Louisville Garbage Disposal Repair and a Plain Guide to What Goes Down It

Foods a Disposal Handles Well

A disposal is built for the small bits of soft food left on plates and in pans after you have scraped the bulk into the trash. These are generally fine in moderate amounts with plenty of cold water:

• Soft table scraps and small leftovers
• Most cooked vegetables, cut into small pieces
• Soft fruit and small citrus rinds, which also freshen the chamber
• Small amounts of cooked meat without bone
• Crumbs and small bits of bread
• Ice cubes, which help clean the grinding parts

Foods That Cause Trouble

These are the items behind most of the clogs and jams we see. Some damage the disposal itself, while others pass through it and settle in the drain line.

Things that form a paste or swell

Rice, pasta, oatmeal and potato peels absorb water and turn into a thick paste that sticks in the trap and the pipe beyond it. Coffee grounds do not grind; they simply pile up like sand in the low spots of the drain.

Things that wrap or tangle

Celery, corn husks, onion skins, artichoke leaves and asparagus ends are fibrous. The strings wrap around the grinding plate or form mats in the drain. Eggshell membranes can do the same, and the shell fragments add grit.

Things that are too hard or simply do not belong

Large bones, fruit pits and shells can jam the plates. Grease, oil and fat coat the pipe walls as they cool, then catch everything else. And non-food items like twist ties, rubber bands and bottle caps are frequent jam culprits.

Habits That Keep a Disposal Healthy

Run cold water before you start and keep it running for several seconds after the grinding sound stops. Feed food a little at a time rather than all at once. Use the disposal regularly so parts do not corrode from sitting idle. And scrape plates into the trash first; the disposal is there for what is left, not the whole meal.

Skip chemical drain openers. They can damage the seals inside the unit and make the drain hazardous to work on if a plumber needs to open it.

When Something Goes Wrong

If the disposal hums but will not turn, a jam is likely. Shut off the power, remove anything visible with tongs, and try turning the plates from below with the hex wrench. If it runs but the sink still fills up, the problem is in the drain, and our Louisville drain unclogging service is the right call. Leaks, rust on the housing or a motor that will not stay running mean it is time for us to take a look.

Louisville has a mix of older homes near downtown and newer neighborhoods on the edges of the city. We replace disposals in both, matching the unit to your sink and cabinet. If your kitchen faucet is dripping too, our faucet repair in Louisville can be done during the same visit.

Close By and Ready to Help

We serve Louisville along with East Canton, Canton, North Canton, Hartville and Alliance. Every job starts with a free estimate. Call 330-875-8003, or read our Stark County garbage disposal guide for more on unit types and sizes.