Jammed disposal: try this first
- 01Power off
Flip the wall switch off and, if you can, unplug the unit under the sink. Do not reach in with your hand.
- 02Hex key from below
Find the small hex socket in the center of the bottom of the unit. Work a hex key back and forth to free the flywheel.
- 03Clear from above
With the power still off, use tongs or pliers to lift out whatever is stuck. Bones, fruit pits and bottle caps are frequent culprits.
- 04Press reset
A red button on the bottom resets an overheated motor. Wait a few minutes, restore power and try the switch.
What each noise or symptom usually means
A humming motor that will not turn means the flywheel is jammed. Silence with no hum usually points to a tripped reset or a dead outlet. A grinding noise points to something hard in the chamber, and a rattle may be a spoon or loose fitting.
Slow draining water in the sink, with or without the disposal running, is another issue. If the water backs up into the second basin, the clog sits in the drain line past the disposal and calls for drain cleaning, not a new motor.
Sink full and disposal silent? Switch it off and call the all-hours line.
Call (855) 575-2890Repair or replace: how to decide
| Problem | What it usually means | Repair or replace |
|---|---|---|
| Hums, will not spin | Jammed flywheel | Repair: free the jam, test the motor |
| No sound, no hum | Tripped reset, bad switch or dead outlet | Repair: check power and reset first |
| Leaks from the top flange | Failed seal or mounting ring | Repair: reseat the flange with new putty or gasket |
| Leaks from the side or bottom | Cracked housing or failed internal seal | Replace |
| Leaks at the drain pipe | Loose slip nut or worn gasket | Repair: retighten or replace the fitting |
| Burnt smell, repeated tripping | Worn motor | Replace |
General guidance, not a quote. A unit that is more than a decade old and leaking is usually better replaced.
Leaks under the sink
Dry every connection with a paper towel, run the water, and watch which spot gets wet first. A leak from the top, where the sink flange sits, drips down the outside of the unit and looks like a leak from the body. A leak at the dishwasher hose or the discharge elbow shows up lower.
Water from the housing itself means internal seals have failed and the disposal cannot be saved. If the cabinet floor is already swollen, tell the dispatcher so the plumber can check for hidden moisture. The same sudden-leak habits that apply to any plumbing emergency apply here: turn the supply off and photograph the damage for your insurer.
What a disposal should never grind
Grease, oil and fat are the worst offenders. They harden in the pipe downstream and stick to other waste, and the disposal makes it worse by breaking food into small pieces that stick. Coffee grounds, eggshells, pasta, rice and potato peels also collect in the trap and slow the drain.
Fibrous scraps such as corn husks, celery and artichoke leaves wrap around the shredder plate. Bones and fruit pits are too hard. Run cold water for a full minute after use, since cold keeps fats solid so they flush through.
Installing a new disposal
A replacement takes a power source, a proper mounting ring, a discharge elbow and a connection to the dishwasher drain. If the dishwasher drains into the disposal, its knockout plug has to be removed before the dishwasher hose goes on, or the dishwasher will not drain. Some kitchens drain the dishwasher through an air gap or a high loop instead, which keeps sink water from flowing backward into the dishwasher.
Horsepower and feed type matter less than build quality. A continuous-feed model is the usual choice, while batch-feed units run only when the stopper is in place. We install the unit you choose or suggest options at three price levels. If you also plan a new sink or counter, look at our plumbing installation page first, so the drain and supply changes happen together.
What disposal repair costs
A jam cleared in ten minutes costs very little. A new unit with new plumbing underneath costs much more. Four things drive the difference.
Freeing a jam or tightening a fitting is a short repair. A burned motor or cracked body means replacement.
Larger motors and stainless grinding parts cost more and usually last longer.
A plug-in model needs an outlet under the sink. A hardwired one needs a safe connection to the circuit.
Corroded slip nuts, a rusted trap or a cracked tailpiece get replaced during the visit and add to the total.
Evenings and weekends may change the dispatch cost, and you hear it before the work starts.
A leak from a failed disposal is often covered for the water damage it causes but not for the disposal itself. If the cabinet or flooring is wet, photograph it before cleanup and call your carrier.
The fastest way to a real number is a call, because the price is explained before any work begins.
Grease and your city sewer
City of Tavares Utilities runs the Woodlea Road water reclamation facility and monitors 70 lift stations around the clock. Grease that goes down a kitchen drain travels toward those pumps and plant, and grease buildup is a common cause of blocked lines everywhere. The city's public pages do not describe a fats, oils and grease program, so ask City of Tavares Utilities if you have questions about your property.
On septic outside city sewer service, grease also builds up in the tank. We serve Leesburg and other nearby towns, where the same rule holds: keep fat out of the sink and wipe pans with a paper towel first.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. The dispatch line is open around the clock. Switch the disposal off, keep your hands out of it, and call. If water is leaking, shut the supply valve under the sink. A licensed plumber is scheduled as soon as the day allows.
Usually not. A hum means the motor is getting power but the flywheel is stuck. With the power off, work a hex key in the socket on the bottom, then press the red reset button. If it still hums, the motor may be worn out.
If the leak is at the top flange or a drain connection, yes. If water comes from the housing or the bottom, internal seals have failed and replacement is the sensible choice. The plumber will show you where the water starts.
The drain line past the disposal is partly blocked, often with grease and food residue. The disposal pushes more waste into a line that cannot take it. The line needs cleaning, and a new disposal will not solve it.
We advise against both. Grounds settle in the trap, and eggshell fragments can cling to grease in the pipe. Put them in the trash or compost and run cold water for a minute after normal use.
Not always. Many kitchens drain the dishwasher through the disposal, while others use an air gap or a high loop. Either way the connection must be set up correctly, or dirty water can flow back into the dishwasher.
Dinner dishes do not wait, and neither does a leaking disposal. Call us.
Call (855) 575-2890Sources and standards
Where this page cites a local fact, it comes from a public City of Tavares page, another city's own web page or a published water quality report. Where a figure is not published, the page says so instead of guessing.
Plumbing work in Florida is governed by the Florida Building Code, Plumbing, which is the standard inspectors apply, and permit rules vary by city. The contact page explains how to reach us, and any plumber's license can be checked with the Verify a License tool at MyFloridaLicense.com.