Garbage Disposal Repair Faq
Donna asks…
Dishwasher won’t drain after garbage disposal repair?
The other day my boyfriend decided to clog up our pipes under the kitchen sink by putting all kinds of potato peels and such down it. So, the garbage disposal wouldn’t drain and instead it just sent air bubbles up when we turned it on. I disconnected the s-trap (I think that’s what it’s called, it’s U shaped kind of though) and I found the clog and removed it and put everything back together so that it doesn’t leak.
However, I went to run my dishwasher today and it ran just fine until the end when the cycle was over and I went to put away my dishes. The dirty water is still all at the bottom and it’s not draining. There’s nothing blocking the drain so I assume the problem has something to do with the repairs I recently made. Can anyone help me out with this problem and maybe give me some instructions on how to fix it? I would appreciate it.
There is a hose going from the garbage disposal up to the air gap. That hose is not clogged, I’ve already removed it and cleaned it. The air gap also doesn’t seem to be clogged. So, I think that means the hose going from the air gap to the dishwasher must be clogged but I’m not sure how to get to where I can disconnect the hose. I mean, I can disconnect it from the air gap but I don’t see myself getting the clog out that way.
Garbage Disposal Staff Says:
IF, you had a Wet/Dry vacuum you may be able to disconnect the hose from the Air Gap and connect the vacuum. Use some Duck Tape to tape the 2 hoses together and form a seal. You may get lucky and it suck out the clog. If, it not work, I think you have to pull the dishwasher out of the cabinet to get to the other end and you have to be careful as the water in the washer may go everywhere when you disconnect the hose.
Sandra asks…
Is it possible to repair a garbage disposal yourself instead of calling a repair man?
In a series of unfortunate events I manged to spill a small amount of aquarium gravel down the side of my sink with the garbage disposal. Ever since then my garbage disposal has been broken.
When you turn it on the “blades” dont spin, though they do move about freely when you (dont try this at home kids) stick your arm down in there to dislodge the rocks that used to keep that side of the sink from draining. I’ve managed to remove all of the rocks that I can and I cant feel anymore down in there now. So its able to drain again for the time being.
It wont do anything except emanate a faint buzzing sound when you turn it on.
Are garbage disposals fairly complicated or is it something the average (or above average?) can work out and make sense of?
Is it likely my husband could work on it? Or are garbage disposals just one of those things you have to leave up to the professionals? Despite the way it may sound my husband and I are quite clever! 
Thanks!
Garbage Disposal Staff Says:
The disposal must come out …turn it upside down & get the rocks out turn from the bottom with the special wrench all the rocks have to come out or it will jam up again.
Michael asks…
badger 5 garbage disposal repair?
i have a badger 5 ….1/2 horsepower garbage disposal. when i turn the switch on it just makes a humming noise and the reset button clicks out. i have tried to put a pole in there to try movin the blades around. but i dont really kno how many blades or where the blades are. When i turn the water on in the sink it just keeps water standing.
thanx so much joea
Garbage Disposal Staff Says:
Michelle, it appers your dispoers is jammed and also clogged. Make sure power is off. Typically a broom handle can free up the disposer by moving the blades inside till you can break the jam free. Otherwise, there is a hex screw where an allen wrench inserts to the center of the bottom disposer and simply cranking back and forth can also break the jam free. If this doesnt work, then worst case is the motor is shot and the disposer will need replacing. As far as water standing, the jam or clog is most likely the cause – breaking the jam free shall resolve this too -
Courtesy of Y!Answers