Plugged Up Garbage Disposal Please Help :(

I put a couple of cups of some cooked squash down the garbage disposal earlier this evening, not realizing that it is a problem for garbage disposals. I thought it was mainly shredded carrots that garbage disposals did not like?? My set up is a sink on the left, garbage disposal on the right and a dishwasher. Is there a solution that I can use to eat through the clog or does the garbage disposal need to be removed? Any help anyone can be would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I would try using a plunger. Fill the sink about half-way, then position the plunger over the drain and make short, smooth strokes -- no high-speed thrusting and splashing here -- with your wrists while your elbows are resting on the edge of the counter. The idea is to use vacuum to pull the clog back toward the plunger and get a flow going while the clog begins breaking apart.

Stringy things like celery, artichokes, etc. are not good because they go through as long stringy things. Squash? Not so bad. Problem is usually that you put in too much, too fast, and did not run enough water.


If your disposal is more than 2 or 3 years old, the galvanized grind ring is rusted and dull, so food does not get ground as well as when it was new.

If you have a dishwasher I would avoid the plunger! I also would avoid it if any of the undersink pipes are doubtful. I would pull off the p-trap and if water drains the problem is in the drain line to the main. I would recommend having a pro snake the line. If water does not come out when the trap is removed the under sink pipeing is clogged probably at the tee I would manually clean it out. It the disposer running?