It is a rare case that garbage disposals catch on fire. Yet, it is possible to happen for several reasons. It can be due to a defective machine or a water leak. Yet, overheating is a sign that you must check as it’s a sign that fire may start any time soon.
Why is my garbage disposal warm to touch?
Overusing garbage disposal is one of the reasons why the machine is warm to touch. Any motorized machine experiences it when you use it for a long period. But it varies on the machines. Here are the reasons your garbage disposal is warm or hot.
Jams and faulty mechanism
Obstruction on the impeller of your garbage disposal leads to jams. It happens when you put items in your garbage disposal that is not supposed to be there. Some items you must not put include bones, fruit pits, and fibrous vegetables. Do not put any hard objects in your garbage disposal.
As a rule of thumb, never treat your garbage disposal as a trash bin where you throw away everything.
When there is a jam, the garbage disposal stops running. You can also hear a humming sound, which is a sign that there is an obstruction. When you see and hear these signs, you must turn it off and get the Allen wrench that comes with the garbage disposal.
Look at the bottom of the garbage disposal and put the Allen wrench and twist it until you can feel that there is no obstruction. If it does not work, check the sink where the opening of the garbage disposal is placed. Check and remove the hard objects causing the jam.
One reason why garbage disposals jam is because you may not be adding enough water when grinding. The next time you use your garbage disposal, run plenty of water. Another reason is that you overload the disposal.
What Not To Put Down A Garbage Disposal
Do not put coffee grounds in the garbage disposal. When it gets wet, it becomes a paste that can stick on the sides of the disposer. When there is grease on the pipes, the coffee grounds will stick to it.
Do not put eggshells on the garbage disposal. Similar to the coffee grounds, the grounded eggshell stick to the pipes. But it still depends on the disposer you have. Some manufacturers allow eggshells while some do not. If you can avoid it, avoid it because when it builds up, there will be more clogs.
Another waste product is the potato peels. Although the disposer can grind it, similar to coffee grounds and eggshells, it sticks to the pipes. It is because of the starch present in it. The thick paste attracts grease that can, later on, clog the pipes. This is also similar to food rich in starches such as pasta rice and noodles. They can block the drain pipes. If in case you accidentally throw these starchy foods in the disposer, use a lot of cold water to make it run through.
Again, do not treat the disposer as a garbage tin. Do not dispose of paper towels and cigarette butts. That sort of stuff should be thrown away in the bin. Other items you must not put include nuts, shells, onion skin, corn husks, and oatmeal.
Can garbage disposals catch on fire?
A garbage disposal can catch fire for several reasons, but it gives you a warning before it explodes. Overheating is one sign you must watch out for, but you do not need to be bothered. When you see this sign, all you need to do is to turn it off and check the source of the problem. Take note that overheating is the consequence of the root cause of the main problem.
Defective garbage disposal
Buying defective garbage disposal poses a fire hazard. Normally, a defective machine overheats as you turn it on even though you are not using it yet. When you have this problem, call the manufacturer so they can replace your machine. Who knows, it might be a product that needs a recall?
That is the case with InSinkErator. In 2018, the Ohio company recall about 1,400,000 countertop garbage disposal air-activated switches. The company receives reports that that the water can get into the power module causing overheating. Because of the reports, no injuries have been reported.
However, in February 2020, a man in Lafayette, Colorado experienced that the garbage disposal switch sparked an electrical fire in his kitchen. It was the same model recalled in 2018. He said in the report that he was not aware of the recall because no one emailed him.
To avoid it, the manufacturer said that it encourages the consumers to register the product online so they get a notification about the recall. So I guess that is a lesson learned every time you buy an appliance. You must always register so you get notified of the latest information about the product.
Water leak
Water leaks on your garbage disposal pose a serious problem as they damage the motor of your garbage disposal. It can lead to corrosion and fire hazards. It can be solved by checking the connection between the sink and the garbage disposal. The leak is probably there. If there’s no leak, check the drain hose. Another location where you can check is between the connection of the drain line and garbage disposal.
Other location to check includes sink flange, dishwasher hose, drain pipe, reset button, broken seal inside the unit, cracks on the body.
Why does my garbage disposal smell like it’s burning?
The burning smell from the garbage disposal may either come from the motor and the circuit breaker. The motor may be burnt, worn out, or just overheating.
When the smell comes from the wall circuit breaker, it means that the fuse is burnt or the circuit is overpowered. To check it, you must check if the circuit breaker supplies power to the garbage disposal. To do this, unplug the disposal and plug any of your kitchen appliances into the same ports. If it runs, then the problem is the garbage disposal. If it does not work, it is in the circuit breaker.
You must also identify the kind of burning smell you smell. You can smell ozone type, burnt rubber, and burnt plastic. If you smell the ozone type, you do not need to worry. Some motor types smell that way. However, it should go away at you use it over time. But if it occurs all of a sudden, then you have it check with someone who knows about it.
For burnt plastic and burnt rubber, you must unplug them right away because something may be burning already. There can be an electrical shock due to the dripping water or leak that wets the motor. You must also watch out for smoke, if you see it, turn off the garbage disposal and unplug it.
You can also check the dishwasher because the burning smell may come from it especially when the dishwasher is placed near the garbage disposal. You may think that the garbage disposal is the reason but the truth, it is the dishwasher.
Conclusion
A garbage disposal works. However, it is not designed to grind every waste in your kitchen. You must keep in mind the list I suggested above so your garbage disposal can serve you for a long period. Do not forget to register your garbage disposal so that you receive a notification when there is a recall. It also helps when you check for reviews to ensure that you are getting the right brand. Check also if the company has good customer service and technical support so you will be guided on how to use it.
Source:
https://plymouthplumbers.com/garbage-disposals/why-is-my-garbage-disposal-leaking/
