Yeah, sounds like you caught it just in time. Those weird noises are usually the disposal's way of giving you a heads-up before things get messy. One thing I'd add—after checking for obvious debris, it's worth taking a quick look underneath to see if the blades spin freely. Sometimes a small bone fragment or even a fruit pit can wedge itself in there and cause grinding issues. If you're comfortable with it, unplugging the unit and manually turning the blades with an Allen wrench (there's usually a spot for this underneath) can free things up pretty easily.
Replacing it yourself is definitely doable, but if you're not feeling confident, no shame in calling someone in. I've seen plenty of DIY jobs turn into bigger headaches because something wasn't tightened properly or sealed right. Either way, sounds like you've got a good handle on troubleshooting so far...nice job catching it early.
Had a similar issue a few months back when we first moved into our place. Disposal started making this awful grinding noise—turned out a tiny piece of broken glass had wedged itself in there. Took me forever to spot it, even after manually turning the blades with the Allen wrench trick. Eventually, I had to use a flashlight and some needle-nose pliers to fish it out. Definitely agree about checking underneath and manually spinning the blades, though—saved me from buying a whole new unit.
One thing I'd add: after clearing it, run some ice cubes through the disposal. Sounds weird, but it sharpens the blades and cleans out any leftover gunk. Worked wonders for mine, and it's been running smooth ever since. But yeah, if you're not comfortable messing around under there, no shame in calling someone. Better safe than sorry, especially when water and electricity are involved...
"One thing I'd add: after clearing it, run some ice cubes through the disposal. Sounds weird, but it sharpens the blades and cleans out any leftover gunk."
Actually, I've heard mixed things about the ice cube trick. Some say it sharpens blades, others argue disposals don't really have "blades" in the traditional sense—more like blunt impellers. Still, ice does seem to help clear out residue and freshen things up. Curious though... has anyone tried citrus peels? I've done lemon rinds occasionally and it definitely helps with odors.
I've done the citrus peel thing too, especially after accidentally leaving some questionable leftovers in the sink overnight (rookie homeowner mistake, oops). Lemon peels definitely freshen things up nicely, but I gotta admit, the ice cube trick always seemed kinda sketchy to me.
"others argue disposals don't really have 'blades' in the traditional sense—more like blunt impellers."
Yeah, that's what I've read too. The first time I peeked down there with a flashlight (brave or foolish?), I saw those weird dull metal chunks and thought, "Wait...where are the ninja blades I imagined?" Felt a little betrayed by my sink monster.
Speaking of disposal hacks though—anyone ever try baking soda and vinegar? Someone told me it helps clear out blockages and deodorizes at the same time. But I'm hesitant because last time I used that combo was for a homemade volcano in 5th grade science class...and let's just say cleanup wasn't fun.
I've done the baking soda and vinegar thing a couple times—no volcano eruptions yet, thankfully. It does fizz up pretty good, but nothing too dramatic. Honestly though, if your disposal's making weird noises, might wanna double-check nothing sneaky fell down there first...speaking from experience here.
