Ace Hardware InSinkErator Badger 5, 1/2 HP Garbage Disposal Logo
Posted on Apr 20, 2009
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Garbage disposal doesn't drain

My garbage disposal works but the water doesn't drain and keep coming back when turn off the disposal switch . i already remove the pipe tube if there is clog and put an auger on the pipe but still the water keeps coming back

  • merlyn0608 Apr 21, 2009

    as far as i know the pipe outside is higher than the pipe inside because everytime i call a plumber he always snake the pipe on the roof . but that is when the stuff from the garbage disposal comes out to our sink in the basement . this time the only problem i had is the water doesn't drain at all on the sink in the kitchen .
    thanks for your kind response.


  • Anonymous May 11, 2010

    Where is the drain tube of the garbage disposal in relation to the pipe that goes thru the wall and out of the house. Is the pipe higher than the outside pipe or lower than the outside pipe?

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  • Posted on Apr 21, 2009
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Sometimes what happens is that when they install a garbage disposal the pipe coming out of it ends up being lower than the pipe exiting the pea trap thru the wall under the sink. If it is a dual kitchen sink this is very common. Being lower than the exiting pipe causes water to stay in the bottom of the disposal and not just the pea trap. If you have a side by side sink in the kitchen and the water is backing up in the other sink also then more than likely the pea trap has a blockage. It is not common for the straight line from the pea trap going thru the wall to become blocked, but it does sometimes happen. The biggest cause of this is poring hot grease down the drain. It is just about the point that it cools enough, sticks and hardens plugging the drain pipe.
You probably should have a plumber look at it and make sure everything is running downhill under the sink. The only place that water should set in the plumbing is in the pea trap so that odor from the sewer does not come up into the house. Without actually seeing it, it is hard to tell exactly what is happening. The pea trap is easy to clean, put a really big pan under the trap, make sure you have emptied as much water out of the sink as you can, then with a big pair of channel locks unscrew the two nuts that hold the pea trap in place and let the fluid drain from it, then finish unscrewing it from the pipe. You can then clean it out and check the pipe thru the wall for blockage. When reassembling it, screw it all together loosely and then move the pieces around while hand tightening each joint so the they have no pressure on them, then use the channel locks to finish tightening the nuts. Don't over tighten them because they have nylon seals in them that compress to make the seal. Just tight enough to seal and not leak. You should be up and running again unless the plug-up is farther down the wall pipe. Good Luck, RAC

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  • Posted on Feb 25, 2013
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It just happened to me, Kept spinning and turning but no draining. I read all the online recommendations which sounded very hard. I got as much water out as I could. Then spun it again and collected more water with a soup ladle. Then I poured boiling water down it and capped it and went to the store to buy Drano Max Gel which is good for disposals. Took me about 20 minutes. Got back and turned on the disposal keeping the cap on and then it drained....did not even need the draino max gel. too bad I threw away the receipt on the way out the door. this was alot easier than taking apart the u pipe or whatever people said we had to do

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0helpful
1answer

Water from garbage disposal backing up

Check to see if there is a loop in the drain line. The drain line coming out of the disposal has to have a loop in it that is higher than the disposal. That way water can't drain back into the dishwasher.
tip

Garbage Disposal Leak from bottom of motor

If you have a garbage disposal and you find that it is leaking then you need to first of all figure out where exactly the water is coming from. The reason is that depending on where it is leaking from will determine whether it is easily fixable or if it would be better to just replace the entire garbage disposal.

With this is mind the best way to find the leak is to put the plug in place and fill the sink with water. Then place a food coloring or non-toxic dye into the water. Red often is a very easy color to spot under your sink. Then let the water down the sink with the disposal running. If the water runs down the side of the garbage disposal then you have a leak at the seal where the garbage disposal hooks up to the sink. This can easily be fixed by removing the garbage disposal, cleaning the old plumbers putty off of the ring and sink bottom, and then reinstalling the garbage disposal.

