Shut it down first, then look
Never put your hand into a disposal, even when it is switched off. The blades are sharp, and a jammed motor can release without warning. Use tongs or pliers to remove anything you can see.
- Flip the wall switch to off.
- Turn off the circuit breaker for the unit if you can find it.
- Stop running the faucet and the dishwasher, since water has nowhere to go.
- Look for a leak under the sink and put a bucket under it.
- Call (253) 275-5116 if water is spreading or the sink is full.
A flooded cabinet near an outlet is an electrical risk. Keep clear of any wet cord, and do not stand in water to reach a switch or panel.
What each symptom usually means
| What you notice | Likely cause | What helps |
|---|---|---|
| Hum, no spin | Jammed flywheel | Hex key turned at the bottom |
| Nothing at all | Tripped reset or breaker | Reset button, then check the breaker |
| Spins but does not grind | Dull or damaged blades | Replacement |
| Water under the sink | Flange, hose, or seal | Locate the source by feel and look |
| Water in the housing seam | Cracked body | Replacement |
| Foul smell | Food film in the chamber | Cleaning, or a drain line check |
Two or more of these together usually point toward a unit that has reached the end of its life.
A jammed or humming disposal
A hum with no spin means the motor is trying to turn something that is stuck. Most units have a hex socket in the center of the underside. A plumber inserts a hex key, usually a quarter-inch, and works it back and forth to free the flywheel.
Once the jam is cleared, the red reset button on the underside pops back in. If it trips again within a day, the motor is wearing out. A unit older than ten years that jams twice is cheaper to replace than to keep repairing.
Three places a disposal leaks
The top flange
Water at the sink rim or dripping from the mounting ring. The putty seal around the drain opening has dried out, and the fix is to reseat the flange.
The dishwasher hose
A wet spot at the small side inlet. A clamp may be loose or the rubber hose is cracked.
The drain outlet
Drips from the bolted elbow connecting the unit to the trap. A new gasket often solves it.
The housing itself
Water coming through the body means corrosion inside. That is not repairable.
To trace a leak, dry everything, then run water for a few minutes and wipe each joint with a paper towel. The wet paper tells you which joint is guilty. If you cannot find it, our leak detection page explains how we trace a slow one.
What not to put down the disposal
Avoid
- Grease, fat or oil, which cool into a paste in the trap
- Coffee grounds, eggshells and potato peels in quantity
- Pasta, rice and bread that swell when wet
- Fibrous scraps such as celery strings and corn husks
- Bones, fruit pits and glass
Fine with plenty of cold water
- Soft scraps in small amounts
- Citrus peels from time to time
- Ice cubes, which knock residue off the walls
A disposal is not a trash can. Waste that does not break down ends up in the trap, then in the drain line. If you have already clogged the line, see our drain cleaning page.
Repair or replace: the honest math
- Repair a jam, a loose hose clamp, a seal or the plumbing underneath.
- Replace a unit with a corroded housing, a dead motor, or blades that spin but do not grind.
- Replace when the unit is more than a decade old and has needed work twice.
- Consider a higher-horsepower model if you grind a lot of scraps, but pick the size that fits the cabinet.
We say when a repair is not worth it, and quote the replacement price before we remove anything.
How a replacement goes in
Power and water off
We kill the circuit, disconnect the drain, the dishwasher hose and the electrical connection.
Remove and clean
The mounting ring comes off, and we scrape old putty from the sink drain opening.
Mount the new unit
A fresh bead of plumber's putty, a seated flange and a snug mounting assembly.
Connect and test
Drain elbow, dishwasher hose and power, then a run test with water and a leak check.
If your unit is hardwired and the cable has to be changed, we may need a licensed electrician. We do not splice wiring we are not licensed for.
Dishwashers, air gaps and drain connections
A dishwasher drains into the side inlet on the disposal, or into the sink tailpiece if there is no disposal. A new disposal has a knockout plug in that inlet. If the plug is not removed, the dishwasher cannot drain, and dirty water backs up into its tub.
Some sinks have an air gap, a small chrome cylinder on the deck. It keeps sink water from running backward into the dishwasher. If it gurgles or leaks during the cycle, the cause is often a clog in the short hose, not the cylinder itself.
On septic? Ask before you install
Tillicum and Woodbrook were on septic until county sewer arrived in 2011 and 2012. Some properties in Pierce County still use septic systems, and a disposal adds solids that fill a tank sooner. If you are not sure whether your home is on sewer or septic, check with Pierce County or ask the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department before adding a unit.
Tell us your sewer status when you call so we can plan the work. That applies in Lakewood and in neighboring towns such as University Place, where some areas still lack sewer.
What a disposal job costs, and why it varies
We give you a clear price before work starts. A seal change and a full replacement are very different jobs.
- Repair versus replacementA jam clear or hose tightening is a short visit. A new unit adds the disposal and mounting hardware.
- Horsepower and qualityHeavier motors and stainless grinding chambers cost more and last longer.
- Electrical setupA plug-in cord is simple. A hardwired connection may need an electrician.
- Dishwasher and drain conditionA cracked hose or corroded trap pipe adds parts.
- Time of dayNight and weekend visits are priced before dispatch, never after.
Homeowners insurance tends to treat a worn-out disposal as maintenance. Water damage from a sudden leak is a separate question for your insurer.
Describe the noise or the leak and we will give you a price.
(253) 275-5116Trap rules behind the disposal layout
The Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) requires a trap on every fixture drain, which is why a disposal drains into a trap and not straight into the wall. The trap holds a water seal that keeps sewer gas out of the kitchen.
If a plumber moves or replaces the disposal, the trap and the drain arm should end up properly sloped toward the wall.
Garbage disposal questions
Yes. We are open 24/7. Switch the disposal off at the wall and the breaker if the sink is flooding, stop the dishwasher and call. We send a plumber at any hour.
Something is jammed against the blades or the flywheel has seized. Switch it off, use tongs to remove any visible object, and try the hex socket on the underside. If it hums again, stop and call.
It is a small red button on the bottom of most units. Wait a few minutes after a jam, then press it in. If it keeps tripping, the motor is failing.
No. Always use tongs, pliers or a hex key, and switch the unit off first. Even a switched-off disposal can be jolted back to life if the breaker is still on.
Sometimes, but the tank will need pumping more often. Ask the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department about your system before installing.
Requirements vary by local code and by how the dishwasher drain is plumbed. We check the setup and tell you what your install needs.