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As a new plumbing contractor, you encounter plenty of firsts. Drain cleaning, for example, can be more complicated when the job involves a garbage disposal. If you want a refresher on how to tackle this task, consult the following guide.

What Causes Garbage Disposal Clogs?

While garbage disposals are designed to break up food scraps, they have their limits. Unfortunately, many homeowners don’t know what these are, placing any and every type of food waste down their plumbing fixtures.

Some items, such as coffee grounds and rice, form sticky pastes that adhere to the blades and pipes, slowing water flow. Other ingredients, like celery and orange peels, might be too tough and fibrous, becoming tangled in the blades or dulling them. In other cases, clogs may form if homeowners forget to run the water when inserting food. Forgetting this step can create a thick mixture that sticks to the mechanism.

How Can You Unclog Sinks With Disposals?

plumbingFirst, remove the P-trap that curves underneath the garbage disposal. Place a bucket beneath the device to capture any standing water and use channel-type pliers to dislodge the slip-nuts. After you remove the trap, dump the food waste into the bucket and clean the inside of the trap with a narrow brush.

Then, do the same with the trap arm, the horizontal piece that links the drainage pipe to the trap. If you don’t find debris in the trap or trap arm, use a drain snake to clear out the branch drain, which typically extends into the wall to connect to the main drain. Once you’ve worked out the blockage, put the drain components back together and flush the garbage disposal with warm water to test the flow.

 

 

To refine your plumbing skills, turn to Berk Trade & Business School of Long Island City, NY. This trade school has been educating and empowering successful plumbers since 1940. They have beginner, advanced, supplemental, and vocational training programs to help professionals at all skill levels. Visit their website to learn more about their programs, or call (718) 729-0909 to ask about admissions.

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