The Essential Garbage Disposal Repair & Care Guide for Mississauga, ON

Do you avoid turning on the garbage disposal in your kitchen sink? Fear of clogs and other malfunctions prevent many people in Mississauga from using their garburators, but avoiding regular use might cause more problems than using them intermittently.

The myths surrounding garbage disposals, how to use them, and what — or what not — to put down them push many people away from using that helpful appliance. You don't need to be afraid of clogged kitchen sinks and other issues that might stop you from enjoying optimal garburator performance.

Licensed plumbers like the professionals at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Mississauga can always repair your broken waste fixtures, but many problems are prevented simply by taking proper care of your plumbing. Knowing how to maintain your garbage disposal unit and what you can do to fix minor issues will save you from calling a plumber for repair services — and help you know when it would be better to call your reliable, local plumbing company.

How To Maintain A Garbage Disposal Unit in Mississauga, ON

Avoiding tough sink clogs, backups, and other issues associated with broken sink appliances in Mississauga is often as simple as taking the right regular maintenance steps. All plumbing fixtures wear out quicker without regular attention and preventative maintenance. Utilizing the best practices for garburators and performing basic maintenance will extend the life of your appliance and reduce your need for repairs.

!! Caution !!

Always disconnect the power supply before attempting any garbage disposal service or repairs yourself. Most systems are either connected to electrical outlets underneath the sink or hardwired directly into your home's power system. You'll either need to unplug the power cord from its outlet or flip the associated switch on your circuit breaker panel.

If you ever feel unsure or unsafe while attempting repairs on electrical or plumbing equipment, stop and call a professional. Improper repairs increase your risk of water damage, accidents, and personal injury.

Best Practices:

• Run your unit regularly to avoid rust
• Always use cold water to flush food waste — hot water will soften fats, oils, and grease, increasing your risk of potential clogs and your need for drain cleaning services
• Regularly clean your system
• Avoid overloading — never put in more than one cup of debris at a time
• Never flush any harmful materials into your sink disposals

How Do You Clean Your Sink Disposal Unit?

Cleaning your system on a regular basis will reduce wear and prevent more severe plumbing issues. It's a comprehensive job that has several key cleaning tasks, but even just regularly grinding a cup of ice cubes will keep blades sharp and units better maintained.

1. Disconnect the Power: Just in case you forget, disconnect the power supply — either at the outlet or circuit breaker.
2. Clean the Splash Guard: That's the plastic piece near the top of your kitchen sink drain. Its appearance will vary depending on what type you have, but many have little flaps or a wavy ring of plastic edges. You can remove that component and clean away any slime or debris by thoroughly scrubbing it with dish soap.
3. Remove any Food Debris: After you remove the splash guard, shine a flashlight down to the drain to check for any visible debris. Use pliers or tongs to remove any solid items you find. Never use your fingers. The system might be turned off, but the garbage disposal blades are still sharp.
4. Pour in Vinegar & Baking Soda: If you've ever had to deal with tough sink clogs on your own, then you might already know about using baking soda and vinegar for basic drain cleaning. They're also useful for clearing away built-up sludge in an appliance and the drain lines below it.
5. Grind Ice & Salt: After you reinstall the splash guard, you can further clean the blades, loosen up debris, and keep your blades sharp with ice and salt. Reconnect the power and pour one or two cups of ice down your drain, followed by one cup of salt. Grind everything away until all the ice is gone.
6. Grind Some Citrus Peels: Grinding lemon, orange, or lime peels will freshen up your system and remove any unpleasant odors.
7. Cold Water: Using the sink stopper, place it in the sink drain, and fill the sink to the top with cold water. Pull the sink stopper out and turn the disposal unit on. This action will force any loose debris that is in the drain to be flushed away. One should perform this task once a month.

How To Repair Common Garbage Disposal Issues

Disposal repair service from a skilled plumber is always an excellent option for garbage disposal maintenance and repairs — along with any other plumbing issues or plumbing repair services in Mississauga — but there are some problems you can solve yourself with just a few tools and some basic knowledge.

Nothing Happens When You Hit the Switch

If your unit doesn't turn on, the cause might be electrical issues. Check any electrical connections and confirm that everything is plugged in. If everything looks properly connected, you may need to reset your garburator.

Your garburator reset switch should be located on the bottom of the unit. If your appliance still doesn't run after you've pressed it, and no circuit breaker switches have flipped, then you'll need to get professional assistance to check the wiring.

Humming Noise

A low humming noise usually means that something is keeping your impeller plate or flywheel from turning. The humming means that your motor is still running even when nothing else in your garbage disposal unit is working. If that continues, the motor will burn out or trip a breaker.

To repair this issue, you'll need to find the hex socket on the underside of your garbage disposal unit. That socket is connected directly to your impeller. Inserting an allen key (hex key) into that socket and turning it should free up the blades and dislodge whatever is causing them to jam. You can also try using a wooden spoon handle to reach down through the drain opening and dislodge a stuck impeller plate by pushing any solid items out of the way.

When Should You Call A Plumbing Professional for Garburator Repairs in Mississauga, ON?

If you have a leaky garbage disposal — or you try any of the repair techniques above and they don't produce satisfying results — your best option is to schedule an appointment for plumbing services from a professional. Unless you're comfortable disconnecting mounts to reach the flange and fix other issues, it's better to call someone who's more familiar with all models and the necessary repairs for each disposal type.

Do You Need Garbage Disposal Repairs in Mississauga, ON?

If your garbage disposal baffles you with strange noises or other mysterious issues, call your local, trusted disposal repair experts at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Mississauga. We proudly serve Mississauga and all its communities —including Fairview, Erindale, and Erin Mills.

For more information or to schedule a convenient appointment. Our team is here to help!