You hear the angry sound of grinding metal in the kitchen and wonder is your garbage disposal clogged. If it is, you might also wonder whether you should try to unclog it yourself. Unless you have a detailed working knowledge of plumbing, it is probably better to leave garbage disposal maintenance to the professionals.
A garbage disposal is made of blades inside your sink drain. Many people’s first reaction is to shove a fork into a clogged disposal in order to dislodge obstructions. Some people even make the mistake of sticking their fingers or hand into the hole. Both of these actions can lead to severe injury and damage to your disposal.
If the answer to the question “is your garbage disposal clogged” ends up being yes and you decide to try a DIY fix before calling a professional, take precautions. Make sure power to the disposal is turned off. Take a step further than simply turning off the disposal. Disconnect power completely to avoid serious injury.