How to Unclog a Garbage Disposal With Standing Water? Unclogging your garbage disposal with standing water can be done with various techniques and equipment, but the most recognized one refers to using a sink plunger or practically having it done quickly using a chemical means to clear the clogs in minutes.
Has there ever been a time when the water in your sink refuses to go down the drain? Supposedly you are halfway washing your dishes and the water in the sink refuses to move, leaving you confused about what the problem is.
It is fair to think there is a problem with the sink and it is likely the drain needs to be freed from clogging and you wonder how to manually drain garbage disposal without having to break the bank or flood the floor with drops of sweat because of the tenacity required to get it done.
Why Is My Garbage Disposal Pushing Water Back-Up?
Water revisiting your sink often comes with a few troubles which require you to attend to it fast enough to prevent the kitchen from smelling awful or creating a breeding space for bacteria.
It isn’t the sink’s fault to back up water; it is probably a problem of you and the drain or just a problem of not paying close attention to your sink and how it drains water.
Water doesn’t just choose to nail itself to the sink overnight, it first starts with a slow movement and then a slower movement until after your breakfast you realize water refuses to go down the drain anymore and it startled you why this is happening.
There are a few reasons we can link this problem to. They include:
We Don’t Care Too Much About the Drain, We Just Feed it With Everything:
You are a victim to this, I must assume. It is a “norm” to put everything and anything into the sink and have it forced down the drain, but just as everything needs balance, so is what you feed your sink.
Some things are not right to be thrown into the sink. It is normal to have the urge to dispose of anything into the sink but things like eggshells, bones, dissolved starchy foods, coffee grinds, and a lot of other uneasy to drain types of crumbs should be avoided regardless of the urge to have it easy on yourself by dumping it directly into the sink.
You might wonder why a drain can’t dispose of these things. The problem isn’t the drain; the problem is the food particle reaction with water. Because of their inability to dissolve quickly, they form clogs that restrict water movement.
Aside from having to dump various things into the sink, another underlying factor you likely neglected is using enough water to flush the food through the drains, a constant flow of water before your food crumbs and afterward works magic. You should try it.
The Disposal Blade is Doomed
This is a “you” problem and a “you” solution likewise. Having the wrong things in your sink, flushed forcefully, might send your blades into a state of incompetence.
A handful of grounded ice cubes can assist the blades to work better. A faulty blade will do a faulty job. It is more like sending a cripple to buy you a drink, it is a hard task. Likewise, the blades when they are blunt, they need to be fixed to be active again.
How to Unclog a Garbage Disposal With Standing Water
To unclog a garbage disposal with standing water,
1. Turn off the Garbage Disposal
To avoid getting yourself hurt, ensure the garbage disposal is turned off and also ensure the connecting circuit breaker is turned off to avoid getting yourself injured. Never should you have your hands in the garbage disposal to avoid injuries.
2. Use a Plunger
A sink plunger is advisable; ensure the plunger covers the drain firmly. Apply a few pressure blows for a few minutes. Remove and check if the clog items are draining already.
The sound of water moving down the drain should excite you. After a few pressure blows the clogs should give way for the water to drain. During the draining process, turn on the hot water and allow it to flow for about 3- 5mins to clear out any other clogs in the pipes.
3. Use a Dowel
In case your plunger refuses to do a perfect job, there may be a jam on the blades. A faster way to get things done is to get in touch with a long woody dowel that is firm enough to get those blades up again. Ensure you turn your garbage disposal off, likewise the circuit breaker too.
To use the dowel, the following processes are required:
- To use a dowel, empty the sink by taking out the water with a bowl or a small cup.
- Place the dowel in the exact spot where the garbage disposal is located
- Push the dowel down and manually shift the blade to do the unclogging
- After unclogging, do a quick run of hot water for 5minutes, to clear out other clogs
Take a moment to travel into time, take a quick glance into a moment when you have your garbage disposal fixed, soak in that feeling, for you are about to have it done easily.
Having the kitchen atmosphere polluted with smelly water is dissatisfying. It is always preferable to have the drain fixed hastily to avoid a choking moment.
There are a few ways to get this fixed, ranging from turning your garbage disposal to clear the sink or allowing a flow of water through the sink, and if this doesn’t work, it requires you to go in advance to clear out the clog.
Having learned how to unclog a garbage disposal with standing water, you can read How to Unclog a Double Kitchen Sink with Garbage Disposal.
Final Thoughts
Disposal backup because of enough food remnants and debris accumulated to block the drain line. A slow draining garbage disposal is logically a problem of the drain trap. Clogs can’t be avoided over time, but with a few steps, we can prevent having to deal with the stress of unclogging without having to spend too much money finding professionals when we can get it done ourselves. The above-listed steps are enough to help solve your problem.