A garbage disposal is essential for today’s kitchens. Badger garbage disposal quietly and effortlessly eliminates food waste while keeping odors off your trash to give you a functional and cleaner kitchen. Not only that, it keeps the messy, unwanted guests away by keeping your kitchen clean and hygienic.
But of course, like most garbage disposal systems, the Badger is not exempted from clogging. Trapped potato peels, banana peels, eggshells, coffee grounds, and lack of flushing water can clog your Badger garbage disposal over time.
A clog sink is never fun, but before calling the plumber, try checking your disposal system first if you are able. Here are some of the things you can do if you encounter this problem.
1. Turn off the disposer. To avoid accidents, make sure that the disposer’s switch is in the “off” position.
2. Drain the sink. Working on a sink full of water can get messy. So before you begin, wait for the water to drain. Much better, get a bucket or a pot and use it to bail the water out of the sink. Get then a cloth to wipe the sink dry.
3. Open the disposer. Your Badger garbage disposal system is shipped with a self-service wrench. This tool is silver colored and is shaped like a little crank. If you can’t find the service wrench, use any standard 1/4 inch wrench.
Now, to open the disposer, insert the wrench into the hole at bottom of your disposer. The hole is located under the sink at the dead center of the disposer, facing the floor. Work the wrench back and forth in both direction until it turns freely in complete circles in both directions.
4. Check the overload protector. After you have successfully opened the disposer’s bottom cover, check to see if the overload protector (a small, square red button located at the bottom of the disposer) has “tripped”. If the protector has tripped, you will see the red button dropped down by about 5mm or about a quarter of an inch. Gently press it to return it back to its position. If it does not stay up, wait for several minutes and try again.
5. Check the grinding chamber. In most cases, the problem is with the grinding chamber. This is where food get stuck, causing the grinder to jam. Get a flashlight and look into the area around the outer edge of the disposer’s shredding disk. If you find anything jamming the grinder, get a pair of tongs or pliers to remove the object. Avoid putting your hand into the disposer and avoid removing the object with bare hands to avoid accidents.
6. Run the water and turn on the disposer. Your Badger garbage disposal system should run smoothly by now, allowing the water to flow and drain through the sink without clogging. If it jams again, you may need to repeat the process several times.
If your disposer continues to jam, you may need to call the manufacturer’s service center because the problem may due to defects in materials or workmanship.
