Faucet & Sink Repair
Stop drips, restore flow, free a stuck stop valve and cure leaks under the vanity.
Fixtures and bathrooms
Emergency Garbage Disposal Repair and Installation in Louisville
A disposal that hums but will not spin, one that leaks into the cabinet, or one that sends water back into the dishwasher all have different causes. Turn it off, empty the cabinet if it is leaking, and work out which problem you have before touching anything.
Tell the dispatcher whether it hums, leaks or backs up.
Three common disposal problems
- Hums but does not spinA jam. The flywheel is stuck.
- Dead and silentA tripped reset or a failed motor.
- Leaks under the sinkA loose flange, worn seal or cracked housing.
Free a jammed unit safely
Turn off the switch and the power at the breaker. Never reach into the grinder. Look for an hex-key socket on the bottom of the disposal, insert the wrench that came with it, and work it back and forth to free the flywheel. A broom handle pushed into the grinder from above can also free a stuck object.
After freeing it, press the red reset button on the bottom, restore power and run water through it. If it jams again right away, there may be an object in the grinder that needs removing with tongs.
Where leaks come from
A leak at the top is usually the flange or sink seal. A leak at the side points to the dishwasher inlet or the drain connection. A leak from the bottom or the body means the housing has failed, and the unit needs replacement.
Run water while you watch with a flashlight and a dry paper towel. The first wet spot is the culprit, and tightening or replacing the gasket often fixes it.
Cost
Cost factors for disposal work
A reset is quick. A replacement involves a new unit and some fitting.
Ask which brand and warranty come with a replacement.
In Louisville
Kitchens in older houses
Many older houses in Louisville and nearby towns have cast iron or galvanized kitchen drains that collect grease. A disposal sends more solids down that line, so a clog may be in the pipe and not the unit.
If the kitchen drain backs up often, a camera look can show whether the line is narrowed or sagging.
Backups and the dishwasher
A disposal that is clogged will send water backward through the dishwasher drain. If the dishwasher backs up into the sink, run the disposal with water and check that the knockout plug in the dishwasher inlet was removed on a new installation.
Repeated clogs downstream of the disposal may be a grease problem or a partly blocked trap. A plumber can clear the trap and the line.
Replacing a disposal
Disposals last for years but not forever. A unit that leaks from the housing, is badly corroded or has a burnt smell is ready to be replaced. Motor size and grind stages vary, and a larger motor is worth it for a busy kitchen.
Replacement involves removing the old unit, cleaning the sink flange area, mounting the new one, connecting the drain and the dishwasher line, and wiring it or plugging it in. Ask about a power cord and a switch if none exists.
Habits that keep a disposal running
Run cold water before, during and for a short time after grinding. Cold water keeps fat solid so it is chopped and carried through the line rather than smeared on the walls. Hot water can melt grease that then re-hardens farther down.
Feed food waste in small amounts, not a pile at once. Never put in fibrous scraps, pits, bones, coffee grounds in quantity or large amounts of rice, pasta or potato peels. Those either wrap around the grinder or swell into paste.
Do not use the disposal as a trash can. Utensils, bottle caps and fruit stickers cause most jams, and a jam is the main reason the motor hums. Freeze-and-grind lemon rinds for scent if you like, but the real cure for odor is cleaning the splash guard.
Other kitchen plumbing
Drain Cleaning & Unclogging
Open a blocked sink, tub, laundry drain or main line, and find what keeps causing the stoppage.
Toilet Repair & Installation
Cure a toilet that runs, rocks, leaks or clogs, or install a replacement.
Quick answers
What people ask about garbage disposal
It is jammed. Turn off the power, free the flywheel with a hex key, and press the reset.
The flange seal, a drain connection or the housing itself may be leaking. Where the water appears points to the cause.
Avoid grease, bones, fibrous vegetables like celery, and starchy foods like rice. Run cold water during and after use.
Many last about ten years with proper use, though it varies.
Switch the disposal off, clear out the cabinet and call. A drip at the flange, the seals or the drain connection can usually be fixed, while a cracked housing calls for a new unit.
Food residue on the splash guard and the grinder walls is the usual cause. Clean the rubber guard with a brush and dish soap, grind ice to scrub the chamber, and flush with cold water. If the odor persists, the drain trap may be dirty.
Disposal jammed or leaking?
Switch it off and call. A dispatcher can connect you with a local contractor.