Disposals
Interestingly, the word "disposal"
is like "kleenex", "band-aid", "scotch tape", and all the other brand names
that have entered the public lexicon. The word "disposal" is actually
a registered trademark for Waste King. The correct word is garbage
disposer.
Or 'garburetor', as they call them
in Canada.
JAMMED
While trying to wrench a stuck disposal
around with the end of a broomstick is the traditional method, an official
garbage disposal wrench works a LOT better. The blades of
the tool fit against the blades of the disposal's bottom plate, you give
a counterclockwise twist and 9 times out of 10 it'll pop free. You're
then obligated to stick your hand down there and find what caused it to
get stuck in the first place. Most likely a bottle cap or chicken
bone.
FOUL SMELL
A two-step process:
Put on some goggles or glasses and
slowly pour a gallon of bleach down the drain while the disposal's running.
You might stop a few times and let it soak for a while.
With all the grease loosened by the
bleach, turn on the disposal and feed two trays of ice cubes into it.
The ice cube shards will act as small knives and slice away the grease.
Don't do it too fast or you'll clog it up, and turn the water on at some
point.
REPLACEMENT
This usually goes fairly smoothly
with one possible hitch. Older disposals were much wider than the
new ones, so if the drain pipe goes from the disposal straight to the wall,
it may not be long enough with a thinner disposal and will have to be replaced.
Otherwise, it's just a matter of
getting the old one out by unscrewing the three retaining screws under
the basin, cleaning everything up, then slipping the new one in.
Use lots of plumber's putty around the drain; it's easy to clean up later.
Also, any electrical wires around
water deserve respect, so make sure the new wires are nicely connected
and will stay dry.
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