsafe.
While some garbage disposal clogs can be resolved with a bit of DIY effort, there are times when it’s best to call in a professional. If you’ve tried the steps above and your disposal is still clogged or making unusual noises, it probably indicates a more serious problem, such as a broken motor or jammed blades. Additionally, if your disposal is old and frequently clogged, it might be time to think about replacing it.
Request a Quote for Garburator Services in Toronto
At Dr HVAC, we specialize in garburator repair and replacement services in Toronto. Whether a simple fix or a total replacement with an up-to-date model is needed, our experienced technicians are ready to help. We understand the frustration of dealing with a clogged disposal, and we’re committed to providing fast, reliable service to get your kitchen back the way you like it.
We handle minor clogs, complete system replacements, and offer preventative maintenance services.
Don’t let your clogged garbage disposal ruin your week—contact Dr HVAC today to request a quote and schedule a service appointment!
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