Garbage Disposal Repair & Installation
A disposal that hums but will not turn is usually jammed, not dead. That distinction saves you the cost of a new unit.
What the symptom tells us
Hums but does not spin
Jammed impeller. Often freed with the hex key in the bottom of the unit. If the motor still will not turn after that, then it is genuinely failed.
Completely dead
Tripped internal reset button, tripped breaker, or a failed motor - in that order of likelihood. Worth checking the simple things first.
Leaking
Where it leaks matters. The sink flange, the dishwasher inlet, and the body of the unit are three different repairs, and only one of them means replacement.
Loud grinding or rattling
Usually something in the chamber that should not be there. Occasionally worn bearings, which means the unit is near the end.
Replacement and installation
Sizing it right
Horsepower should match how the household actually cooks. Undersized units jam constantly; oversized ones are wasted money in a light-use kitchen.
The dishwasher connection
A very common source of slow-draining dishwashers is a knockout plug never removed during a previous install. We check it every time.
What still should not go down it
Grease, fibrous vegetable skins and coffee grounds cause more kitchen line clogs than anything else, disposal or not - see drain cleaning.
Related services
Disposal jammed or leaking?
Someone answers 24 hours a day across San Diego County.
Call (858) 221-4540