Garbage Disposal
Repair & Installation

Frequently Asked Questions: Garbage Disposal Grief? Rapid-Fire Relief from Dennis, Veteran Plumbing Services!

Garbage Disposal Repair & Installation

Q1: Garbage disposal just hums, won’t grind anything! Humming but not chewing!

A: “Humming disposal? Classic jam. Humming disposal = something stuck. Power OFF, unplug it! Then grab tongs, fish out blockage. Safety first, then fish.”

Q2: Disposal jammed solid, can’t even hum. Completely stuck, dead disposal!

A: “Dead silence? Jammed solid then. Completely jammed disposal = overload or serious blockage. Power OFF, unplug! Reset button underneath (usually red). Then try unjamming with tongs or broom handle (down the drain). Still stuck? Call Dennis.”

Q3: Reset button – what is that red button on the bottom? Mystery red button!

A: “Mystery button, not a bomb detonator, relax. Reset button explained. Overload protection for disposal motor. Motor overheats, trips reset. Push to reset after clearing jam, let motor cool down.”

Q4: Disposal smells terrible! Like something died in there, but I cleaned it! Stinky disposal funk!

A: “Stinky disposal, even after cleaning? Disposal odor lingers = food particles trapped. Ice and citrus peels down disposal while running cold water. Grind it up, natural disposal freshener.”

Q5: Water backing up into sink from disposal side when dishwasher runs. Dishwasher drain disaster!

A: “Dishwasher backup, sink volcano part 2! Dishwasher backing up into sink via disposal = clog in disposal or dishwasher drain line. Check disposal for blockage. Run disposal while dishwasher drains. Still backing up? Dishwasher drain line clog, maybe plumber snake time.”

Q6: Disposal leaking water underneath! Puddles under the sink, wet cabinet panic!

A: “Puddles under sink? Disposal leak emergency! Leaking disposal = bad seals or cracked housing. Check dishwasher connection, sink flange, discharge pipe. Tighten connections. Still leaking? Disposal replacement likely.”

Q7: Garbage disposal making loud grinding noise even when it’s not grinding food. Empty disposal racket!

A: “Empty disposal racket? Grinding air? Noisy disposal (even empty) = worn bearings or loose parts. Motor bearings wearing out. Internal parts loose. Disposal wear and tear noise. Replacement getting closer.”

Q8: Disposal vibrates like crazy when grinding. Sink shaking, cabinet rattling disposal!

A: “Vibrating violently? Sink dance party? Vibrating disposal = unbalanced grinders or loose mounting. Something stuck on grinders making it unbalanced. Or disposal mounting loose. Check for obstructions. Tighten mounting.”

Q9: Garbage disposal quit working suddenly, mid-grind! Grind halt emergency!

A: “Grind halt! Sudden stop mid-meal? Disposal stopped mid-grind = overload trip or power loss. Reset button underneath disposal. Breaker tripped in electrical panel? Power issue or overload jam.”

Q10: Septic system and garbage disposal – bad combo? Heard disposals are septic tank killers! Septic system scare?

A: “Septic scare tactics! Septic system and garbage disposal. Not necessarily septic killers, but… use disposal sparingly with septic. Too much food waste into septic = overload septic tank. Composting food scraps is better for septic systems. Use disposal for small food bits, not meal leftovers, septic-wise.”

Q11: What CAN you put down a garbage disposal? Disposal do’s and don’ts list?

A: “Disposal do’s & don’ts, listen up rookie. Garbage disposal DOs: small food scraps, soft foods, citrus peels (for odor), ice (for cleaning). Garbage disposal DON’Ts: grease, bones, fibrous veggies (celery, banana peels), coffee grounds (clump), pasta/rice (expand), eggshells (membrane clogs), non-food items. Common sense, treat it like a disposal, not a trash can.”

Q12: Coffee grounds down disposal – heard that’s bad? Coffee ground clog rumor?

A: “Coffee ground clog rumor, kinda true. Coffee grounds in disposal – in moderation. Small amounts okay, large amounts can clump and clog drains over time, especially older pipes. Best to compost coffee grounds, not dispose.”

Q13: Eggshells down disposal – good for sharpening blades, right? Eggshell blade sharpener myth?

A: “Eggshell blade sharpener myth, plumbing folklore. Eggshells in disposal – NO benefit, potential clog risk. Eggshell membranes can wrap around grinders and cause clogs. Don’t bother with eggshells, not blade sharpeners.”

Q14: Bones down disposal – small chicken bones okay, right? Bone grinding bravado?

