Got a problem with water under your kitchen sink? Leaking garbage disposal could cause it.
When your garbage disposal begins leaking, it can cause a lot of unpleasantness for you at home.
The garbage disposal is sadly one of the most neglected fixtures at home, as we take it for granted most of the time. We only give it the attention it deserves when it begins leaking from the bottom.
The garbage disposal is, in reality, quite an essential part of your kitchen. This cylindrical device is one of the main reasons why your kitchen smells fresh, and there isn’t much of a hygiene issue.
So, what should you do when garbage disposal is leaking out of bottom? We’re here to help you out.
Table of Contents
Diagnosing Garbage Disposal Leaks
Before we tell you how to diagnose a garbage disposal leak, you need to recognize the signs of a leak. Most of the time, we tend to be too preoccupied to recognize the signs of water leaking out of bottom of garbage disposal. Here are a few sure signs of this problem.
Soggy Cabinets
When your kitchen cabinets get too damp or soggy, you need to be highly alert. The chances are high that your sink disposal is leaking from bottom if there isn’t anything wet like cloth under the sink.
Flooding Sinks
Another sure sign of this problem is your kitchen flooding too often. A dripping sound can also be heard when you run the disposal. All these points to a sure sign that water is leaking from garbage disposal bottom.
Unpleasant Smell
Another vital sign of this problem is unpleasant smells coming underneath your sink. If you suspect that your food disposal is leaking from bottom, the first thing you need to do is remove everything from the cabinet under the sink. It would help if you placed a bowl or bucket under the sink so that water or bits of food that come out don’t cause a mess.
Reasons For Water Leaking From Bottom Of Disposal
Before you try fixing the leak at the bottom of the garbage disposal, you need to identify what has caused the problem in the first place. So, let’s take a look at some of the more common causes of this problem.
Wear And Tear
This is one of the most common causes. After some time, the seal on your garbage disposal cracks and causes leaks to occur. When this happens, you need to replace it to avoid unpleasantness in your kitchen.
Improper Seal
Another cause for water coming out of bottom of garbage disposal is an improper seal. If the seal isn’t looking good or is out of place, you could fix it manually. That said, there are chances that it may not work and you will have to replace it.
Damaged Seal
As is the case with an improper seal, leaks in the bottom can occur when the seal has been damaged. In these cases, there is no way for you to fix it on your own. So, you will have to replace either the entire unit or the seal.
The bottom line is that the only solution for garbage disposal leaking from bottom fix is to replace it. Leaks can be fixed if they occur on the top or the side of the disposal unit. Bottom leaks almost always mean that your unit has to be replaced.
Tips To Avoid Leaking Garbage Disposals
A leaking garbage disposal can cause a lot of hassles. Once you have identified the cause, the next step is to avoid this mess in the future. Here are a few precautions you may take to ensure that the garbage disposal lasts longer and such an issue doesn’t recur in the near future.
Regular Usage
Some plumbers compare garbage disposals to the human body. They believe that, like the human body, garbage disposals need a lot of activity to stay in shape. Long periods of no usage can cause it to stop working. This can cause food to harden and get stuck, making the bottom of disposal leaking.
Make Use Of Cold Water
Another important rule is to make sure garbage disposal units and hot water do not come face-to-face with each other. Hot water has the tendency to melt food. This results in sludge clinging to the disposal, resulting in leaks in the bottom or clogging. Use cold water because it hardens the food, thereby making disposal easier.
Clean the Disposal Regularly
Like the human body, the garbage disposal unit needs regular cleaning. Make sure you scrub the insides of the unit with a brush at least once a week. This keeps it fresh and avoids significant wear and tear.
Dispose of Citrus Fruits Regularly
Citrus fruits remove extra wastage and help in reducing grease. They also help in getting rid of foul odors. So, keep the interiors of your garbage disposal fresh by regularly throwing pieces of citrus fruits into it.
Final Words
We know that cleaning garbage disposals is no easy task, but sometimes you need to ensure that unpleasant tasks are done to avoid further trouble.
Don’t let your leaking garbage disposal stop you from living a regular life. Avoid being careless with your kitchen sink by dumping anything in the disposal unit which causes wear and tear and leaks to occur in the bottom. So, make sure you keep your garbage disposal unit healthy by following the simple steps above.