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How To Unblock A Waste Disposal Unit

How To Unblock A Waste Disposal Unit

Posted by Ship It Appliances Ltd on 27th Feb 2018

Minute read

If someone has put something they should not have down the waste disposal unit, there is a good chance it will get blocked. This might have been an accident, or it might simply have been a matter of putting too much food into the unit too quickly. You will need to sort it before you can use the device again.

Step 1: Turn It Off

First thing to do is to turn off the unit either by a switch at the back of the sink, or through the main breaker in your house. Even if you have turned off the switch, never put your hand in the unit. The grinding mechanism can seriously hurt you and if the switch malfunctions, you risk significant injury.

Step 2: Visual Inspection

Next, examine the interior of the unit using a torch. You might be able to see the problem immediately, if not try the video camera on your mobile phone. It may assist you by showing you areas where you might not be able to see.

Step 3: Remove The Blockage

After that if you can you spot the object, reach in and grab it using a long pair of needle nosed pliers. Be careful when doing this, as you do not want to drop these.

Step 4: Wait Before Turning It On

A blockage that prevents the mechanism from working will seriously stress the motor out. Give it about fifteen minutes before switching it back on.

What To Do If These Steps Did Not Work

If your unit is still not working, then it might be that there is a smaller blockage that you cannot see or remove. In this case, you will need to manually work the shredders loose. Do not do this with your hands, instead do it with a long wooden spoon or rod. Push the end of the implement against the mechanism, and try to move it back and forth. You might be able to free it this way. Once you have moved it all the way around, wait fifteen minutes before turning it back on again.

Look Into Buying A New Unit

If you are having continuous complications with your waste unit, Ship It Appliances has a whole range of different waste disposal units that you can check out.

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