Garbage Disposal Repair & Replacement in Decatur, GA

Most garbage disposal repair and replacement work swaps one unit for another on connections that already exist. Adding a disposal to a Decatur kitchen that has never had one is a different project. The sink drain, the power supply and the cabinet layout were all set up without a disposal in mind, and each needs a look before a unit goes in.

Is there power where the unit will hang?

A disposal needs electricity under the sink and some way to switch it on. Many kitchens already have a receptacle in the sink cabinet for a dishwasher; others have nothing there at all. The usual setups are a switched receptacle the disposal plugs into, a direct wired connection, or a countertop air button that controls a box under the sink. If a new circuit, receptacle or switch is needed, that is a job for an electrician, and it is worth arranging before installation day.

Is there room in the cabinet?

Disposals hang down from the sink opening and can fill much of a standard sink base. Measure from the bottom of the sink to the cabinet floor, and note what else lives there: a water filter, a trash pullout, the dishwasher hose, the faucet's shutoff valves. If those valves are old or stuck, this is a sensible moment to replace them through faucet and valve repair. Compact units are made for tight spaces, though smaller motors suit lighter use. In a double-bowl sink, the disposal normally goes on one side and the drain for both bowls is rearranged around it.

Will the drain line up?

This is the question that most often turns a simple install into a bigger one. A disposal's outlet sits several inches lower than the tailpiece of a basket strainer, so the trap ends up lower too, and the pipe from the trap into the wall still has to slope down toward the drain. If the drain opening in the wall is too high for the new trap position, it may need lowering, which means opening the drain behind the cabinet. Outlet heights vary from model to model, so measuring before you buy saves surprises.

Sink opening, dishwasher and septic

Most kitchen sinks have a standard drain opening that accepts a disposal flange, but very thick sinks or unusual materials may call for a different flange. If a dishwasher currently drains into the sink plumbing, that connection changes too. A home on a septic tank should also weigh the fact that ground food adds solids to the tank; some disposals are marketed for septic use, and the system's needs deserve thought before adding one.

How the installation goes

1. The basket strainer and tailpiece come out, and the sink opening is cleaned.
2. The disposal flange is set in plumber's putty or a gasket, and the mounting assembly is tightened beneath it.
3. The unit is hung and locked onto the mount.
4. The discharge tube, trap and drain arm are fitted with proper slope, with the second bowl's drain reworked if there is one.
5. The dishwasher hose is connected after the knockout is removed, and power is hooked up.
6. The sink is filled and drained and the unit is run while every joint is checked for leaks.

If the existing drain was already slow, deal with that first through drain repair, since a disposal adds ground food to a line that is already struggling. More on unit types appears in our overview of disposal service in Georgia.

Decatur's trade permit requirement

Decatur, in DeKalb County, generally asks for a separate trade permit for plumbing and drainage work, issued through its Design, Environment and Construction Division. Since a first-time disposal can mean changes to the sink drain, ask the division how that applies before work starts.

Questions about adding a disposal in Decatur

Can a disposal be added to any kitchen sink?

Most sinks with a standard drain opening can take one, but the sink is only part of the question. There has to be power under the sink, enough room in the cabinet, and a wall drain low enough for the trap to slope properly. If any of those are missing, the install grows into electrical or drain work, so checking them first gives a realistic picture of the job.

Can a disposal go under either bowl of a double sink?

Usually, yes. Many people choose the bowl they scrape plates into, often the larger one or the side nearest the dishwasher. The two bowls are then joined below the sink so they share one trap, and the disposal's outlet has to sit high enough for that shared trap to slope toward the wall drain. Where the wall drain sits can make one side the easier choice.

Will adding a disposal change how my dishwasher drains?

Usually the dishwasher hose moves from the sink's drain fitting to the disposal's dishwasher inlet. The new unit's knockout plug has to be removed first, or the dishwasher will not drain. The hose still needs a high loop or an air gap to keep sink water out of the dishwasher, depending on what the code requires at your address.

Planning a first disposal

Curious whether your sink is ready for one? Call Alpha Plumbing and Sewer at (404) 409-4448. We can look at the sink, the cabinet and the drain in your Decatur kitchen and explain what the installation will involve.