Sink Only Drains When Garbage Disposal Is On? (Fix It Now!)

As a kitchen fan, there are few things as terrifying to me as seeing a kitchen sink that’s clogged. It’s an issue that can wreck a day of cooking and also cause severe damage to your favorite room. Sometimes, though, clogs aren’t just clogs. For example, sometimes, the sink might only drain when the garbage disposal is on. What gives? And more importantly, how do you fix it?

If your sink only drains when the garbage disposal is on, then that means you have a clog that’s affecting your garbage disposal. This is usually an easy fix that requires you to turn off the garbage disposal and use a plunger to remove the clog. If no clog can be found, this can mean that your garbage disposal is broken.

Dealing with a slowly-draining sink, or worse, a sink that won’t drain at all, is annoying, but it is no reason to panic. This guide will show you how to diagnose and handle your garbage disposal woes and how to prevent it from happening in the future, hopefully.

Sometimes, the garbage disposal you have is the problem–but it won’t be a jam. Some models tend to stop up, which can cause a blockage that’s only ended by turning the disposal on. This is a pretty easy fix. Just try to turn the garbage on and off a couple of times, then try to run the water.

If it’s still going, turn the garbage disposal off, then use an Allen wrench to turn the grinder’s shaft from the bottom exterior of your garbage disposal. If it can turn smoothly in a complete circle, and you don’t hear any strange clunking or grinding noises, you should not worry about the disposal being the problem.

Honestly, this is an excellent point to hit the pause button and call a professional. A clogged sink that has a deep-set clog may require to be snaked. The problem is that snaking the plumbing can cause severe damage to pipes, primarily if it’s corrupted. We do not suggest doing this on older piping and would go so far as to say it’s something to leave to the pros.

If you do decide to use a snake, remove the garbage disposal first and then snake the branch that leads to your main plumbing system directly. This can and should remove any clogs that aren’t superficial.

If you are still unable to get your sink to drain without turning on the garbage disposal, you have a mystery on your hands. A good rule of thumb is to call a professional whenever you don’t have the tools, the knowledge, or the experience to fix things yourself. After all, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Also, if there are any backups with your tub, or your toilets or sinks, then the issue may not be your garbage disposal. There could be a clog somewhere in the main plumbing unit. Or, if you’re on a septic tank, they are a sign that your septic is full, and you will need to pay someone to empty it.

Garbage disposals can be a fantastic addition to your kitchen, but only if they’re working correctly. If you find yourself in a situation where your sink only drains when the disposal’s turned on, you might be a little discouraged. But don’t be. In the vast majority of cases, this problem is a relatively easy fix that can be performed using standard household tools.

The key to making your sink flow again is to troubleshoot everything in order and to fix any issues that you notice while you’re working through the troubleshooting procedure. If things go smoothly, the fix you need should take under an hour’s time. Of course, there may be moments where you don’t have the right tools or where most common issues aren’t what’s causing your drain to get stuck.

If you’ve worked through the guide without much success, the next best thing you can do is call a handyman or a plumber to help you out. Asking for help is always ends up being a smart move, after all.