Disposal Installation and Repair
Garbage disposals have been an important part of everyday life for Baltimore residents. Ace Plumbing provides disposal installation and repair. Broken or jammed disposal can be a tricky fix for doing it yourself. Since garbage disposal repairs can be potentially dangerous, it’s best to have a trained plumber provide needed repairs to prevent any harm to homeowners. We provide clean, efficient service to unjam and repair damaged garbage disposals or installation of a new up-to-date garbage disposal.
Garbage Disposals Installation Steps
Like with any home improvement project involving electricity and new appliances, the circuit should be turned off while installing the garbage disposal. The sink will be prepped by unhooking the drain pipe and removing the old drain.
When the new drain is inserted it will be done with a sealant to prevent leaks. On the underside of the sink, the gasket will be attached alongside the mounting materials.
Next, the drain can be connected. Plumbers will attach the garbage disposal to the mount. All that’s left to do after that is to verify there are no leaks.
If a dishwasher is to be connected through the garbage disposal too, it will need to be wired in. The drain will be attached after finishing the wiring.
When You Need A Professional
If you run into issues with your garbage disposal, there are some things to try before calling in a plumber. A simple fix that you can do without a professional is to use the included Allen wrench to turn the blades if they ever seem stuck. There will be a slot to do this at the bottom of the disposal. If they are stuck, don’t push it, and call a professional to see what could be wrong.
You may be tempted to install your own garbage disposal. However, there are several things you will need to be capable of doing safely.
The first is the need for tools. If you don’t have screwdrivers, pipe wrenches, scrapers, and more, it will be difficult to get started on this project. Professionals like Ace Plumbing come fully equipped for anything that might turn up in a job like this.
Mobility and strength may also affect your ability to DIY this project. You will need to be able to crouch or lie under the sink for an extended period of time while undoing, mounting and attaching all the parts. Also, you must be strong enough to wrench the drainpipe off. Professionals are comfortable working in these tight spaces and will save you the backache of crouching for this project.
It’s a dirty job, unhooking a drain pipe. Remember to put a bucket under the sink while disconnecting the pipes. Whatever has recently (or not so recently) gotten trapped in the pipes could backflow out. Skip the grossness and have a professional take care of the project for you.
Being confident in your wiring abilities when installing new appliances, particularly those that involve water, is very important. If you feel at all uncomfortable wiring your dishwasher into your garbage disposal, give us a call. We are familiar with hooking up all types of disposal and dishwasher models and will be sure to make it a safe job. Likewise, if you suspect your disposal has stopped running due to an electric failure, consult a professional before jumping into the wiring yourself.
If you suspect your already installed garbage disposal is damaged, it’s also a good time to call a professional. Occasionally utensils may fall into a garbage disposal. A fork or knife rattling around can damage the blades, leaving you with sharp broken metal or plastic while you’re trying to repair the disposal. It’s best to leave to the experts who can evaluate if the disposal is salvageable or not. If there is a chance that the disposal is too damaged to repair, setting up a replacement appointment will be a simple next step.
Why You Need to Clean Your Disposal
One of the best ways to avoid damage to your disposal is to keep it clean. While it might seem like the disposal is constantly being flushed with water, truthfully it needs some special attention to make sure it keeps running.
The first sign will likely be fruit flies lingering around the sink drain or a slight mildew scent that you just notice by the sink. Your sink may also back up, leaving you with a basin of dirty water to deal with. Your garbage disposal is gunked up and it needs to be cleaned out before your whole kitchen starts to reek of decomposing food. Keeping your disposal clean and running smoothly can stop damage before it happens, saving you time and money in the long run.
The easiest way to keep your disposal clean is a 1:1 mix of baking soda and vinegar. Put the dry baking soda in first and follow it with the vinegar. Then go take a walk or have a snack and let the bubbles work. When you come back, turn on the garbage disposal. Run water through to remove any baking soda-vinegar mixture or debris. Doing this regularly will cut down on any buildup.
You can also throw some ice cubes in. These will be easily broken down, but they will knock stuck food loose in the meantime. They will also sharpen your blades
If there are physical chunks of food that need to be removed, you will need to reach something into the disposal. Make sure it is unplugged or the circuit turned off. You can then use a tool to reach the food chunks and remove them. Use a long brush to stick into the disposal and scrub at the sides. Afterward, clean out with a baking soda vinegar mixture.
It is not recommended to use any products that could be corrosive. Damage can be done to metal mechanisms in the disposal. The baking soda-vinegar mix is very gentle.