Hey everyone, I'm dealing with a bit of a plumbing issue. When my dishwasher drains, it backs up into one side of my kitchen sink. The same thing happens if I leave water running in that sink for more than 5 seconds. I think the problem might be with my garbage disposal, which appears to be locked up. It did work when I first moved in five years ago, but I've never used it since. I'm planning to remove the disposal and do some replumbing. My question is, while I have everything open, should I go ahead and snake the lines too? I don't own an auger and would prefer to skip buying one unless it's really necessary. What do you think?
2 Answers
You could be right about the garbage disposal causing the backup. Before you replace it, just make sure it's switched off at the circuit breaker, then check for any obstructions by reaching in and turning the blades. If they won't move, try the reset button under the unit. If it's still not running and you hear buzzing, you might try using a short crowbar to gently move the motor, which sometimes frees up what's stuck. Just remember to run your disposal whenever you use the dishwasher after that!
Thanks for the tip! I'll definitely give that a try.
If the backup is only happening on the side with the disposal, you probably don't need to snake it while you're removing it. If it was backing up on both sides, then it might be something further down the line that needs snaking. Since the other sink side drains fine, you're likely okay without snaking it.
I've used a wooden spoon handle instead of my hand to clear out the disposal with good success. You wouldn’t believe how often tiny things, like a paper clip, end up down there!