Why Does My Garbage Disposal Sound Like Grinding Metal in My Winnipeg Home?

Garbage disposals are a convenient staple in many home and commercial kitchens. There's something satisfying about the whirring sound of the blades — when they're working properly. But, when food or foreign objects get stuck in your disposal, that gut-wrenching grinding noise can leave you scrambling for a quick solution and wondering, "Why does my garbage disposal sound like grinding metal?"

If you're dealing with a noisy garbage disposal, it may be an easy fix and may not require help from a professional. But if you attempt a DIY fix, you'll need to be very careful as you work with the sharp motorized blades. 

Before we dig in, grab a flashlight and some rubber kitchen gloves and unplug the disposal from the power source. Winnipeg's highly rated garbage disposal specialists are here to walk you through how to fix this problem. 



How Exactly Do Garbage Disposals Work?

Knowing how your garbage disposal should work and sound during normal operation is essential to discovering the malfunction in the appliance. The appliance is powered by electricity, mounted underneath the sink, and attached to a grinding chamber to collect solid food waste. Garbage disposals have sharp blades that chop and process waste to keep your kitchen clean and your pipes unclogged. 

What Should I Avoid Putting Down My Garbage Disposal?

Winnipeg visitors and residents alike migrate to the area largely for its long, hot summers and snowy, scenic winters. Living in this beautiful part of the country means you may host a lot of visitors, which means cooking a lot of meals. 

While your garbage disposal is the easiest way to get rid of unwanted food, it's important to remember (and remind visitors) that the appliance isn't meant for certain foods and materials. In general, grease, oils, and fats are a a big no-no. They can build up in your pipes over time, making it harder for the appliance to grind and threatening a clogged drain.

Here are some other items to avoid putting down your garbage disposal:

• Coffee grounds
• Eggshells
• Potato peels
• Watermelon rinds
• Rice, pasta, and other starchy foods like mashed potatoes
• Banana peels
• Lime or lemon wedges
• Fruit pits or other hard food objects like seeds 
• Fibrous or stringy foods like celery, onion skins, corn cobs, and husks
• Cooked meat, bones, or shells
• Nuts and oatmeal
• Non-food items like tea bags, coffee filters, metal, plastic, glass, dirt, rocks, or gravel
• Household garbage like napkins, wet paper towels, tissues, or plastic

We don't recommend watering plants or cleaning fish tanks in sinks with garbage disposals (or without). Instead, rinse your items outside with a hose so the gravel doesn't get stuck in your disposal or drain.

What's Causing That Grinding Noise?

During normal operation, your garbage disposal should make soft humming noises. However, mechanical issues can occur and food waste can occasionally become lodged in the unit. 

So why does your garbage disposal sound like grinding metal? It most likely has a foreign object that is too large to pass through the drain and too hard to grind up in the disposal blades. Thankfully, this also means that the object will be relatively easy to find and remove.

Troubleshooting a Noisy Garbage Disposal in Winnipeg

Why does my garbage disposal sound like grinding metal? Let's begin troubleshooting some possible reasons your garbage disposal makes that loud noise.

Disconnect the Power

It's imperative that you never reach your hand down in your garbage disposal while it's plugged in. While you'll likely only bruise your fingers on the moving blades, it's better not to risk injury. Ensure the appliance is turned off, then unplug it from the wall. Flip the switch on and off to verify the power is disconnected. 

Take a Look

One of the most common garbage disposal issues is when foreign objects or other materials become lodged between the plenum and the disposal housing. Have you ever discovered a missing fork or spoon down in your garbage disposal?

Any hard objects, whether pennies, rocks, shells or fruit pits, can become lodged in the unit and cause a noisy appliance. If you suspect this is the culprit, shine your flashlight down the sink drain and look for the object.

Feel Around

Wearing your protective rubber gloves, with the appliance unplugged from power, you can carefully reach down inside the disposal to feel for the obstruction. Remove the object with your gloved hands or a pair of tongs. If you can't locate an object, try rotating the grinding plate (the free-spinning part attached to the blades).

If the grinding plate is stuck, locate the Allen wrench that came with your garbage disposal. Insert the wrench into the bottom of the unit and give it a few turns to loosen up anything that may be lodged in the unit. 

Can't Find Anything?

If you don't see or feel anything down in your disposal, there's a chance the steel bolts holding the impellers onto your unit became loose. To troubleshoot the blades yourself, grab a nut driver and tighten the two bolts holding the impellers in place on top of the disposal. 

Bring in a Professional

If none of the DIY troubleshooting techniques above work for you, or you don't feel comfortable following these steps yourself, it may be worth it to call in a professional repair service. When it comes to dealing with a garbage disposal on the fritz, a plumber is the most ideal solution.

Call On a Plumbing Professional in Winnipeg for Your Noisy Garbage Disposal

Are you thinking, "Why does my garbage disposal sound like grinding metal?" If you are unable to fix your garbage disposal yourself, don't wait for tomorrow for services that can be accomplished today! King's Services, Winnipeg's leading plumber, has 30 service trucks and over 50 employees standing by to take your call. 

We'll even service a garbage disposal with a septic tank or provide education about forecasted plumbing trends and ways we are adapting to our growing industry. To learn more about our plumbing, septic, and portable sanitation services, call 204-633-9010 today.