We sell and service disposals.We recommend ½ horsepower disposals. Any smaller is not strong enough and doesn’t last as long. Any larger is overkill, except in commercial applications.
The most common problem we run across is when they’re locked up or jammed. Most of the time, there is nothing wrong with the disposal; it was just fed something it can’t process.

Rule of Thumb: If you can’t eat it can’t either. Items such as bones, fruit peels, melon rinds, seed, anything metal, etc. can lock up your disposal. You get the point. When this happens, the disposal will just hum then eventually it will shut down.

IF THIS HAPPENS: Please give us a call at (941) 351-7998

If you want to try to fix it yourself, refer to the owner’s manual. Lacking that, the following procedure should help:

  1. Unplug the garbage disposal!
  2. With a flashlight and needle noise pliers, locate and remove the obstruction.
  3. Plug it back in and test it.
  4. If there is no sound, look underneath the disposal and find the reset button and push it (It’s very small and usually red in color sometimes black).
  5. Test it again.

If its hums but it still will not turn:

  1. Unplug the garbage disposal!
  2. Most disposals come with an Allen wrench (a six-sided or hexagon-shaped tool made to put in the center bottom of the disposal) that will allow you to manually turn the turntable, like starting an old Model T automobile, for purposes of breaking the turntable free of whatever has jammed it.
  3. If you are successful, look inside for any obstruction and remove it.
  4. Plug it back in and test it.

Note: If at any time you find yourself frustrated with this process, please feel free to call us at (941) 351-7998

Things that are good for the garbage disposal:
Egg shells are good, but the best thing is ice cubes flushed with water. The impact of the ice breaking up when the disposal is on, chased with water helps knock off rust and debris that the centrifugal hammers can’t reach. Try this; it will sound even smoother when done.
Many of our customers head up north for the summer. Before you leave, try putting about ½ oz. of cooking oil in the disposal with no water and turn on for 1 second to spin the oil across the turn table, cutting ring, and hammer.
Note: Do not use any more than ½ of oil. It is great for the disposal, but not so great for the drain.

Some customers ask what you can do for odors from the disposals. Bleach or ammonia will help kill the bacterium that causes odors. For those who don’t like to use chemicals like ammonia or chlorine, try boiling hot salt water. Be careful not to burn yourself!!! For those who dare, this is a great old fashioned way to clear the pipes.