A: “Bone grinding bravado? Nope, bone-headed move. Bones in disposal – NO! Even small bones can jam or damage disposal. Bones = trash, not disposal.”

Q15: Fibrous veggies – celery, banana peels, corn husks – disposal friendly? Veggie fiber fiasco?

A: “Veggie fiber fiasco, drain clog recipe. Fibrous veggies in disposal – NO! Celery, banana peels, corn husks, onion skins, artichoke leaves – stringy fibers wrap around grinders, cause clogs. Fibrous = compost or trash, not disposal.”

Q16: Grease down disposal – hot water flush, it’s fine, right? Grease flushing fallacy?

A: “Grease flushing fallacy, plumbing sin #1 again. Grease down disposal – NEVER! Hot water just moves grease further down drain where it cools and solidifies, causing worse clogs. Grease = trash or grease container, NOT drains.”

Q17: Installing a new garbage disposal – DIY doable? Disposal DIY dare?

A: “Disposal DIY dare? Can DIY if handy and careful, basic electrical/plumbing skills. DIY garbage disposal install. Unplug old, disconnect plumbing/electrical, remove old, install new, reconnect everything correctly. But… electrical wiring errors, plumbing leaks are risks. Not confident? Call a plumber. We do disposal installs in our sleep.”

Q18: Hardwired vs. corded garbage disposals – wiring choices confusion?

A: “Wiring choices confusion? Keep it simple. Hardwired vs. Corded disposal. Corded: plugs into outlet under sink (easier DIY install if outlet exists). Hardwired: direct wired to house wiring (often replaces older disposals, needs wiring knowledge or electrician). Corded simpler for most DIY swaps, hardwired sometimes needed for replacements.”

Q19: Garbage disposal horsepower – ½ HP, ¾ HP, 1 HP – HP horsepower hype?

A: “Horsepower hype, bigger ain’t always better, but sometimes is. Disposal horsepower. ½ HP: basic, budget-friendly, smaller households, lighter use. ¾ HP: most common residential, good for families, average use. 1 HP: heavy-duty, larger families, frequent use, tougher food scraps. ¾ HP usually good balance of power and price for most homes.”

Q20: Continuous feed vs. batch feed disposals – feed type face-off?

A: “Feed type face-off, safety vs. convenience. Continuous feed vs. Batch feed disposal. Continuous: always ready to grind, turn on water & power, push food in. Slightly less safe (open chamber). Batch feed: food goes in, then safety cover is placed to activate. Safer, but slightly less convenient for continuous scraping. Continuous feed more common, batch feed for safety focus, especially with kids.”

Q21: Sound insulation for disposals – noisy grinder racket reducers?

A: “Noisy grinder racket? Quiet down the disposal! Sound insulated garbage disposals. Extra insulation/sound dampening materials around disposal motor. Quieter operation. Good for open concept kitchens, noise-sensitive folks. Pricier, but quieter grinding.”

Q22: How much does a garbage disposal cost? Disposal price plunge?

A: “Disposal price plunge? Disposal costs vary. Garbage disposal price range. Basic ½ HP: $50-$150. ¾ HP mid-range: $150-$300. 1 HP, quiet, batch feed: $300-$500+. Install extra, unless DIY-ing. You get what you pay for, mostly.”

Q23: Garbage disposal installation cost – plumber fees for grinder install?

A: “Grinder install fees? Plumber’s time ain’t free. Garbage disposal installation cost (plumber labor). Typical disposal install labor: $150-$300. Can be more if plumbing/electrical modifications needed, or replacing old unit is a pain. DIY saves labor, but risk if you botch it.”

Q24: Dishwasher connection to disposal – how does dishwasher drain into disposal? Dishwasher disposal dance?

A: “Dishwasher disposal dance, plumbing partnership. Dishwasher drain connection to disposal. Dishwasher drain hose connects to a nipple on disposal (usually side). Dishwasher pumps wastewater into disposal to get ground up and drain with other food waste. Proper connection and hose routing important to prevent backups or siphoning.”

Q25: Okay Dennis, bottom line – disposal trouble… DIY repair or just replace the whole darn grinder thing? Disposal dilemma decider?

A: “Disposal dilemma decider? Repair or replace time! Garbage disposal repair vs. replacement. Simple jams, reset button trips, minor leaks at connections – maybe DIY repair or simple fix. Motor failure, cracked housing, major leaks from unit itself, loud noises, old disposal (8+ yrs old) – replacement usually smarter. Disposals aren’t meant to be rebuilt like engines. Factor in age, repair cost vs. new unit cost, and your own sanity. Sometimes, a new grinder is just less headache in the long run. We can help you decide, no grinder-guilt.”