You’re standing in your kitchen, coffee in hand, ready to start your day, when you notice it — water pooling in the bottom of your sink. The culprit? Your garbage disposal decided to throw a little morning tantrum, and now it’s more clogged than the city traffic during rush hour!
But don’t fret — you won’t need to call in sick or cancel your plans. In fact, unclogging a garbage disposal with standing water is easier than you think — and we at Clover Contracting will guide you step by step.
So grab your plumber’s hat because today we’re going to flush this problem down the drain together!
Common causes of standing water in your garbage disposal and how to solve them
To get a better understanding of how to unclog a garbage disposal with standing water, we’ll tackle this list of usual suspects that might be causing your garbage disposal to throw a fit in the first place.
- Food debris:
The first and foremost culprit for standing water in your garbage disposal is the build-up of food debris. If you’ve been treating your garbage disposal like a food waste superhero, it might be time to rethink. Not all leftovers are garbage disposal-friendly. Food like potato peels, coffee grounds, or eggshells can gunk up your disposal.
What to do? For existing clogs, try a plunger or a disposal wrench to manually rotate the blades and break up the debris.
- Grease and oils:
The second leading cause of water in your garbage disposal is grease and oils. These sneaky culprits might seem harmless when they’re hot and runny, but as they cool, they solidify and can create a “fatberg” in your disposal.
What to do? Keep the greasy stuff for the trash can. If you’ve already poured grease into the disposal, run hot water with a good amount of dish soap to dissolve and flush it out.
- Non-food items:
Accidents happen! If a fork, a spoon, or your precious wedding ring has taken a dive into the disposal, it could cause a jam.
What to do? First, don’t reach in with your hand. Unclogging a garbage disposal with standing water – or without – can be dangerous. Use a pair of pliers to try and fish the item out.
- Overuse or age:
Like us, garbage disposals can feel the effects of age and overuse. If it’s not performing as it used to, it might be time to retire it.
What to do? Consider a replacement. At Clover Contracting, we can help you choose and install a new disposal that fits your needs.
- Lack of maintenance:
Many homeowners underestimate the importance of regular maintenance when it comes to their garbage disposals. By neglecting routine checks and cleaning, your disposal may become clogged with residual food particles and build-ups.
What to do? Regularly clean your sink disposal by grinding ice cubes and lemon peels, which can sharpen the blades and eliminate odors. And, of course, remember to periodically check for any potential blockages.
How to unclog a garbage disposal with standing water: Tips to avoid it in the future
To avoid having to unclog a garbage disposal with standing water in the future and keep your garbage disposal functioning optimally, proactive measures are necessary.
- First, be mindful of what goes down the disposal. Educate your household to discard large chunks of food waste in the compost or trash bin, not the disposal. For instance, instead of attempting to grind an entire chicken bone, consider composting it or throwing it in the trash.
- Second, manage grease and oil disposal effectively. A useful practice could be to pour hot oils into a disposable container, like an old coffee can, and once solidified, throw it away in the trash. For example, after frying bacon, let the grease cool slightly, then pour it into your disposable container. This can save your garbage disposal from the problematic “fatbergs”.
- Third, be vigilant about non-food items. The best way to learn how to unclog a garbage disposal with standing water, is to avoid it altogether. Always ensure your spoons, forks, or jewelry are secured before you lean over the sink.
A simple tip to remember could be to take off your rings and place them in a bowl in the kitchen before washing dishes or using the sink. Wearing gloves is another helpful way around that.
- Regarding overuse or age, it may be beneficial to practice “disposal-healthy” food waste disposal habits by only disposing of soft food scraps at each disposal run, and disposing of hard scraps like corn husks in compost instead of sending them directly down the disposal bin.
- Finally, proper maintenance is key to the longevity of any disposal. Make it a weekly habit of running the disposal with ice cubes and citrus peels as a cleaning agent, and be vigilant for early signs of clogging, such as water draining slowly, so as to address these issues promptly.
Need help unclogging your sink gаrgbage disposal? Call Clover.
Maintaining a functional garbage disposal requires not only understanding how to unclog it when it becomes clogged but also taking proactive measures against potential issues in the first place.
Being mindful about what goes down your disposal can extend its lifespan considerably. By efficiently handling grease and oil deposits, checking non-food waste items before sending them down the drain, and keeping to a waste diet that promotes optimal disposal conditions.
Regular maintenance and prompt response to signs of clogging are also vitally important. If you’re still having difficulties or require professional assistance for any reason, don’t hesitate to contact us. Our team of professionals are standing by ready to provide solutions and ensure you years of trouble-free operation from your garbage disposal!
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