Garbage Disposal Installation, Repair, and Replacement

You typically don’t need any fancy garbage disposal cleaner products to clean your garbage disposal. There are many home remedies for garbage disposal smells. You may also like to take these steps:

1. Turn off and disconnect your garbage disposal – you can even flip the circuit breaker for peace of mind
2. Inspect the garbage disposal for blockages and remove them with pliers if present
3. Reconnect the disposal
4. Plug the sink, fill it halfway with hot water, and remove the plug to let the water flush through your garbage disposal
5. Turn off the garbage disposal and disconnect its power supply
6. Use a scrub brush or toothbrush to clean inside the disposal unit with grease-cutting dish soap
7. Remove the brush and reconnect the garbage disposal
8. Tip ice and rock salt down the garbage disposal and turn on the cold tap to let the water run while the ice and salt are being ground
9. Put half a cup of baking soda into the garbage disposal’s opening, followed by one cup of white vinegar – let it sit for 10 minutes
10. Turn on the garbage disposal and let hot water rinse away the mixture

If your garbage disposal is humming but won’t grind, it’s possible that its inner flywheel is jammed or the motor bearing has ceased. In either situation, quickly turn off your garbage disposal unit to prevent further damage and call your local service professional.

Yes, you can repair a leaking garbage disposal in many situations. Sometimes, the leak can be caused by loose screws securing the garbage disposal unit to the drain pipe. You may also be able to fix a leak by replacing an old gasket. In older units, replacement units can be a more cost-effective option.

Garbage disposal units can stop turning on for many reasons. Clogging, electrical issues, and a broken motor are among the most common. Check for blockages and any blown fuses. If your garbage disposal still won’t turn on, contact a service professional for repair or replacement services.

Most garbage disposals on the market today can last between eight and 15 years. The average life expectancy with care and maintenance is typically 10 to 12 years.

Many high-quality garbage disposals have reset buttons that pop out to protect them from overheating and jams. Once the button has popped out, your garbage disposal won’t turn on again until you’ve pushed the reset button back in.

You can take these steps to reset your garbage disposal:

1. Turn the power supply off
2. Look for and remove obstructions that may have caused the button to pop
3. Find and push the reset button - consult your manual or look at the bottom or side of the unit

Is your garbage disposal still not working at its best? Contact a service professional like Mr. Rooter Plumbing today.

Garbage disposal clogs can be frustrating, especially when they put your appliance out of action. You may like to take some of these steps to unclog your garbage disposal unit. Not feeling confident? Mr. Rooter Plumbing is also here to help!

1. Turn off the garbage disposal and disconnect the power supply
2. Press the reset button – if the blades still don’t engage, you’ll need to unclog your appliance manually
3. Use a four-sided wrench in the bottom of your disposal unit, moving it clockwise and counterclockwise to dislodge a blockage
4. No reset button? Use a wooden handle to move the blades back and forth to unstick them. Dislodge any food with tongs or pliers.
5. Pour baking soda followed by white vinegar into the garbage disposal, wait 20 minutes, and rinse with hot water
6. No luck unclogging your garbage disposal? Contact a service professional for help.

As convenient as garbage disposals are to have, they can sometimes have issues. Many homeowners find themselves calling trained service professionals to assist with all manner of problems.

Whether you have the following issues or others, Mr. Rooter Plumbing is here to help with garbage disposal repair.

• Jams and Blockages - Even a ‘good’ garbage disposal unit can experience jams from time to time. You may notice a humming sound as well as liquids backing up in the sink or being slow to drain. Jams occur when something is stopping the disposal unit’s blades from turning. Some of the many common jam culprits include non-food items, bones, grease, food pits, egg shells, infrequent cleaning, too much food at once, and not flushing the drain with water.
• Leaks - Garbage disposal leaks can be frustrating, especially when you’re not sure where they’re leaking from or aren’t sure of the cause. Whether your garbage disposal is leaking from the bottom, top, side, or somewhere else, call Mr. Rooter Plumbing without delay. There can be many possible causes, such as worn-out flanges, gaskets, and O-rings, improper connections, or lost putty. Your chosen service professional can diagnose the problem and get your garbage disposal back in action before long.
• Draining into the Dishwasher - Many garbage disposals are connected to dishwashers. If yours is draining into your dishwasher, there may be a leak caused by a wrongly installed dishwasher line. Contact the team at Mr. Rooter Plumbing to assist with garbage disposal plumbing services.
• Not Turning On - Is your garbage disposal not turning on? Several factors could be at play. There could be a loose plug, the garbage disposal reset button has ‘popped,’ the circuit breaker is overloaded, or the motor is dead. If your garbage disposal is not working, now might be the right time to call in the professionals.
• Foul Odors - You might use your garbage disposal to get rid of food odors in your kitchen, but even the best garbage disposal for home use can be the cause of food odors. When was the last time you thoroughly cleaned it? When your garbage disposal stinks, consider investing in a gentle garbage disposal cleaner, such as baking soda and vinegar, and clean your unit thoroughly.
• Not Draining - You typically know your garbage disposal is working at its best when the blades break up food waste, which disappears down the drain quickly with liquids. If food and water start to back up into your sink, you may have a problem. In many situations, a clog in the pipe or dull blades can be to blame.
• Humming Sound - Is your garbage disposal humming and not doing its job? There can be many causes, such as being too underpowered to break down some food types, having a poor electrical connection, or being jammed.

Knowing how convenient garbage disposals can be, you may be curious about how much they cost to install. Every situation is different, which means there is no one-size-fits-all cost. How much you pay to install a garbage disposal can depend on factors like your location, the presence of electrical wiring, your sink’s compatibility, and the brand you buy.

Contact Mr. Rooter Plumbing for a detailed estimate for garbage disposal replacement or installation. We can provide pricing based on your unique situation, not someone else’s.