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    Luvkitties's Avatar
    Luvkitties Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #1

    Aug 5, 2009, 07:00 PM
    Disposal/dishwasher not working
    Our disposal is not working but is making the humming sound. I do not have an Allen wrench or the one that came with the unit. However I did take a flashlight down there and pulled out several popcorn kernels from my movie watching kids. Other than that, I see nothing.

    In the meantime, our dishwasher is filling up with water. Is there a correlation between the two?:confused:
    letmetellu's Avatar
    letmetellu Posts: 3,151, Reputation: 317
    Ultra Member
     
    #2

    Aug 5, 2009, 07:38 PM

    You can use a heavy stick, something like a broom handle, that is about two to three feet long, stick this down into the opening of the disposal and brace it against one of the cutters and the mouth of the disposal and try to pry it until it turns. Now remove the stick and see if it runs, if is does let it run till you hear no more rattling noise coming from the disposal.
    Milo Dolezal's Avatar
    Milo Dolezal Posts: 7,192, Reputation: 523
    Plumbing Expert
     
    #3

    Aug 5, 2009, 08:25 PM

    Yes, there is a correlation between GD and DW. Dishwasher drains into Garbage disposer. Make sure the GD is clean with no food blocking DW drain.

    Corn seed can stop GD from spinning. They are hard to locate and remove. As LetMeTellYou suggested, take a broom stick, put it in GD and try to spin it. Of course, you do it with GD turned OFF.
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
     
    #4

    Aug 6, 2009, 04:49 AM
    Let me show you how I unstick a disposal. I carry a plumbers helper in my truck but I've never used it to plunge out a blockage. I use the handle to free the blades. Most stuck disposals have a pop top or a small nail or screw caught between the table and the wall. First flip on and off the switch to be sure it still hums. If not then reset the overload button on the bottom
    Place a plumger or a broom handle down behind the blade and lever the table counterclockage. If it starts to move even a little bit put more muscle into it until it turns free. Now shine a light down in there and pick out whatever was blocking the table from turning. Turn on the switch, Disposal working now? Good luck, tom
    hkstroud's Avatar
    hkstroud Posts: 11,929, Reputation: 899
    Home Improvement & Construction Expert
     
    #5

    Aug 6, 2009, 05:37 AM

    Tutorial on how to operate a disposal.

    1. Turn the water on.

    2. Turn the disposal on.

    3. Put the waste food in the disposal.

    4. When all of the waste has gone down the drain (you will know that by the sound), turn the disposal off.

    5. Turn the water off.

    If you have teenage boys I'm surprised you have waste food. They eat everything.

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