Garbage disposal runs but food is not grinding effectively; large pieces remain and are recirculated.

Safety First: Turn OFF power before inspecting the grind chamber.

Step-by-step:

• 1. Inspect shredder ring: Shine a flashlight into the KitchenAid disposal and examine the stationary shredder ring. The teeth should be sharp and well-defined; smooth or rounded teeth indicate wear.
• 2. Check impellers: Look at the rotating impeller lugs. They should have crisp edges and move freely.
• 3. Clean buildup: Use ice cubes and a small amount of rock salt to help remove minor buildup on the grind components (run briefly with cold water). This will not restore worn metal but can improve performance slightly.
• 4. Adjust usage: Avoid putting very hard items into the disposal and cut large pieces into smaller chunks.
• 5. Plan replacement: Severely worn grind components require replacement of the disposal for full performance restoration.

When to call a technician: If grinding performance is poor even with light loads, a new disposal is the practical solution.