Do this first
- Switch it off first. Turn off the disposal, and never put your hand inside it.
- Press the reset button. Most units have a small button on the bottom that trips when the motor overheats.
- Free a jam from below. Many disposals take a hex wrench in the center of the underside. With the power off, turn it back and forth.
- Water under the sink? Put a bowl under the leak and stop using that sink until it's checked.
Repair or replace?
Jams, a tripped reset and loose connections are usually repairs. A disposal that leaks from its body, has rusted through or keeps burning out is usually worth replacing. We tell you which before any work starts.
What not to put down a disposal
- Grease, oil and fat
- Stringy foods like celery and corn husks
- Pasta, rice and other starches that swell
- Large amounts of coffee grounds or eggshells
- Anything that isn't food
What you get
- Licensed master plumber
- Upfront estimate on site
- Cabinet repair if a leak did damage
Questions
Why does my disposal hum but not spin?
Usually something is wedged between the plate and the grinding ring. With the power off, turning the hex wrench on the bottom often frees it. If it still only hums, the motor may be failing.
Can you install a disposal where there wasn't one?
Yes. We connect it to the sink drain. It also needs power under the sink, which we'll check when we look at the job.
Do you charge to come out?
No. There's no dispatch fee. Once we're on site and have seen the problem, we give you an upfront estimate for the work needed.
