Garbage disposals grind up food, so they’re naturally going to be noisy. That can make it a little bit harder to figure out when yours is making a noise it shouldn’t. Is it just working harder than usual, or should you be concerned about the sound you’re hearing? Keep reading to find out what some of the common noises are and when you may need to schedule repair service.
Low Hum or Grinding
These are normal garbage disposal noises. One of the keys in determining whether a noise is something to be concerned about is to pay attention to whether you’ve ever heard it before. If the hum or grind gets a lot louder than usual and is persistent, your garbage disposal may need repair.
Loud Grinding
Your garbage disposal might get a lot louder when there is a foreign object stuck in it. Keep in mind that the idea of a garbage disposal is to grind food scraps but not everything that might be left on your plate. Bones, fruit pits and corn husks are all examples of food items that you shouldn’t put down the disposal. As for foreign objects, it’s not uncommon for utensils or other items that might be in or near the sink to fall down the drain and jam the disposal. You may be able to check and retrieve the item, but you need to shut off power first. As an additional safety measure, use tongs or another tool to remove the item. You should never put your hand down the drain where the disposal is.
Rattling
Sometimes, a foreign object might cause a rattling sound instead. This is particularly true if it’s a smaller item, such as a bottlecap, a bone shard or a piece of jewelry. If there’s nothing in your drain, rattling could indicate that there are some loose components that need to be tightened or replaced.
Clicking or Whirring
Your garbage disposal may be making these noises while seeming to otherwise operate normally. However, this doesn’t mean that all is well. You’ll probably need to have a plumber look at it and diagnose the issue. It could be a flywheel that is out of alignment or old impellers that are wearing out among other possibilities.
Squealing or Screeching
This noise usually means that your garbage disposal’s motor is on its last legs. It can keep going for a little while longer, but you will need to repair or replace it soon.
It’s not always possible to accurately diagnose what’s wrong with your garbage disposal based solely on the sound. However, the guidance above may help you narrow down the problem and figure out whether you’ve simply knocked a fork into your garbage disposal or you need to call a professional to look at repairing or replacing your unit. When you need garbage disposal services in San Diego, CA, contact Mauzy.