Garbage Disposal Repair

Why Your Garbage Disposal Is Not Working

What the disposal does tells you a lot about what's wrong. Here's what the common signs usually mean:

• It hums but won't spin. Something is stuck between the grinding plate and the ring around it. A fruit pit, a bone or a bit of glass is a common cause.
• It makes no sound at all. The reset button has tripped, the breaker is off, or the motor has failed.
• There's water under the sink. The seal at the sink flange may be worn. A drain connection may be loose. Or the body of the unit may be cracked.
• It grinds or rattles loudly. A hard object is inside, like a spoon or a bottle cap.
• The sink drains slowly. Food is packed inside the unit or in the pipe after it. If other drains in the house are slow too, the clog may be further down the line, and drain cleaning is the better fix.
• The smell won't go away. Old food is stuck in the grinding chamber, where a quick rinse can't reach.

Try These Two Things Before You Call

You can fix a garbage disposal yourself in some cases. First, turn the wall switch off. Never put your hand inside the unit.

1. Press the red reset button on the bottom of the disposal. Wait a minute, then switch it back on.
2. Find the small hole in the center of the bottom. Put a 1/4-inch hex key (an Allen wrench) in it and turn it back and forth. This frees most jams.

Still not working? Stop there. And if you see water near the unit or its wiring, don't keep trying. That's a job for a plumber.

What Happens When the Plumber Arrives

1. They ask what you've noticed and when it started.
2. They check the power, the switch and the reset.
3. They clear any jam and check for leaks at the flange, the drain pipe and the dishwasher hose.
4. They tell you whether it's a repair or a replacement and give you the price in writing.
5. Once you approve, they do the work and run water to test it.

If your kitchen faucet drips or leaks at the handle, mention it during the same visit. The plumber can look at faucet repair while they're under your sink.

Should You Repair or Replace It?

Most disposals last 8 to 15 years. Age and the type of problem decide which way to go.

• Under 5 years old, one problem: repair.
• 8 to 10 years old and keeps breaking: replace.
• Leaking from the body of the unit: replace. Cracks in the body don't hold a repair.
• Leaking at a connection: repair. A new seal or a tighter fitting usually does it.

Garbage Disposal Replacement Cost and Repair Prices

These ranges give you a starting point. Your written estimate is the final number.

• Clearing a jam and resetting: included in the diagnostic visit
• Electrical fault repair: $100 to $250
• Seal replacement: $100 to $200
• New unit supplied by the plumber, installed: $200 to $450
• Installing a unit you already bought: $100 to $200 labor

The price depends on the unit, the plumbing under your sink and what's actually wrong.

Keep It Running Longer

A few habits prevent most jams:

• Run cold water before, during and for a few seconds after you use it.
• Keep grease and cooking oil out. It hardens in the pipe.
• Skip bones, fruit pits, corn husks and celery strings.
• Don't pour in big amounts of rice or pasta. They swell with water.
• Nothing that isn't food. No twist ties, glass or bottle caps.

Book Garbage Disposal Repair

A jammed or leaking disposal rarely fixes itself, and a small leak can soak the cabinet floor. If you need garbage disposal repair, contact HVAC Services Team or call +1 818-960-6759. You'll get a free written estimate and a $0 dispatch fee on approved work.

Other sink or pipe trouble? Our plumbing repair page covers leaks, pipes and fixtures.