12/19/2019
Huckleberry Maintenance’s weekly DIY
This is the first of what I hope to be helpful tips, hacks and other information that can be useful for some, save money for others, and provide answers for those that have asked a specific questions.
This weeks topic is the garbage disposal, many homes have one located in the kitchen sink. Those that have one understand the basic idea of what it’s used for, left over food goes in, flip a switch/push a button/turn a dial, run some water and the food goes away. Easy right, but what do you do when you turn it on and nothing happens?
First thing does it have power? I know right, make sure it’s connected to a power source, some are hardwired in, but there are others that are plugged into in outlet underneath the kitchen sink. Make sure it’s plugged in.
So it still has power, on most garbage disposals, on the very bottom there is a reset button, push it back in to reset, try the switch again.
If it worked, your good, if it’s making a odd humming sound then turn the switch off, this means it’s jammed, you could go and buy a tool known as Insinkerator Jam Buster, about $8 at a local hardware store, or if you have a set of Allen wrenches 1/4inch size one works as well. Now feel under the disposal, there is a hole in the center, insert the wrench and give it a good pull and push, back and forth. Once it frees up, spin it a couple rotations. Make sure to remove the tool. While running the water on cold, Flip it on again. That should do it. Let it run for a little bit, especially if it’s noisy, run it till the rattling stops. It’s fine.
Do’s and Don’ts
Never put spinach,celery, asparagus, artichokes, chard, kale, lettuce, potato peelings, and onion skins in your disposal. These items can easily entangle the blades causing it to jam. Also uncooked pasta and rice, they expand once they get wet.
Don’t put your hand in it, until you make sure there is no power.
Always run cold water while running it.
When should you call Huckleberry Maintance to repair or replace?
If water is coming out the bottom, if you’ve tried all the above and still it’s not working, upgrading to another, or you don’t have one and would like a free estimate on a new installation of a Garbage disposal.
Please feel free to correct any misinformation, comment, or send a question.
Also please send me ideas and ideas for future Huckleberry Maintenance Weekly DIY!
Thank you.