How do you unclog an in sink garbage disposal?

Answer 1

If you mean the water will not drain, You may need to remove the trap and run a plumber's snake down the drain line if a plunger does not open it. Never use harsh drain "opener" chemicals as they will only complicate the problem.

If you mean the unit is jambed and will not run, You need to free the turntable and blades up. On most disposals there is a hole at the bottom in the middle that you can put a 1/4 inch allen wrench or the unjambing wrench that came with the unit and turn the motor. If it does not turn in one dirrection turn it in the other. You may need to work it back and forth until it turns freely. You may also need to retrieve whatever it was that caused the jamb inside the unit. If the motor does not run once it is free the red reset button(located under the unit) must be pressed and or the circuit breaker must be reset.

Answer 2

Garbage Disposal Plunger

Answer 3

A couple of techniques have worked for me:

Put on a rubber glove if you're squeamish. Put your hand down the disposal and remove as much as you can. There won't be any blades to cut you. It's just creepy.

Underneath the disposal is a red button that's recessed. You may have to look underneath to see it. Press that button. That's a reset button. Then try out the disposal.

If it doesn't work, try the plunger. Put the plunger over the top and then create an air tight seal by running water until it covers the plunger base. Plunge up and down. Then the reset button and try the disposal.

If this doesn't work, turn the plunger upside down so that you can use the stick end. Put the stick end down the disposal, making sure it's touching bottom. Use the stick to forcibly move the disposal around. Once it moves a bit, then remove, reset and try.

Answer 4

Would add to the don't turn it on comment and tell you to turn off the power to it altogether. Usually you just unplug the cord from under the sink.
If you know you've accidentally had something hard like shards from a broken glass or the like get stuck in it, then you have to manually remove the pieces by pulling them out with gloves or a tool by using a flashlight. I think they usually have a flat plate that rotates and smaller rotating metal pieces on top of that. You can just work them around until the stuff is removed so they turn freely.
If it's food or something similar that clogged because too much at one time was put in it, then I've use a product I bought at the grocery store that is like liquid plumbr, but made for disposals. It worked great. I filled that side of the sink, poured however much in, waited a few miinutes and voila.

Answer 5

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RE:
How do you unclog an in sink garbage disposal?

Answer 6

there is a square hole on the bottom where you can stick in a wrench that comes with it(or imprvise) this will allow you to manually turn it and help unclog it. run warm water through it and when you get it clear turn it on and keep flushing with water. Then run some drain cleaner in it to break the gunk up even more. someone else siad run the dish washer this is more than likely the reason it is clogged you should rinse your plates before putting them in there also if you do have a dishwasher hooked up to it run some drain cleaner in it also. Ive seen theese things so clogged and dryed out it was hard to break with a screwdriver. andyway good luck

Answer 7

First, kill the circuit breaker to it, or otherwise unplug it. There is a way to turn the motor over by hand using a tool such as an allen wrench. When you get it clear, run some crushed ice and maybe some baking soda through to dispell odors.

Answer 8

My assumption is that the disposal is working but that it is JUST CLOGGED UP.. If that is Really the problem.. then.. disconnect the piping that leads from the exit side of the garbage disposal and the connection to the pipe leading to the outside... that is the pipe under the sink that eventually leads to the outside sewer line.. Take that piece that you disconnected and clean it out...

Answer 9

look at the bottom of the disposal there should be a small red bottom that's a reset bottom press it,


if not stick you hand in side to see if something is in there, but

BE CAREFUL NOT TO TURN IT ON WHILE YOUR HAND IS IN THERE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 10

With a plunger