4 Reasons Why Your Garbage Disposal May Be Leaking
If you notice a puddle of water under your kitchen sink, there is a possibility that the water is coming from the garbage disposal. Your next question is likely why? It is important to remember that there is a great deal of water that flows through the disposal, so there should be no reason not to believe that water can leak from the disposal when there is an issue. To get to the bottom of the problem, learn about some of the factors that could be to blame.
1. Internal Seal
A garbage disposal has several measures to help keep the water safely contained inside. One of these measures is an internal seal. Around the base of the appliance, there is a group of seals that create a watertight closure. Over time, these seals start to breakdown and wear, and as a result, water is able to leak out. The only way to resolve this problem is to replace the seals to help reestablish the watertight seal.
2. Sink Flange
Another important leak-prevention feature is a sink flange. The sink flange is a circular piece that rests tightly around the hole at the base of your sink and comes directly in contact with the garbage disposal. As you are well aware, when you operate the garbage disposal, it can stir up a great deal of vibration around the sink area. As a result, the flange can loosen or become damaged, which will in turn allow water to leak from around the base of the sink.
3. Discharge Pipe Seal
At the base of the garbage disposal, there is a discharge pipe that helps drain water away from the disposal. Leaks can occur around this area due simply to wear and tear. Depending on the design of the disposal, there is either a seal or flange that helps secure the discharge pipe. However, over time, these fixtures can begin to wear, which allows water to leak from the discharge pipe and into the base of the cabinet.
4. Dishwasher Assembly
Another place to check for a leak is the assembly setup that connects the dishwasher and garbage disposal. Again, vibration is common when you operate a garbage disposal, especially if you overload it. This vibration can cause the assembly that connects these two appliances to loosen, and as a result, water can leak. You need to have a plumber come out to assess this connection to ensure it is just loose and not damaged.
Should you detect any water coming from your garbage disposal, ensure you reach a plumber as soon as possible so that you can get to the bottom of the problem.
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