No matter how much care you give onto your garbage disposal, it will encounter issues sooner or later. Hard materials could get into its blades, or worse, leaks can develop over time.
The first step is to investigate the situation. It is necessary to know what causes the leak and your repair options. This will give you an idea on where the source is and if you can do the job or call a professional Chicago plumber.
Where the Common Leaks Are
- The garbage disposal itself
- Leak in the dishwasher connection
- Sink flange
- The drain pipe
The first step is to identify the source of the leak. Start by turning your garbage disposal off. DO NOT start fixing a working garbage disposal. Begin the process by drying the external part of the disposal including the sink flange. This process will ensure that the moisture will stand out. Put a stopper in the sink drain before filling the sink with water.
Once done, wait for several minutes and observe the garbage disposal under your sink. The leak is coming from the sink flange if you notice active dripping underneath.
However, if it is dry, it is now time to remove the drain plug from the sink. This will give you a view on the three other points: the dishwasher hose, the drain pipe, or some other part of the garbage disposal. How to fix this depends on where the dripping is starting.
To DIY or Not
If you’re the type of person who’s comfortable in plumbing tasks, then you might be able to fix this yourself. However, if you have the slightest doubt on the plumbing thing, consider calling the services of a licensed Chicago contractor.
The leaky sink flange itself is easy to fix. All you need to do is tighten the bolts holding the flange onto the sink drain. However, if this won’t work, you might need to apply a new layer of plumbers putty in the flange to seal it.
Loosen up the mounting bolts to create space between the drain and the flange to smear a dab of putty around the drain. To close this, re-tighten the bolts and patiently wait a few hours for the putty to set and form a tight seal.
If you think that the dishwasher hose is leaky, determine first if it is simply loose or really cracked. You will be needing to replace if it is cracked but a loose one can easily be fixed just by tightening it.
If your drain line is leaky, you can fix this by using a wrench to tighten the connection. You may also check the seal inside this as they may have failed due to wear and tear.
The worst thing that could happen if the leak is coming from a crack in the garbage disposal itself. This may result to replacement of the entire disposal.
If you think that this is the case, just reach out to your local Chicago plumbing experts for reliable expert service.
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