Garbage Disposal Noises and What They Mean

Nothing induces panic like strange noises coming out of your garbage disposal. It only means something has gone wrong, and you might end up spending money on repairs.

Fortunately, most garbage disposal issues can be solved easily and inexpensively.
By being familiar with garbage disposal noises and what they mean, you can address the issue as soon as possible and prolong the life of your disposal.

Garbage Disposal Noises and What They Mean

1. A rattling noise means that something is stuck in the unit.

If your garbage disposal is making a rattling sound, it’s most likely that a foreign object, such as a spoon or fork, is being clanged around by its impellers.

Turn off and unplug the unit, then use a flashlight to look for the object inside the disposal.

A broken blade that’s wedged in the wrong place may cause the disposal to make rattling noises, too. If this is the case, you may have to replace the impeller plate and loose blades.

This requires disassembling the disposal, a job that’s best handled by an experienced technician.

2. A humming sound can mean a piece of food is keeping the blades from turning.

A stuck object may keep blades from turning. However, it can also be due to age of the unit, rust, or any other broken mechanism.

To start troubleshooting, turn off the unit, then make sure it’s not jammed by checking the drain hole. Remove whatever is causing the jamming and plug the garbage disposal back in.

If it doesn’t work, you might have to manually rotate the grinding plate or reset the garbage disposal.

3. A squealing sound might mean that the motor of the garbage disposal is failing.

If you hear squealing sounds coming out of your unit, turn it off and unplug it right away. This is indicative of motor bearings that have started to fail.

The only way to get this problem fixed is by contacting a professional, who can assess if the garbage disposal is beyond repair. More often than not, you may have to purchase a new garbage disposal.

Dealing with Garbage Disposal Issues? Contact a local plumber!

Over time, your garbage disposals can present a variety of problems. You can fix some garbage disposal problems without getting a professional involved.

But if the problem gets out of hand, we’re here to help. Our repair technician can properly diagnose any garbage disposal issue and perform the necessary repairs with minimum downtime. If it’s beyond repair, we’ll let you know.

You may also reach out to us for other plumbing installation, repair, and maintenance services. From correctly setting up the plumbing system for a garbage disposal to troubleshooting garbage disposal problems, you can count on a Good Guy!

Booking us takes only a minute or two! You can quickly and easily schedule an appointment online and through our app.