Need A Garbage Disposal Repair Specialist?
Your garbage disposal is an important part of your home but when it starts to cause issues, it’s time to call the professional plumbers at Service Minds Benjamin Franklin Plumbing.
Signs You Need Repairs
Even the best-maintained garbage disposal needs professional attention once in a while. Some basic signs you need a garbage disposal repair include the following:
- Water Leaks: Water should stay in the sink. Call us if you see puddles under the sink or moisture on the outside of the garbage disposal or pipes so we can check for and fix cracked housing, broken gaskets, or worn-out seals.
- Power Failure: If the unit doesn’t turn on when you flip the switch, you either have a motor problem or an electrical issue. Either way, professional service is required.
- Unusual Noises: A satisfying whirring or humming tells you your disposal is taking care of business. But if the unit sounds like a teenager learning to drive a stick shift, something is wrong. Grinding and clanking indicate broken components or jammed gears.
- Foul Odors: Proper operation sends foods on their way expeditiously, so odors quickly dissipate. If your disposal raises a big stink, it’s probably because decomposing food is trapped in the inner workings.
- Frequent Resets: The reset button is your friend, giving your disposal an occasional do-over when it gets overwhelmed. Chronic resets, overheating, and shutoffs, however, indicate the unit doesn’t have the tools it needs to complete its jobs. The blades may be dull, or the motor isn’t powerful enough.
- Inefficient Grinding: Healthy garbage disposals make quick and complete work of grinding food waste. If the process takes longer than it should or the unit leaves big chunks unprocessed, we need to sharpen or replace the blades.
- Slow Drainage: Standing water or slow drainage indicates a clog either within the disposal or further down the plumbing line.
Common Garbage Disposal Repairs in Birmingham, AL
There are several reasons why you might need a garbage disposal repair in Birmingham, AL.
Electrical Issues
Sometimes your system stops working properly but noises are still happening. if noises are happening but food disposal isn’t, it’s likely an electrical issue. When you call our local plumbers in Birmingham, AL we can assess the problem and offer quick solutions.
Physical Issues
Other times, the issue has to do with the physical parts in your garbage disposal. you might have problems with:
- Faulty seals
- Leaks
- Broken or loose pipe connections
- Hoses
- Mounting
When our team arrives for your garbage disposal repair appointment, they come with a service vehicle complete with diagnostic tools and replacement parts so that we can replace a faulty seal or fix a broken hose quickly, getting you back up and running.
Clog Issues
Clog issues happen when too much food gets put down the disposal or when the wrong things get put down the disposal. This can give off signs like a humming noise without any churning or the entire unit simply ceasing to function with food still in it.
We understand that this can be messy and smelly, leading to clogs in your sink and health hazards to your family. That’s why our Birmingham, AL licensed plumbers will show up quickly to fix your clog.
User Tips: How to Avoid Future Garbage Disposal Repair
If you have a garbage disposal, and you don’t want to see our smiling, friendly faces too often, there are things you can do to avoid repairs having to do with clogs in particular.
- Grease: You want to avoid flushing fats, oils, or grease down your drain. While it might be hot off the stove, when it cools, it solidifies. This can form sticky clogs that trap other food particles and impede function.
- Foods: Certain foods can cause immediate or later damage. Rice, potatoes, oatmeal, banana peels, or seafood can significantly jam the disposal, or break the motor entirely. The more these items get pushed, the worse it can be. Large amounts sent down the drain at once can congeal in the pipes under your sink, backing up into the sink. Call us immediately for a Birmingham, AL garbage disposal repair.
Take note, too, of what water your model requires. Some, for example, recommend running cool water before you put something down the drain, and after.
Garbage Disposal Repair FAQs
Can you fix a disposal problem?
When you contact Service Minds Benjamin Franklin we will send a team of uniformed plumbers to your door to assess your issue. Things like broken seals or electrical problems can be repaired, usually on the same day. If something is severely broken we will let you know when a replacement is better.
Can I do garbage disposal repairs myself?
Some minor issues can be repaired on your own, but there is always a risk when combining water and electricity, not to mention the blades themselves. We recommend letting our professionals handle repairs, as each garbage disposal is different, and we have the tools and skills to do things safely.
Call us today!