WOIFM

Care and Maintenance of the Garbage Disposal

Alternative title:

What To Do When the Missus Dumps a Load of Squash Parts Where They Don't Belong

Because I was too damned dumb to write this down last time this happened.

1. Cut power to disposal (breaker no. 16 downstairs)^*
2. Place bucket under disposal to catch drainage^**
3. Use flathead screwdriver to remove flexible white dishwasher hose
4. Drain dishwasher hose into bucket -- lower and extend for max drainage^***
5. Hand-loosen connections to black PVC pipe at back of disposal⁺
6. Hand-loosen connections to white PVC pipe including trap
7. Remove pipes, catching drainage in bucket⁺⁺
8. Unmount disposal by loosening metal collar⁺⁺⁺
9. Use spoon or scoop to remove any blockage inside disposal^!
10. Remount disposal
11. Reconnect PVC pipes
12. Reconnect flexible hose
13. Restore power^!!
14. Check drainage in all connections^!!!

*. And write it down this time, instead of darkening every room in the house because the breakers have been mislabeled since the electricians rewired the house two years ago

**. Instead of letting it run all over the inside of the cabinet, all over the floor, and down the stairs to the basement. Do NOT let the dog eat food remnants.

***. If you drop it on the floor instead of in the bucket, the resulting siphon effect will once again irrigate the stairs because the dishwasher is completely flooded due to the clog.

+. Instead of "loosening" it by trying to remove the disposal with the pipes still attached.

++. And clear out all the squash from that little bottleneck in the pipe. Because this is where the problem is. It's not inside the disposal itself, and for god's sake, why are you messing with the electrical connection again? Didn't you learn your lesson last time?

+++. Don't twist it from the base, especially if you forgot to disconnect the pipes. That will seriously mess shit up.

!. Don't use your fingers. Those are blades, dummy.

!!. You DID remember to cut it off in step 1, right? Water and electricity mix like NASCAR and rap music.

!!!. Don't open the dishwasher. Really. Just turn on the rinse cycle and it will eventually drain without getting the basement stairs involved.

Posted by wasylik at October 30, 2004 10:12 AM | TrackBack