A loud clanking noise, the strained buzz of an electric motor, or no action at all—any of these symptoms means you have waste disposer problems. Fortunately, the symptom often is worse than the illness.

 

And if you know how to diagnose these strange goings-on, you should be able to get things going again without the expense of a plumber or a time-consuming trip to your plumbing parts supplier.

 

Disposers are pretty tough customers, but they're no match for flatware, bottle caps, and the like. If one of these undesirables accidentally falls into the grinding chamber, you'll hear the commotion right away. At best, the grinding blade will deform the item. Worse, a jam can result.

 

If your unit jams, shut off the power to it. Then remove the splashguard and survey the situation. Once you locate the obstruction, insert the end of a broom or mop handle into the grinding chamber and pry against the turntable until it rotates freely.

 

With one brand of disposer, you insert an Allen wrench into a hole in the bottom of the disposer, and work the tool back and forth. Remove the obstruction from the chamber. Impossible jams require professional attention.