Byron garbage disposals
Garbage disposal repair in Byron kitchens
A garbage disposal is a small motor spinning a plate with two swinging impellers that throw food against a grinding ring. It is a simple machine, and most of its problems are simple too: jams, tripped overload switches, leaks and worn out motors. What makes disposals tricky in Byron homes is how they are connected to the dishwasher.
The shared drain
Most Byron kitchens route the dishwasher drain hose into a port on the side of the disposal. If the disposal chamber is clogged with food, or the drain below it is slow, dishwasher water backs up into the sink or stays in the dishwasher. Homeowners often call about a dishwasher problem that turns out to be the disposal. If a new disposal was installed and the dishwasher stopped draining immediately, the knockout plug in the dishwasher port was probably never removed.
Humming with no grinding
- 1
Turn off the switch and the breaker
Never put a hand in the disposal.
- 2
Use the hex key underneath
Insert it into the center socket on the bottom and work it back and forth.
- 3
Remove the object
Use tongs or pliers to lift out anything loose.
- 4
Press the red reset button
It is on the bottom of the unit.
- 5
Run cold water and test
If it still hums, the motor may be failing.
Where disposals leak
| Leak location | Cause | Repair |
|---|---|---|
| Top, at the sink flange | Loose mount or dried plumber's putty | Reseal the flange |
| Side, at the dishwasher port | Loose clamp or cracked hose | Tighten or replace hose |
| Side, at the drain pipe | Worn gasket | Replace gasket |
| Bottom | Internal seal failure | Replace the disposal |
Care tips
- Run cold water before, during and after use
- Avoid grease, fibrous peels, bones and pits
- Grind ice now and then to scour the chamber
- Do not use chemical drain cleaners in a disposal
See our garbage disposal repair page and dishwasher repair page for more.