How to Safely Remove Broken Glass from a Garbage Disposal
Garbage disposals are a wonderfully convenient kitchen appliance. But while they’re often extremely useful, they can also fall victim to problems. Broken blades from foreign objects and attempting to dispose of food improperly can lead to problems in the appliance and your pipes.
If you’ve ever accidentally dropped a foreign object into a running garbage disposal, you can understand the panic associated with the mistake. When you have broken glass in your garbage disposal, it’s important to take safe steps to remove the glass shards with pliers and a vacuum, without damaging the disposal blades – or your hands.
Step for removing glass from your garbage disposal
- Turn off the disposal from the power source. This is an essential first step to avoid a dangerous situation.
- Remove as many large pieces of glass as possible. Use pliers to remove whatever shards of glass you can. NEVER reach into the garbage disposal with your hands.
- Vacuum the drain opening. Once you have removed the large pieces of broken glass, use a shop vac or vacuum with a nozzle attachment to remove smaller, less visible pieces.
- Turn the blades. Again, do not reach into the garbage disposal with your bare hands. Turn the garbage disposal blades using a HEX key from below the appliance or with a broom handle or similar device through the drain opening. Turning the blades will dislodge any bits of broken glass that you might have missed.
- Repeat step 3. Vacuum again to ensure you have removed as much of the glass as possible.
- Turn the disposal back on. Turn the disposal back on and run water through the system to flush out any microscopic remnants that might exist.
Broken glass in a garbage disposal is not the end of the world, but it can be a dangerous mess to clean up. Make sure to exercise extreme caution when dealing with glass in a garbage disposal, as the mix of electricity, sharp blades, and sharp glass can be catastrophic.
Garbage disposal repair and installation
If you encounter any other issues with your garbage disposal, or if it’s time to install a new unit, call the local pros at Waldman Plumbing and Heating, Inc. To schedule an appointment, call us at (781) 780-3184.