Garbage Disposal Repair and Replacement

Avoid putting grease, oils, fibrous veggies, pasta, rice, coffee grounds, bones, fruit pits, and non-food items down your garbage disposal. These can cause clogs or damage. Feed waste gradually with cold water. Compost your food waste when possible for an eco-friendly, disposal-safe alternative.

First, always be sure whenever you are working on your disposal that the power to the disposal is off. Next, if you turn the power on and do not hear a buzzing sound, check to see if the local fuse on the disposal has been tripped. You can do this by pushing the reset button located on the bottom of the disposal. If you still aren't hearing any noise, check the main breaker located in your home's breaker box. If you hear buzzing and the jam persists, turn the disposal off, and using a 1/4" hex wrench, insert the wrench into the center hole at the bottom of the disposal. Turning the wrench back and forth should release the jam. If you do not have a hex wrench, a dowel or a wooden spoon can be used to do the same through the drain. Simply insert the spoon firmly up against one of the impellers, rotating back and forth until the jam is freed.

Foul odors occur from a buildup of food debris within the garbage disposal. To eliminate this drain odor, place ice cubes and lemon or orange wedges (minus the seeds) in the disposal and run for 30 seconds. Next, pour a little liquid dish detergent into the disposal while it is running. To clean out the debris created by the odor removal process, run cold water into the drain for about 30 seconds.

Yes, plumbers regularly install and replace garbage disposals. Roto-Rooter Plumbing and Water Cleanup provides this service. If you'd prefer to purchase your own garbage disposal, just have it ready for our plumber to install when he arrives. Otherwise, he may have some in his van, or he’ll discuss options and purchase one for you at a plumbing supply house or a nearby home center.