Plumbing Guide: Signs of a Broken Garbage Disposal

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Your garbage disposal may be broken or working improperly while still running. The experts at Bell Plumbing and Heating want to help you recognize the signs of a broken garbage disposal so that you know when to call our experienced Denver plumbers for repair.

  • Garbage Disposal Won’t Turn On:  When the disposal switch is turned on but your garbage disposal won’t start there is most likely an electrical problem.  Either the garbage disposal overloaded and shorted out the circuits, resulting in the need for the reset button to be pressed back in, or a circuit breaker has been tripped.  If during testing neither of these fixes the problem, it is most likely that your garbage disposal itself is broken.
  • Garbage Disposal Comes On But Does Not Grind Food:  When the disposal starts up but does not cut food, it indicates that either the flywheel is stuck on something or that the motor has locked up.  Normally this will cause the circuit to overload and the disposal to turn off.  If the disposal is left on in this condition it can seriously damage the appliance.
  • Liquid/Chemical Drain Cleaners:  It is important never to use liquid chemical drain cleaners on a garbage disposal, as it can damage the disposal itself.  If you already have used such a product and are now having disposal problems, it may be time for a garbage disposal replacement.

Any of these situations can mean you have a broken garbage disposal that needs to be replaced.  The blades on a garbage disposal can wear out and parts of a disposal can even become rusted over, both of which will result in a broken garbage disposal.  The Denver plumbing specialists at Bell Plumbing and Heating can help you recognize the signs of a broken garbage disposal and will provide quick and efficient garbage disposal repair and replacement.  Contact Bell Plumbing and Heating today!

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Bell Plumbing & Heating Co. BBB Business Review
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