"Ever checked yours for random surprises?"
Fair point, but honestly, soda tabs or random objects usually create a constant rattling or jamming rather than weird noises and inconsistent grinding. In my experience, odd noises often hint at motor bearings wearing out or impeller blades getting dull or damaged. I'd recommend shining a flashlight down there (power off, obviously...) and checking the blades closely. Sometimes it's wear and tear rather than surprise objects causing the trouble.
Yeah, good point about the bearings. Had a similar issue last year—turned out to be a combo of dull blades and some stringy veggie scraps tangled around the impeller shaft. Took forever to spot them with just a flashlight. Ended up using needle-nose pliers to pull it all out. Grinding improved a bit afterward, but honestly, once the blades are dull, it's usually downhill from there...
Had pretty much the same battle a couple years ago—mine was mostly coffee grounds and eggshells that had turned into cement around the blades. Cleaned it out, but yeah, once those blades lose their edge, it's just a noisy blender under your sink. Ended up swapping mine out for a budget-friendly model (not fancy, but gets the job done). Honestly, sometimes it's easier than fighting with the old one every few months...
"Honestly, sometimes it's easier than fighting with the old one every few months..."
Yeah, learned that lesson myself. Curious though, anyone tried sharpening the blades instead of replacing the whole unit? Wondering if that's even worth the hassle or just prolonging the inevitable...
Haha, sharpening disposal blades...now that's a new one! Reminds me of this one customer I had a few years back. Nice guy, real DIY enthusiast—he was convinced he could sharpen the blades himself to save a few bucks. He spent an entire Saturday afternoon wrestling with the thing, pulled it apart, sharpened the blades meticulously, and put it all back together. Proud as punch, he flipped the switch...and it sounded like a lawnmower chewing gravel. 😂
The thing is, garbage disposals don't actually have sharp blades like you'd think. They're more like blunt impellers designed to smash and grind rather than slice. So sharpening them doesn't really do much good—it's usually wear and tear on bearings or internal corrosion causing the racket. By the time they're making weird noises or struggling to grind properly, it's usually past the point of no return.
Honestly, unless you're super attached to your disposal (hey, no judgment here!), it's probably easier and less frustrating to just swap it out. Most modern units aren't too pricey and come with better insulation and quieter motors anyway. Plus, you won't end up spending your weekend covered in old food sludge—trust me, been there, done that, still traumatized.
But hey, if you're feeling adventurous and have some spare time on your hands...why not give it a shot? Worst-case scenario, you'll have a funny story to tell at your next barbecue. Just make sure you have a backup plan (and maybe a plumber's number handy). 😉
