Never put your hand into a disposal. Switch it off and unplug it or turn off the breaker before checking anything.
How a disposal works
A garbage disposal sits under your sink. A motor spins a metal plate with small swinging lugs, called impellers. They throw food against a grinding ring, and water carries the bits down the drain. A reset button on the bottom shuts off the motor if it gets too hot or jams.
There are not many parts inside. That is why a disposal is often simple to diagnose.
Let's be honest about repair vs replace
Many disposals are replaced rather than repaired. Inside, the motor and grinding parts are sealed in one housing. When that housing leaks or the motor burns out, there is usually no sensible part to swap.
So here is what we do. If the problem is a jam, a tripped reset, a loose fitting or wiring, we fix it. If the unit itself has failed, we tell you plainly and offer to install a new one. We will not push a repair that won't last.
Common disposal problems
- Hums but will not spin. Something is jammed between the plate and grinding ring, like a bone, pit or utensil.
- Does nothing at all. The reset button tripped, the breaker is off, or the wall switch or wiring has a problem.
- Leaking from the bottom. Usually the inside seal has failed. This nearly always means replacing the unit.
- Leaking from the top or side. A loose sink flange (the ring in the sink drain), or a loose dishwasher or drain connection. These can often be fixed.
- Slow draining or bad smell. Built-up food, grease or a partly clogged drain line.
Safe checks you can try
Turn off the wall switch, and unplug the disposal or switch off its breaker first. Never put your hand inside.
- Press the red reset button on the bottom of the unit.
- Check the breaker for the disposal circuit.
- Many disposals have a hex socket in the bottom center. With power off, you can turn it back and forth with the small wrench that came with it to free a jam.
- Use a flashlight to look for objects. Use tongs, not fingers, to remove them.
- Run cold water and try the switch again.
How we handle a disposal call
We tell you the visit price on the phone before we come. We check power, the switch, the motor, the mounting and every connection. If it is fixable, you get an upfront quote for the repair. If it is not, we quote a replacement. Nothing happens until you approve it, and our work comes with a warranty.
Disposals and dishwashers
Most dishwashers drain through the disposal. A clogged disposal can leave water standing in the dishwasher. When a new disposal goes in, a small knockout plug inside the dishwasher inlet must be removed. If it is left in, the dishwasher won't drain. Bosch lists this as a cause of its E24 drain code.
Florida angle
If your home is on a septic tank instead of a sewer line, ask your septic pro whether a disposal suits your system and what should go down it. Storm surges can also trip a disposal's reset or wiring. Pressing reset after an outage is a good first step.
Brands we see
Disposals come from several makers, and we work on the common models found in local kitchens. While we are there, we can also look at the dishwasher it drains, whether it is a Bosch, KitchenAid, Whirlpool, GE or another brand we service. See our KitchenAid page for more.
Disposal repair near you
Disposal calls take us to homes within about 20 miles of Land O' Lakes, including Connerton, Cheval and Meadow Oaks. Local pages: Land O' Lakes, Lutz and Odessa. If your dishwasher won't drain, also see dishwasher repair.