Garbage disposals are great appliances to dispose of food scraps and other waste safely.
However, cleaning the garbage disposal regularly is important to avoid clogs and other problems.
If your garbage disposal gets clogged, you will likely see standing water in your sink.
This standing water means that something is stuck in the drain and needs to be removed.
When food waste is stuck in the drain, it can cause clogs that prevent the water from being pushed out of the garbage disposal.
Before you touch anything, switch the disposal off at the wall switch and unplug it, or shut off its breaker. Never put your hand or a tool into a disposal that still has power. If reaching under the sink is not something you want to do at all, book professional drain cleaning instead.
Below are a few ways to try and unclog a garbage disposal with standing water.
1. Remove The P-Trap
With the power off and a bucket under the pipe, remove the P-trap, the curved plastic pipe that connects to the sink drain. Here is what a P-trap does and why you need one, which is worth reading before you take it apart.
The P-trap is a part of the sink drain and can be found under the sink.
You will need to loosen the screws on either end to remove the P-trap.
Then, you will want to remove the P-trap with a wrench.
There are two screws on either end of the P-trap.
You will need to loosen the screws and remove the P-trap from your sink drain. Once you remove the P-Trap, you can dislodge the objects causing the clog.
2. Using A Sink Plunger To Unclog
If the wrench or pliers do not work, you can try a sink plunger. The technique is the same one in unclogging a sink with standing water.
A sink plunger is a smaller rubber plunger that can be used in your sink drain to try and dislodge the object.
To use the sink plunger, you will want to place it in the drain and use its pressure to try and push the object out of the way.
To use a sink plunger successfully, you will want to make sure that you use sufficient pressure.
You can use the plunger to push up and down on the clogged drain. You can also try to use the plunger to push the object out of the way.
If the object is too big or hard to remove by hand, it is best to call a professional.
3. Using A Drain Snake
Another option that is often used is a drain snake.
This device is a flexible, coiled tube placed in your sink drain and used to try and dislodge the object blocking the drain.
The drain snake is designed to be flexible and can be bent into the shape of your sink drain.
When you place the drain snake in the drain, you should bend it so that it covers all of the space in your sink.
You can then use pliers to grab hold of one end and try to pull the object from your sink.
To use the drain snake successfully, twist it into the shape of the drain and push it against the object. If a cable will not clear the line, or the same clog keeps coming back, the pipe wall is probably coated, and hydro jetting is what actually cleans it.
4. Use Pliers To Remove Clogged Items
Pliers are also a good option to use when trying to remove clogged objects from your sink.
The pliers should be used to grab hold of the object and try to twist it free.
You can then use force to twist the object out of the drain.
Pliers are a good way to dislodge objects because they can be done without special tools or equipment.
Pliers also work for pulling hair and other debris out of the drain opening.
Try the above methods to unclog your garbage disposal, and keep chemical drain cleaner out of it. Those products sit in the disposal chamber and go to work on the seals and your skin, which is the case made in why store bought drain cleaners are a bad idea.
If the object is too big or hard to remove by hand, it is best to call a professional. So is a disposal that hums without turning, since that is a jammed motor rather than a clogged pipe, and what you need to know about garbage disposals covers what belongs in one.
If the sink drains slowly rather than not at all, the disposal may not be the problem, and fixing a slow draining sink is the better starting point. If both sides of a double basin fill up, or another fixture backs up at the same time, the blockage is in the main line and needs sewer backup repair.
You can always rely on the plumbers in Lakeland at True Plumbers & AC for your drain and AC issues.
Whether the above methods have failed or you are hesitant to take on the job yourself, our team is ready to help. Water rising in the sink at the wrong hour goes to our 24 hour emergency plumbing team. Get in touch by calling (863) 667-6364 today. We serve central Florida homes in and around Lakeland, Plant City, and Winter Haven, FL.
