Most San Clemente disposal calls involve a jam, a leak at a seal, a lingering odor or a motor that has given out. In houses from the early 1980s, the drain line behind the unit can be part of the problem too. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in San Clemente.
Is my sink backup the disposal, my drain or the sewer?
Start with what else is affected. If only the kitchen sink backs up and the disposal hums or grinds weakly, the trouble is in the unit, the trap or the kitchen branch line. If toilets, tubs and floor drains slow down at the same time, the blockage is further along, in the sewer line. Most of San Clemente is on the City's sewer, Talega is served by Santa Margarita Water District and a small part of north San Clemente by South Coast Water District. If sewage is surfacing outdoors, call the City's line for sewer overflows and water leaks, 949-366-1553.
Why does the disposal smell even after I clean it?
Food scraps get trapped under the splash guard, on the underside of the grinding plate and in the drain elbow, where a quick rinse doesn't reach. Grinding a few ice cubes and citrus peels, then running cold water for half a minute, cleans much of it. A smell that comes back every day may be a partial clog in the line behind the unit or a dishwasher hose that sags and holds dirty water. In a house from the early 1980s (the median home in San Clemente was built in 1982, per census survey figures), that drain line has had plenty of time to collect grease.
Does hard water make a difference?
Yes, mostly around the edges. According to the City's water quality report, its supply ranges from 14 grains per gallon (236 mg/L, Metropolitan water) to 17 grains (293 mg/L, Baker plant water). Scale won't stop the grinder, but it builds on the sink flange, the dishwasher inlet and any air gap on the countertop. Over time that leads to slow draining and small leaks where parts meet. Homes in Talega or north San Clemente on district water should check their district's report.
Local note
Replacing a disposal or changing drain piping may need a permit from the City's Community Development Building Division; the plumber can tell you whether yours does. If the unit is more than about a decade old and leaking from the body, replacement is usually the practical choice.
Garbage Disposals questions in San Clemente
Who handles a backup coming from the public sewer main?
What causes a disposal to smell?
Can grease go down the disposal if I run hot water?
Does hard water affect a garbage disposal?
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