Signs of a Failing Garbage Disposal

A plumber repairing a garbage disposal.

It’s the holiday season and there’s probably been some heavy foot traffic in your kitchen lately. Whether you hosted Thanksgiving or you’re planning to host Christmas dinner, you’ll need a properly working garbage disposal to ensure smooth sailing in the kitchen. We’ve recently talked about holiday foods to keep away from your garbage disposal, but today we’re going to be sharing a few signs that your garbage disposal might be failing.

Strange Noises

We all know the typical grinding sound a garbage disposal makes. However, if you’re hearing a loud squealing sound or a noise that sounds like there’s a piece of metal stuck in your disposal, there might be a lost piece of silverware blocking the blades or one of the disposal’s components needs to be readjusted. Addressing the odd noises right away is important because if you continue running the disposal with misaligned components or a piece of metal stuck in the blades, it could completely wreck the garbage disposal.

Strong, Unpleasant Odors

When your garbage disposal breaks down food, you’re obviously going to smell an odor that can come off as unpleasant. Once you clean out your sink and disposal, the odor should subside. However, if you’re still smelling a strong, unpleasant odor after cleaning the disposal, there might be some trapped food particles that require professional help. J&M Plumbing & Drain Cleaning can help with this!

Won’t Turn On

If you flip your garbage disposal switch and it won’t turn on, there could be an issue with the motor. If you know that your electrical system is working properly, the garbage disposal’s motor could be failing.

If you need to schedule a garbage disposal inspection or you’ve made the decision that it’s time for a replacement, J&M Plumbing & Drain Cleaning can handle the repairs or the installation of a new disposal. Give us a call at (215) 987-4607 or fill out our online contact form to schedule your appointment today!