Garbage Disposal

A garbage disposal that stops working makes the kitchen sink unusable until it’s fixed. If you’re searching for garbage disposal repair, you’ve probably already hit the reset button on the bottom of the unit. If that didn’t work — or if it reset and failed again — it’s time for a plumber.

What You’re Probably Experiencing

It won’t turn on at all. If the reset button didn’t fix it, the motor may have failed or there’s an electrical issue at the unit. Either way, it’s not a reset button problem anymore.

It hums but doesn’t grind. The motor is running but the impeller — the grinding plate inside — is jammed. Something is lodged in the mechanism. This is one of the more common calls, and it’s usually fixable without replacing the unit if the motor itself is still good.

It’s leaking under the sink. Leaks come from a few places: the seal where the disposal mounts to the sink drain, the connection to the dishwasher drain line, or the bottom of the unit itself. A leak from the bottom usually means a seal inside the motor housing has failed — on an older unit, that’s often the point where replacement makes more financial sense than repair.

The kitchen sink drains slowly even when the disposal runs fine. This one isn’t always the disposal. A partially blocked drain line below the unit causes the same symptom. We handle both — if the disposal is working but the drain is slow, drain cleaning is the next step, not disposal replacement.

Repair or Replace

Disposals have a lifespan of 10 to 15 years. Whether repair or replacement makes more sense depends on the age of the unit and what’s wrong with it. If the impeller is jammed and the motor is in good shape, repair is straightforward. If the motor is failing on a unit that’s already 12 years old, the repair cost often approaches or exceeds the cost of a new unit — and a new unit comes with a warranty. We’ll tell you which situation you’re in and give you both numbers. Replacement typically runs $150 to $400 installed for most residential units depending on the model. We handle the drain line modifications and electrical connection as part of the job. If you don’t currently have a disposal and want one installed, or if you’re upgrading from a basic unit to something quieter or more powerful, that’s the same scope of work.

What Not to Put In It

This comes up on almost every disposal service call. The items that cause the most damage — grease, oil, and fat solidify in the drain line below the unit and cause chronic slow drains. Fibrous vegetables like celery and artichoke leaves wrap around the impeller. Coffee grounds, eggshells, and starchy foods like pasta and rice accumulate in the drain. Bones and fruit pits are obvious. None of these belong in the disposal, and most recurring disposal problems trace back to one of them. If the kitchen drain has been running slowly for a while and a disposal repair clears the unit but not the drain, the issue is buildup downstream. That’s a drain cleaning call, not another disposal repair.

One Call for the Disposal and the Drain

An appliance repair company can fix the disposal itself. They can’t touch the plumbing underneath. When a failed disposal causes a backed-up sink, a leak onto the cabinet floor below, or a drain line problem that’s been building up behind the unit, you’re looking at two separate service calls with two separate companies. We handle both in one visit. If the disposal needs to come out and the drain underneath it needs to be cleared or inspected, that happens on the same trip. If you notice a kitchen faucet issue while we’re there, we handle that too — faucet repair is part of the same service scope. If there’s active water damage from a leak under the sink that’s spread beyond the cabinet, call our emergency line. Water that reaches the subfloor or adjacent cabinetry moves fast.