Garbage Disposal Repair & Replacement in Powder Springs, GA

When a garbage disposal dies, the default is to buy another one. That is often the right call, but it is not the only one. Removing the unit and fitting the sink with an ordinary basket strainer is a perfectly workable choice, and for some kitchens it is the better one. For a Powder Springs homeowner, weighing garbage disposal replacement against going without comes down to how the kitchen is used.

Why some households go without

• The disposal was rarely used, and most scraps already go to the trash or a compost pile.
• Repeated jams, leaks or noise have worn out the household's patience.
• The cabinet under the sink is cramped, and the space would be more useful for storage.
• The home is on a septic system and the owners would rather keep food solids out of the tank.

What removal involves

1. Power is disconnected. A plug-in unit is simply unplugged; a hardwired unit leaves wiring that has to be capped safely, which is electrical work.
2. The disposal comes off its mount, and the mounting ring and disposal flange are removed from the sink opening.
3. A basket strainer is set in the same opening, which on a standard kitchen sink is sized for either.
4. A tailpiece runs down from the strainer, and the trap is rebuilt to suit, since a strainer drains straight down while a disposal drains out its side at a different height.

On a double-bowl sink, the piping that joins the two bowls usually needs reworking as well.

The dishwasher connection

If the dishwasher drains into the disposal today, it needs a new place to drain. The usual answer is a tailpiece with a side branch for the dishwasher hose, keeping the high loop or air gap that stops dirty sink water from flowing back into the dishwasher. This is the step that most often gets skipped in a quick removal, so it is worth asking about before the work starts.

Living with a strainer basket

Without a disposal, the strainer basket becomes the line of defense. Scrape plates into the trash, rinse over the basket and empty it often. Grease still stays out of the sink, just as it should with a disposal. If the drain is already sluggish with the disposal off, sort that out first with drain repair, because removing the unit will not cure a clog farther down.

When replacing makes more sense

A household that cooks every day and likes rinsing scraps straight into the sink will probably miss the disposal within a week. Newer units are also quieter and better at grinding than many older ones, so a bad experience with a worn-out disposal is not a fair test of a new one. Motor sizes and models are compared in Alpha's overview of garbage disposal service, and a faucet or sink upgrade at the same visit can be handled under plumbing services.

Asking Powder Springs about permits

Powder Springs, in Cobb County, generally requires a permit before a plumbing system is installed, altered or replaced, according to its permitting and inspections page. Whether taking out a disposal and rebuilding the trap falls under that rule is a question for the city's Community Development office.

Questions about removing a disposal in Powder Springs

Can any disposal be removed and replaced with a regular sink strainer?

In almost every case, yes. Kitchen sinks are made with one standard drain opening that accepts either fitting, so the sink itself never stands in the way. The variables sit below the counter: how the old unit was powered, whether a dishwasher depends on it, and whether a double bowl shares its drain.

Will my kitchen drain clog more without a disposal?

Not if the strainer basket is used properly. The basket keeps food scraps out of the pipe, so less solid material goes down the drain than with a disposal. Problems start when the basket is left out and scraps are washed down anyway, or when grease is poured into the sink. Empty the basket often and keep grease in the trash.

Can I add a disposal back later?

Yes. The sink opening will still accept a disposal flange, so the change can be reversed. It helps to leave the outlet under the sink in place if there is one, and to keep the wall switch if it controlled the disposal. When the time comes, the trap and dishwasher connection are reworked again to suit the new unit's outlet height.

Talk through the choice

Weighing a new disposal against none at all in your Powder Springs home? Call Alpha Plumbing and Sewer at (404) 409-4448 to go over what each option involves under your sink before you decide.