Your Plumbing Problems - What To Do About A Smelly Disposal
Does the plumbing in your garbage disposal smell like something curled up and died in there? It's not supposed to smell that way! This article teaches you a simple cleaning technique and what to do if this doesn't work.
Garbage disposals make our lives so much easier and most people don't know what they would do without them. But what happens when the disposal's plumbing begins to smell? A stinky disposal is a sign that you either need to have it cleaned or replaced. How do you know which?
Even if you clean it on a regular basis,
you still need to make sure that you keep it properly maintained. If this doesn't solve the problem, it's time to get it replaced.
What's Causing The Smell?
Bad smells from your garbage disposal unit can simply be due to food residue that eventually decays and leaves an odor behind. This smell is caused by bacteria that lingers in the garbage disposal. You can clear it up by disassembling the unit and using various home remedies to clear up the plumbing within the unit. Make sure that you switch the unit off whenever you're working on it, however, to avoid injuring yourself.
Home Remedies To Leave Your Garbage Disposal Smelling Fresh
There are a few remedies you can try when cleaning out your garbage disposal. The first is a simple cleaning with grease-fighting dishwashing liquid and hot water. Leave the hot water running while the garbage disposal is on, and pour some of the dishwashing liquid down the pipe. Do this for about ten minutes before switching off the garbage disposal, removing the trap and cleaning beneath it.
Chlorine bleach kills bacteria that causes the smell to linger in your garbage disposal. You can clean out the disposal by switching it off and pouring a ten percent solution of bleach mixed with water into the disposal. You will have to leave this solution in the disposal for about ten minutes before turning it on and pouring hot water in to rinse it out again.
Once you have cleaned out the garbage disposal, you can switch it on and throw some chopped lemon into it. This will ensure that its plumbing smells fresh and clean.
When Should You Call In A Plumber?
Garbage disposals are pretty easy to maintain but there might come a time when you can't solve a problem and will still need to call in a plumber. If your disposal is clogged or has stopped turning and you don't want to get your hands dirty to fix it, call in a professional and he or she should have the problem solved quickly. It's an easy job for a trained professional.
How To Tell If Your Garbage Disposal Needs To Be Replaced
If your garbage disposal begins to show signs of disrepair, there are three things you should check - that it's not clogged, it's not too full, and it's switched on. After checking these three things, reset the disposal. If it continues to give you problems after this, you should call in a professional to see whether he or she can resolve this problem with your plumbing, or whether it might need to be replaced.
