My Badger Sink Grinder Is Stuck

Improper Food

• Small amounts of food should be placed into the sink grinder at a time to maintain the grinder's performance, and can result in food jams if a large amount of food or tough food is placed in the grinder. Improper food includes egg shells or fibruous materials, such as corn husks, as well as an excessive amount of vegetable peels. Grease and fat are also unsuitable for grinder use, and can cause an appliance clog as well.

Clogs

• Clogs occur when a buildup of food occurs in the grinder, and requires manually removing the blockage by loosening the blade using a wrench on the bottom of the disposer. Once the blades are loosened, the blockage can be removed with the use of tongs, and the disposer can be reset to restore use of the appliance.

Advanced Troubleshooting

• If the grinder continues to stick while in use the appliance requires professional service to troubleshoot the issue through repair or replace the grinder's parts. The Badger includes up to 4 years of in-home full service repair depending on the model, and can be scheduled for repair by calling Insinkerator customer service at 800-558-5700.

Prevention

• You can prevent the grinder from becoming stuck during future use through limiting food disposal to citrus fruit peels, small bones, fruit pits and ice. Turning on the cold water prior to grinding food waste ensures the food is properly ground and pushed through the drain line.