Clogged pipes or garbage disposal problem? Help!?
I was cleaning out my fish tank and some gravel fell down the kitchen sink into the garbage disposal. I didn’t realize it, so I turned on my disposal-it made a horrible grinding noise and now doesn’t work. Also, water has now stopped draining from my sink -as in, I turn on the water and my sink immediately fills up. It takes about 45 minutes for it to slowly drain.I have a few questions….
1. I know that I probably ruined the garbage disposal-would that alone cause the extremely slow drainage, or did I damage something else as well?
2. What kind of damage did I do, and how much would it cost to fix (inexpensive garbage disposal included)?
3. Can I fix this myself? I am not very good with this kind of thing, but can follow directions pretty well 
If not, any recommendations for a good plumber (if needed)? I’m in Los Angeles.
Thanks for your help!
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Your garbage disposal may not be broken. It is clogged you have to take it out , to clean under & above the garbage disposal.
Make sure that you remove all the gravel from the inside of the disposal. The gravel jammed up the disposal but you should be able to get it working again if you follow my instructions. You should have a small tool that would have come with the disposal, that is used on the bottom of your garbage disposal. There’s a hole in the bottom of your disposal that the end of the tool fits in to. Put the end of the tool into the garbage disposal, turn back & forth a few times, remove the tool, then push in the “reset” button that is also under your disposal. Feel around under the disposal & you’ll find it. Turn the cold water on, let it run into the disposal, then turn the disposal on. Repeat the tool step & reset button steps if need be. Taking care of this problem should get rid of the other problems too. If not, call a plumber. Just make sure you get ALL of the gravel out. In the future, put a stainer in the disposal side of the sink,so it will keep things from going into your disposal.
Are these large gravel stones or very tiny ones? If they’re tiny then you just take a broom handle and stick it into the garbage disposal. Then turn the handle in counter clock wise motions you can turn the fly-wheel of the GD so it will become free. Now you can hit the rest button of the GD. See if it comes on. If not then call a plumber and they will take the GD apart or replace it. Those cost $150 for 1/2 HP type. Plus the plumber labor $100 an hour again depends on where you live.