Garbage disposals are a great modern convenience that can help shred food into small pieces to go smoothly down your pipes instead of sitting in a garbage can and accumulating odor. While these machines may not be your priority in the home if something doesn’t sound quite right, it’s important to address any issues as disposals can be dangerous if there’s something wrong. There are three distinct noises garbage disposals tend to make that may alert you that something isn’t right:
Loud, metallic rattling – If you start hearing a sound like this, chances are something got down the pipe that wasn’t supposed to. A hard object that falls into the disposal with gets bounced around by the blades, causing the rattling noise. This is a simple fix as long as no damage has been done to the disposal: simply unplug the disposal and use heavy work gloves or slender tongs to remove the object.
Humming or whirring – When debris gets stuck between the shredder ring and the impellers, you can cause the flywheel mechanism of your disposal to get stuck, causing the humming and whirring you hear. This is not as simple of a fix if you are not comfortable with the machine, and should be handled by a professional.
Squealing – If you hear a squealing noise coming from your unit, turn it off immediately. This can indicate a larger issue with the flywheel drive belt or a failing motor or bearing. Once your disposal is shut down, contact Armbrust Plumbing for a trusted plumber in Glen Ellyn, IL to take a look and determine the issue.
