A small glass jar went into our kitchen garbage disposal. As soon as I turned it on I heard an odd noise and so I stopped it and looked into the sink using gloves. I found broken pieces of the glass. I took a lot of them out- as many as I could. But there are a few still remaining and I'm guessing a few went into the pipe. Should I be worried? I looked and there did not seem to be an easy way to access the cavity where the glass shreds are - unless I call a plumber. Tight on money. Will call plumber if needed, but dont want to uneccessarily shell out dough. I'm guessing the pipes are copper -- so nothing should get cut. I'm in a 12 year old house.
2007-02-22 14:14:28 · 13 answers · asked by jenhangla 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
The disposer will break up the glass pieces into small particles. Just flush 'em down with plenty of water. The waste opening in most disposers I have installed is too small to allow a piece of glass large enough to cause you blockage problems to pass into the trap. If you do notice a slow drain down the road, it should appear pretty soon, and removing and cleaning the trap should take care of it.
I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.
2007-02-22 14:22:39 · answer #1 · answered by Hank 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Glass shards will jam the grinding plate in your disposer, if they have not already, so you need to remove them. Vacuum any remaining shards from the disposer with a hand held vacuum or the hose from any household vac. Then remove the hose and turn on the disposer. If it will not run, press the reset button on the bottom (a small usually red). If the disposer "hums" but does not run, it is jammed and you will need to use a disposer wrench to unjam. It is hex shaped wrench supplied with your disposer or you can purchase one from a hardware The wrench fits into a hole in the middle of the bottom of the disposer. Be sure the power switch is off before inserting the wrench, then move the wrench right to left until the wrench moves freely, and then move in a complete circle 2 or 3 times until it moves without resistance.Remove the wrench and turn on the disposer. If it stops or you hear a loud noise repeat the above procedures until the disposer runs freely. As for the pipes there is nothing to worry about. The drain pipes are plastic and the ground up glass will not cut or block them.
2007-02-22 14:41:52 · answer #2 · answered by chevycheyenne72 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do not call a plumber unless you need them. Your piped are sloped and this should find its way all the way to the street and into an estuary someplace. The noise should stop and this should not harm your disposal unless it jams it.
2007-02-22 14:21:50 · answer #3 · answered by Ron H 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't worry about it. I'm not sure, but I believe the instructions on a garbage disposal I once installed included glass as one of the items it would be ok to grind.
2007-02-22 14:38:58 · answer #4 · answered by luther 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't worry, the small broken pieces will not damage your drain pipes. I would not try to remove any more small pieces. turn on the water and run the disposer, if it runs it is ok.
2007-02-22 14:29:39 · answer #5 · answered by fixitall 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hang onto them for Christmas. Go to a craft store and pick up a bag of plastic christmas figures like reindeer, santa, snowmen etc. super Glue them on the inside of the lid, let it completely dry, put water and a bit of glitter in the jar, not full, just enough to be full once you screw the lid on, run a line of glue on the the rim of the bottle before screwing it on, let dry for at least two days before turning over, tie a ribbon just under the lid. Awesome little gifts for the 3 year old to give family members. Works for halloween, easter, etc too.
2016-03-29 08:04:08 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I dont think you will have a problem, run some water through it and turn the disposal on for a few seconds.
2007-02-22 14:21:44 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get out as much as you can but you and your pipes will be OK. Don't use draino! Ever! the stuff is really nasty and only works a little for greasy clogs, not glass. And don't listen to people telling you your Screwed, Get out as much as you can and forget about it
2007-02-22 14:18:03 · answer #8 · answered by geomoto 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
needle nose plyers... or you'll be like the monkeytrying to pull the apple out of the hole too small ( apple will fit - apple & fist won't...ie captured monkey )
2007-02-22 14:26:27 · answer #9 · answered by Bonno 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
just run a ton of water... the shards will no doubt go into the sewer and pulverize into dust.
2007-02-22 14:17:35 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