Garbage Disposal Repair and Replacement in Georgia

The grinder under the kitchen sink tends to fail in a handful of ways: it hums without turning, stops dead, leaks, drains slowly or starts making noises it never used to make. Garbage disposal repair and replacement deals with all of them. Plenty of disposal problems turn out to be simple, and a few mean the unit has reached the end of its life; telling the two apart starts with a few safe checks.

Safe checks before you call

  1. Keep hands out of the disposal. Use tongs to remove anything visible, and only with the power off.
  2. Press the reset button. Most units have a small red button on the bottom that pops out when the motor overheats or jams.
  3. Check the power. Look for a tripped breaker or a GFCI outlet that needs resetting, and make sure a corded unit is plugged in.
  4. Free a jam. With the power off, many models take a hex key in a socket at the center of the bottom; turning it back and forth frees the grinding plate.

Common faults and what they usually mean

Humming but not turning means the motor has power but the plate is jammed, often by a bone, a fruit pit or a piece of glass; switch it off, because leaving it humming can burn out the motor. No sound at all points to power, the reset button or the switch. A leak at the top is usually the sink flange seal, a leak at the side the dishwasher hose or drain connection, and a leak from the bottom often a failed internal seal, which normally means replacement. Grinding or rattling means something hard is inside. Slow draining may come from the trap or the drain line beyond the unit rather than the disposal itself.

Repair or replacement

Jams, loose connections, a failed flange seal or a worn dishwasher connection are usually repairable. A cracked housing, a leak from the body of the unit, a burned-out motor, or a unit that jams constantly despite careful use usually points to replacement. The age of the unit and the price of parts compared with a new one matter too, so it is reasonable to ask for both options.

Choosing a replacement unit

Disposals are sold by motor size, commonly from about a third of a horsepower up to one horsepower. Larger motors grind tougher scraps with less jamming; smaller ones suit light use. Continuous-feed models run while you add scraps, while batch-feed models run only with a stopper in place, which some households prefer for safety. The new unit has to fit the space under the sink and needs a knockout for the dishwasher if you have one. On a septic system, look for a model the manufacturer rates for septic use and keep disposal use light, since it adds solids to the tank.

What should stay out of the disposal

Grease and cooking oil harden in the drain line further on. Fibrous scraps such as celery and corn husks wrap around the plate, and starchy foods like potato peels, pasta and rice turn into paste. Coffee grounds and eggshells build sludge, and bones, pits, shells and anything that is not food can jam or damage the unit. Run cold water while grinding and for a few seconds after. If the kitchen line keeps clogging even with care, the pipe itself may need cleaning, and hydro jetting removes the grease a disposal sends down the line.

Reading a disposal quote

For a repair, the quote should say what failed and which parts are involved. For a replacement, it should name the unit and its horsepower, say whether new mounting hardware and drain or dishwasher connections are included, and confirm that the old unit will be hauled away. If there is no outlet or switch under the sink and new wiring is needed, that is electrical work, and whether it needs a permit is up to the city or county where you live. A dripping kitchen faucet or a stuck shutoff under the same sink is a separate job, handled through faucet and valve repair.

Garbage disposal repair and replacement by city

City overviews for disposal service:

Questions about garbage disposals

Why does my garbage disposal smell?

Most odors come from food film stuck under the rubber splash guard and on the walls of the grinding chamber. With the power off, scrub the underside of the splash guard with a brush, then run cold water and grind a handful of ice to knock residue loose. If the smell comes back quickly, the source may be the trap, the dishwasher drain hose or a partly blocked drain line rather than the disposal.

Can I put grease down the disposal if I run hot water?

No. Hot water keeps grease liquid only until it reaches cooler pipe further down the line, where it hardens and collects food particles. Over time that builds into a blockage the disposal cannot help with. Let grease cool, scrape it into the trash, and wipe greasy pans with a paper towel before washing them. Cold water while the disposal runs is the usual recommendation.

What size garbage disposal do I need?

Think about how the kitchen is used. A household that mostly rinses plate scraps gets by with a modest motor, while one that cooks from scratch every day and sends peels and trimmings down the drain is better served by a stronger unit. Space under the sink, the dishwasher connection and, on septic systems, the manufacturer’s septic rating all narrow the choice. A plumber can help match the unit to your kitchen.

Get the disposal working again

If the reset button and a hex key have not done the trick, call (404) 409-4448 and we can take it from there.