The Day the Kitchen Sink Fought Back (and What to Do About It)
It usually starts innocently enough. You rinse the dinner plates, flip on the garbage disposal, and expect that familiar hum to carry the scraps away. But instead of the steady whirl of water disappearing down the drain—you’re met with a slow, gurgling rebellion. Murky, smelly water starts to rise, filling your sink like a bad science experiment.
You’ve just met one of the most common (and frustrating) household villains: a clogged garbage disposal.
Scene One: The Hidden Culprit Beneath the Sink
Most homeowners don’t mean to mistreat their disposal—it’s just so convenient. Toss in the leftovers, rinse, repeat. But what many don’t realize is that the disposal isn’t a superhero; it has limits.
Over time, certain foods and materials start to gang up inside your drain lines, forming a nasty blockade. Here are the usual suspects:
- Fibrous foods like celery, asparagus, and onion skins that tangle and twist like rope.
- FOGs—fats, oils, and grease—that cool and harden inside your pipes like candle wax.
- Eggshells, coffee grinds, and starchy foods like pasta and potatoes that turn sticky when wet.
- And, of course, bones or any non-food items that simply don’t belong.
If any of these have made their way down your sink, you’ve likely found the source of the problem.
Scene Two: The DIY Detective Work
Now, if you’re the type to roll up your sleeves and take on a little home challenge, there are a few things you can try before calling in the pros.
But first—a word of warning: Never pour chemical drain cleaners into your disposal. Those harsh formulas can corrode the components inside and cause even bigger headaches later.
Here’s how to safely play sink detective:
- Power Down:
Unplug your garbage disposal or flip the breaker off. Safety first. - Take a Look Inside:
Shine a flashlight into the disposal. If you see a visible obstruction—like a piece of food
or utensil—use tongs or pliers (never your hands) to remove it. - Run and Test:
Turn the power back on and run water while testing the disposal. Still backed up? Move
to step four. - Try a Sink Plunger:
With the power off again, fill the sink with a few inches of water and start plunging
firmly over the drain. Be careful not to use too much force; overdoing it can loosen your
pipe joints and create a leak under the cabinet.
If after all this your sink is still backing up, it’s likely the clog is further down the line—and that’s where a professional plumber’s tools (and patience) come in handy.
Scene Three: Calling in the Pros
When your sink fights back and nothing seems to work, it’s time to bring in reinforcements.
At George Brazil Plumbing & Electrical; our plumbers have seen—and cleared—it all. From
tangled food blockages to years of buildup hiding deep within drain lines, we’ll restore your
kitchen’s flow the George Brazil Way: professional, efficient, and always with respect for your
home.
So if your garbage disposal has turned from helper to headache, don’t wait for the smell to
remind you again tomorrow. Call us at 602-257-9000, option 1, and we’ll get your kitchen back
to normal—fast.
Employee-Owned. Professionally Driven. 70 Years of Excellence.
Proudly serving Arizona homeowners with the same care and craftsmanship that’s defined
George Brazil since 1955.
