Why Your Garbage Disposal Could be Leaking Water

One very important piece of equipment that will keep your modern kitchen free from dirt and odors is the garbage disposal. We all use this device to dispose of organic materials that can rot in our houses, such as vegetable peels and discarded pieces of meat that might decay if placed in a typical garbage bag.
If this equipment that is attached to your kitchen sink is starting to leak water from the bottom, it will cause a number of problems in your kitchen.
All the unwanted debris coming from cooking raw materials will elicit irritating smells inside your entire kitchen as well as stop your kitchen sink from operating properly. Therefore, fixing your kitchen’s garbage disposal is a top priority.

Types of Garbage Disposals

Before you start thinking of repairing or replacing your garbage disposal, you must know the key parts that make up your garbage disposal and how they operate.
Usually, garbage disposals come in two types; batch feed and continuous feed types. The only noticeable difference between them is in the way they turn on. With batch feed disposal models, you are supposed to place a distinct stopper in the disposal opening, before turning it on. This activates the switch that eventually turns the disposal on.
Continuous feed models have a rubber shield at the bottom upon which if food is pushed through the rubber shield into the disposal, you will have to flip a switch on the wall to finally turn on the disposal.
Once you have more knowledge about what you are dealing with, you are supposed to find out exactly where the garbage disposal unit leaks. With that information in hand, it will be easier to determine whether to fix or replace the entire garbage disposal model.
You are supposed to put some water into the sink, and allow the water to run down the sink while you turn on your kitchen’s garbage disposal. You should then begin to cautiously examine the disposal to find out where the leakage could be coming from.

Causes of Garbage Disposal Leakages

The first part of the disposal system that you ought to check is the pipe connecting the kitchen sink to the garbage disposal. This is achievable even without having to dismantle the entire unit. Check for cracks or breaks on the PVC pipes that could be causing the leakage.
Usually, a standard garbage disposal is linked to the sink by means of a sink flange that is screwed to the bottom of the sink.
Several garbage disposals vibrate while in use due to grinding accomplished by its interior blades. Such vibrations can loosen the screws of the flange, resulting in leakages.
If the leaks from your garbage disposal appear to originate from the top, even after tightening the loose screws of the flange, then it could be having a putty problem. The putty, a metal clamp used to seal the flange could have rusted, eroded, become worn or weak.
The leakage can be originating from the dishwasher connection. The metal screw that supports the dishwater hose pipe to the garbage disposal could be loose. This is a very serious case of leakage that require early attention.
The hose pipe where waste travels from the garbage disposal to the sewer can also be the cause of the leak. This pipe could be broken or have smaller cracks that cause water to seep out from the disposal. The bolts that hold the garbage disposal and the discharge pipe could also be loose causing water outflows from the system.
There exists a gasket between the blades and the sink of the garbage disposal system. If the gasket is frayed or rather has cracks, then a leakage is the most expected possibility. You can check any impairment of the gasket by simply dismantling the disposal and assessing the quality of the gasket.

Things to Do While Operating a Garbage Disposal

There are several things that you can do while operating your garbage disposal unit to avoid causing such frequent leakages.
To begin with, you should always run a stream of cold water into the garbage disposal before and after the process of grinding.
By allowing a stream of cold water to run before turning on the disposal, clogging caused by solid fats will be prevented. The cold water will also keep the disposal’s motor cool, extending the lifetime of the garbage disposal unit.
Only put soft food and fibrous material into your garbage disposal. This is because hard materials like for instance bones and pieces of metals cannot be grinded by the blades and will therefore damage your disposal.
You should also check for leakages now and then. Check for seals, connections, sink flange, gasket and pipe connections as these could be the obvious sources of leakages. You should also check for infestation by pests and molds on your disposal unit just in case there is another issue affecting its performance.
Keeping your kitchen sink clean can be extremely challenging, but with the help of an efficient garbage disposal, the job becomes quite easier. Whether you are making an omelet or baking a cake, the garbage disposal will always be there to grind the egg shells.
If your unit experiences leakages, then your kitchen becomes a breeding source for bacteria and germs that can harm you as an inhabitant. You also don’t want to start attracting pests, ants and cockroaches in your home.
If you think you might need guidelines and additional information concerning your garbage disposal leakages in your home, you may contact The Plumbing Dr in Arlington, VA, using the number (703) 525-9280. We will surely be there to serve you.