If you do not see any water coming down the sides, but it comes out the drain pipe, then the drain may be clogged and/or the seals for the drain piping are bad. The seals can easily be tightened. They may have come loose from the vibration of the motor or just the expansion and contraction that occurs from hot and cold water going down the drain lines. If the drain lines are clogged a garbage disposal safe drain cleaner can be used or the drain can be taken apart, cleaned and snaked.

If you have the dreaded water coming out of the bottom of the garbage disposal then you have the worst problem. The internal seals that are to prevent the water coming into the motor where the shaft goes through to the actual grinding chamber have deteriorated to the point where they no longer keep the water from coming into the motor. The water will make its way down through the motor and run out the weep hole or the reset button.
These seals are replaceable, but a new motor is needed for a complete fix on many garbage disposals. Because of this, many times the parts to repair this leak will be at least 75% the cost of a new garbage disposal. This makes repairing your garbage disposal, not a very good option. Replacing the whole unit is often the best way to go to make sure you have a fix that will last for a longer period of time.

That should cover all of the potential ways that your garbage disposal can leak. Hopefully you are able to pinpoint the leak and make the correct call to fix your leaking garbage disposal.
1helpful
1answer

Garbage disposal and possible clogged drain

plug the one side of the sink so as to create a sealed enviroment for the plunger to work weffectively ... plung the open side ..
If this does not work , try running a metal coat hanger thru the outlet at the disposal exhaust line.
0helpful
1answer

I have insink badger 5 and it is leaking from the red reset button. How can I fix?

The reset button is where the water is coming out, but the leak is probably somewhere above that.
The disposal may be rusted out and needs to be replaced.
There are ways to check for source of the leak.

Turn off switch before touching any wet electrical appliance.

Test1) Put stopper in disposal.
Fill sink with water.
If water starts dripping from disposal, then the putty seal at the sink strainer could be leaking.
Use dry tissue up at top of disposal to see if tissue gets wet.
To repair, remove garbage disposal and reset strainer using plumber's putty.

Test2)
Check if water only leaks when dishwasher runs.
Dishwasher drains into garbage disposal.
Use dry tissue around dishwasher connection when you hear dishwasher draining

Test3)
A lot of leaks start at the tailpiece.

This is where the disposal drains into the tubular pipes.
Your disposal may have a manufactured tailpiece that doesn't come off
If tailpiece is removable, then it is connected to disposal with a rubber washer.
When washer gets old, it doesn't seal perfectly.
Remove tailpiece, it usually has 2 hex bolts.

When putting the tailpiece back, you need to seal the rubber washer really well.
I use rectorseal on all tubular pipe joints under the sink.
Works on both plastic and rubber washers.
Brush it all over the washer, use plenty, then reinstall tailpiece.
The rectorseal assures that joint will not leak.

If the above repairs don't work, then the disposal is rusted-out and needs to be replaced.
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0helpful
1answer

I put half a small lemon down the garbage disposal. The disposal kept working fine with the water running, but then it violently threw out water and food particles. I stopped the disposal immediately, the...

Sounds like a clog at or beyond the P trap of the sinks. With water coming back into the sinks, it has to be part of the drain line that is common to both sinks. If you try and unclog the sink, work on the side that does NOT have the garbage disposal in it. A small hand snake for sinks might do the job. You could also try a plunger on either side, but when you do, put a wet rag over the other drain so you are not just pushing air back and forth. Work on one side with the plunger while holding the wet towel down tight over the other drain. Sounds like a clog that was there prior to you putting the lemon in the GD.
2helpful
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Garbage disposal seems to work **** water down put when you turn the swich off water come back into the sink fast

You have some type of obstruction in your drain. There is enough force to push the water in the drain, perhaps even raising the level up into the vent line. When you switch off the disposal, then it rushes back into the shink. Disconnect drain line and run a snake into the drain.
1helpful
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3helpful
1answer

Used reset button, the motor runs but the blades are not turning?

sound's like you have a problem with your drain pipe's. it is not normal for water to come back up.check the allen key bolt, located on the bottom of unit .insert allen wrench /key,and turn in a clock wise&counter clockwise motion to see if disposal is jammed.you also might consider some drain opener before it get's worse
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