Old disposal, doesn’t work, don’t plan to replace it or fix it. Motor hums, I snapped off an Allen wrench trying to free it up. Landlord won’t replace it, I’m not sinking any money into it.
I’ve always heard you shouldn’t use caustic drain openers in a disposal, but given that it’s already jammed tight, will it hurt anything?
Replies
maybe make the shaft seal leak. The electric motor is in the dry part of the disposal with the wet being where the blades and water and slop are. There's a seal between the wet and dry on the shaft from the motor. Lose that seal and you end up with a mess and water mixing with your electricty.
I take it's clogged up as well as broken?
unplug it , to be safe, then take a hammer handel ,or like ,and see if you can rotate the blades to dislodge
Landlord might not have an option to not fix/replace it. Check with local township, they might be able to help you.
I remember when I rented out a place, I was expected to keep everything running. Don't what relationship you have with the landlord but its worth asking the question.
Have you tried both directions when using the key?
It's my GF's place, she doesn't have a lease, and the relationship with the landlord isn't great, so I'm not going to push anything (esp. since that means I'd be out on the street too, lol).
Yeah, tried the key both ways, with a cheater bar, tried a big key made out of 1x with a lever at the top, no use. This thing's been locked up for almost 10 years I think, I'm getting tired of sticking my hand in there to scrape the crud out.
Just to give you an idea about the landlord (who lives below us)...... Some years ago he had a leak in his ceiling, started yelling that my GF should have let him know water was running, blah blah blah, if she can't be a responsible tenant maybe she should find another place....
But there was no water evident in the kitchen here, and it took several minutes to explain to him that there are unseen pipes between the joists. Didn't understand until the plumber tore out the ceiling and showed him. Yup, there's yer problem, mister....
Oh well........
First thing to do is to look inside with a flashlight and look for anything in the slots at the bottom of the chamber. Unplug the unit and reach in with your hand to pull stuff out if necessary.
If that doesn't fix it, and working it back and forth with the wrench didn't, then likely water's gotten into the motor and it's toast. The drain cleaner won't make it much worse but won't help either.
Just be sure not to use drain cleaner with aluminum chips in it like Drano.
Is that how it got jammed in the first place?
Your disposer sounds to be dead. How long will you be in that place? If a year or more, and it's an In Sink Erator model (Kenmore is one), buy a cheap one and replace it. Takes a half hour or so if you're handy. When you leave, put the old one back in. If your landlord has heard your complaint earlier, he can't really complain about you leaving with a non operating disposer left behind. I've rented places where within a week I've replaced the kitchen faucet, shower head, and disposer just because I wasn't going to put up with what was was already there. I just didn't leave it behind when the time came to go. Sorry about the next guy.
I think the main reason they advise against drain cleaners is that they don't want the disposal to start up and spew drain cleaner in your face. I'd stay away from it.
There is a bigger wrench that you insert from the top to attempt to loosen it. Specialty item though. Maybe you can rent them, I'm not sure.
Two points of view from me;
For about $6 and 15 minutes, you could remove the disposal and replace it with a straight pipe. A new tailpiece and a new strainer basket is all you need. Just tell the cheapskate landlord what you're doing. Nobody really needs a disposal, anyway.
OR
See if cheapskate landlord will pay the $70 or $80 for a new disposal, or allow her to subtract it from next month's rent. You provide the labor, GF is happy and appropriately appreciative, cheapskate landolord should be happy, too - but skip the reward with him !
Greg