Garbage Disposal Problems

[amywatts]

Hello there. I have a Dispos-all brand Disposal. I use cold water before and after and try to keep it clean. It never "freezes" or stop working..the blades always turn and stuff, but it never gets rid of the food, no matter how pureed it gets. Only sometimes is the disposal half-way decent. This causes horrible odors. I pre-wash my dishes before putting them into the dishwasher. Not a speck of food. But after running it a cycle, it always has food on the dishes and in the bottom of the washer...from the disposal.

What can I do? I put ice down there...large amounts and let cold water run and the blades work on the ice. I stop the disposal and there is just way too much junk in there.

Thanks so much for your help.


Just try it!

[Hawk]

A couple of problems may exist. 1. Worst case scenario, the pump on the dishwasher may be getting old and week and not eliminating all the water in the drain cycle. 2. Most common problem I see is that the discharge hose doesn't have an "air gap" (chrome or colored looking thing on top of the sink. If you look at the disposal, you should see a 7/8 rubber discharge hose going UP to the air gap, and then from the air gap down through the cabinet to the dishwasher.

Some like to eliminate the air gap and use the hole for other items ie: soap dispensers, instahots, etc, but fail to strap the discharge hose up high. Whenever the GD is used, some of the waste can run into that hose and down into the DW. Also when the DW finishes its cycle, everything in the hose will siphon back down into the machine (not good for the equipment or sanitation).

If the latter is the case, a simple 7/8 strap and a couple screws to secure the hose to the highest point under the sink may resolve the problem. Some city and local code require an air gap be in place. Just a thought and something you can quickly check. Hope this helps!

Take a look at the diagram here as an illustration or example: http://www.home-inspect.com/news/itips_4-03.html

[amywatts]

OK. Thanks for the link with the diagram. No, no airgap. There's a sprayer instead. The only tube that comes off the disposal goes DOWN towards the dishwasher cabinet. I can see where there is a hole (perfect size for that tube, hmmm...) up at the top of the cabinet, but nothing is there.

The dishwasher seems to pump okay. It leaves just enough water to keep the sealings wet, but not enough that it's bad.

I'll look around and see what trouble I can get into.

Thanks for the info...if there are any more tips you can pass on, it'd be greatly appreciated. Know that you helped someone today!!!



Just try it!

[Hawk]

quote:Originally posted by amywattsThe only tube that comes off the disposal goes DOWN towards the dishwasher cabinet.

Good job Amy! That's probably the problem. It MUST go UP first. Like I said, a simple fix may be just to strap or secure it up as high as you can.

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