Garbage disposals are a popular household convenience, but a jammed garbage disposal can quickly cause a kitchen sink drain to clog. Because of the disposal’s inner workings and its connectivity to the sink’s drainage system, there is little that can be done to get the sink draining again until the garbage disposal is repaired or replaced. Plunging the sink may provide temporary relief, but not a permanent fix.

Watch the video above to learn how to un-jam a disposal like a plumber. If those remedies won’t work, call Roto-Rooter for help. We can repair or replace your disposal quickly and efficiently.

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Here are the main problems that plague garbage disposals:

• Leaks – Disposals sometimes rust out around the bottom, or internal seals fail causing it to drip.

• Jams – Excessive amounts of food or hard-to-grind items like seeds or foreign objects can cause a disposal to jam.

• Humming – The motor or impeller may have seized up or burned out.

• Nothing happens – You flip the switch and hear and see nothing from the disposal.

• Won’t drain – The disposal has become clogged with food and it is preventing the sink drain from working.