Apparently, the garbage disposal under my sink has become jammed. I hardly ever use the thing and today when I was running the dishwasher, water backed up into the sink. I tried sticking an Allen wrench into the hole on the underside of the thing and twisting, which usually frees it up, and a I darn near twisted it off the pipes, so that’s out. Is there any other way I can free the thing up without removing it from the sink? 'Cos I’d really hate to have to do that.
Can you get to the impellers inside it? A plumber friend of mine unstuck one by pouring a heavy duty de-greaser into the sink, letting is sit for a day, and physically manipulating the impellers, on the theory that they had rusted from disuse. It worked for him.
I’ve had luck with a half a broomstick. Stuck it in, kinda wedged it against the lip of the drain while turning. causing the blades to move.
Rule 1. Unplug the thing first. Don’t depend upon just turning off the switch.
I’ve also used a large flat-tipped screwdriver to gently pry against the thing. But if the allen wrench didn’t work, you may need a new one. They’re not all that expensive and can be easily installed.
I have also used something like a broomstick (a strong one) to attack it from the top. If you can sort of pry it and get it to move, you should be good to go.
Well… you can’t - at least around here the codes don’t allow that. There is an under-sink switch, and a fuse. That should be turned off, and the fuse removed, I agree.
If the allen-wrench doesn’t work - there must be something pretty substantial blocking the unit. Try and shine a flashlight down and look - and make another decision from there. Don’t forget to reset the circuit breaker on the unit too - often a red button on the underside of the unit itself.
Another idea would be to try to remove the drain pipe from the disposal and see if there s anything blocking that pipe. Once, after several days of corn on the cob, I had to remove the drain pipe and pull out several corn husks (disposals don’t do well on corn husks, by te way).
If you shine a flashlight in there, does it look completely rusted, or does it look only mostly rusted?
I haven’t seen anything that would indicate it’s rusty. Try attacking from the topside with a stout stick. I’m telling you…
That’s how I deal with unreasonable creditors. Sound advice for most of life’s problems.
This isn’t what you want to hear, but if you can’t free things with the hex key, it’s time to pull the mechanism out, flush the discharge fitting, and generally try to make it cough out whatever is stuck in it’s throat. Good luck.
yeah, that does wonders for dirty glassware.
I third the broomstick idea. I’ve only had mine jam a couple times in my life, but both times the broomstick worked. I got the idea from my Dad, who, after 5 kids and numerous grandkids, has a lot of experience in un-jamming disposals. I’ll never forget the time I tried to put a Popsicle stick down the disposal…
Broomstick is good. A hammer is better. Stick it in backwards. The metal head is easy to hold and you can put more pressure on it than you can with broomstick.