Toilets & fixtures
Garbage disposal repair and installation
A disposal that hums is jammed, and one that does nothing has usually tripped its reset button. Both can often be fixed in minutes. A disposal that leaks from the bottom of the housing has a failed internal seal and needs to be replaced.
- Emergency plumbing help
- Licensed local plumbers
- Price confirmed before work
Under the unit there is a red reset button and a hex socket in the center. Pressing the reset restores power after an overload, and turning the socket with a hex key frees a jammed grinding plate. These two steps solve a large share of disposal calls.
Leaks tell you more by where they appear. Water at the top means the sink flange seal, water at the side means the dishwasher or drain connection, and water from the bottom means the unit itself is worn out. Most disposals last 8 to 15 years.
Garbage Disposal Repair at a glance
- Humming
- Jammed: free it with the hex key
- Dead
- Press the reset button, check the breaker
- Leak from the bottom
- Replace the unit
- Typical life
- 8 to 15 years
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What are the signs you need a plumber?
- A hum without grinding
- No sound at all when switched on
- Water dripping under the sink
- Slow draining on the disposal side
- Frequent resets or a burning smell
What does the plumber do?
- 1
Check power and reset
The plumber tests the switch, outlet and reset before anything else.
- 2
Clear the jam
The grinding plate is freed and any object removed.
- 3
Find the leak
Flange, hose connections and housing are checked to see where water comes from.
- 4
Repair or replace
Seals are redone or a new unit is installed and tested with the dishwasher connection.
What affects the cost of garbage disposal repair?
It depends on the job, and a plumbing company can only give a firm price after seeing it. Prices also vary by region and by time of day. These are the factors that move a quote up or down. Ask for the price in writing before work begins.
- Repair versus replacement
- Horsepower and grade of the new unit
- Whether an outlet or switch must be added
- Drain pipe changes under the sink
What can you do yourself, and when should you call a plumber?
Safe to try
- Switch off the disposal and press the red reset button underneath
- Turn the center socket with a 1/4-inch hex key to free a jam
- Run cold water while grinding and for a few seconds after
Call a plumber when
- Never put a hand into the grinding chamber
- Don't use chemical drain cleaner in a disposal
- Replace a unit that leaks from the bottom
Garbage Disposal Repair questions
Why is my garbage disposal humming but not working?
The motor has power but the grinding plate is jammed. Switch it off, turn the socket under the unit back and forth with a hex key until it moves freely, then press reset.
What should not go in a garbage disposal?
Grease, fibrous vegetables such as celery, potato peels in quantity, rice, pasta, bones and coffee grounds. They jam the unit or build up in the drain line.
Should I repair or replace my disposal?
Replace it if it leaks from the housing, needs frequent resets or is more than about 10 years old. Jams and loose connections are worth repairing.
How long does garbage disposal replacement take?
About an hour for a like-for-like swap. Add time if an outlet, switch or drain connection has to be changed.
What size garbage disposal do I need?
1/2 horsepower suits one or two people with light use. 3/4 horsepower suits most families, and 1 horsepower suits heavy use or households that grind tougher scraps.
Can I have a garbage disposal with a septic system?
Yes, but it adds solids to the tank, so the tank needs pumping more often. Some local codes require a larger tank when a disposal is installed.
Why does my garbage disposal smell?
Food residue builds up under the rubber splash guard and on the chamber wall. Scrub the underside of the guard, then grind ice and a little dish soap with cold water.
Where we connect homeowners with plumbers
Garbage Disposal Repair requests are taken from across the United States. Local conditions change the work, so start with your city or find your state.
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