How To Diagnose Issues With Your Waste Disposal Unit
If you have a relatively modern home, the chances are that you also have a waste disposal unit fitted underneath the sink. This is a great solution to get rid of small amounts of leftover food, but its capabilities are relatively limited and can sometimes develop problems. What can you do if things are not right with your waste disposal unit?
Reasonable Expectations
The first thing to remember is that a waste disposal unit is not an industrial grinder. It can only deal with relatively soft food, so you'll want to avoid flushing chicken wishbones or other hard leftovers at all times. If a piece accidentally falls into the device, switch everything off and carefully retrieve it, paying attention to safety.
Electrical Fault
The device does, of course, need electricity to function. If you can hear a humming noise, but the grinding mechanism does not move, this might mean one of two things. A hard fragment of bone may be lodged somewhere within, or the motor itself may be in need of repair.
Leakage Issues
However, if everything seems to be turning as it should, but you can see water dripping out of the under-sink cupboard, you've clearly got a leak. Take a closer look at the device while running water from the tap to see if you can pinpoint the source of the leak.
Top Leak
If water is coming out of the top of your waste disposal device, the flange is probably loose. This connection may become weaker as time goes by, especially if something or someone has accidentally bumped the device and knocked it out of place. It will need to be re-seated so that it is flush with the underside of the sink, and you can avoid any further leakage.
Side Leak
If the device appears to be leaking from the side, this could be an issue with the drainpipe. Remember, the water that flows into the waste disposal device has to flow to your primary drain, and issues may have arisen where everything connects. You need to look at the condition of the hose as well as the clamp and may need to make repairs there.
Bigger Issues
If it is not clear where the leakage is coming from or it appears to be emanating from the body of the waste disposal device itself, it may have developed some cracks. Sadly, there's no quick fix for this situation, and you'll probably have to replace the entire device.
Expert Attention
Should you have any other questions or simply cannot work out what is going wrong, you need to call the plumber. They'll be able to analyse and suggest a fix, so you can get back to normal as soon as possible.
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