If you have a garbage disposal in your kitchen, there’s a high chance that you’ll eventually encounter some type of issue with it. Occasionally, the problem might be something you can take care of yourself in a few minutes while, in other circumstances, it’s something you should hire a plumber to fix. There are also certain problems that can’t be fixed in a practical and economical fashion and certain situations in which it just makes more sense to replace the entire disposal.
How Long Do Garbage Disposals Typically Last?
One thing you always want to think about when trying to decide whether it’s worth paying a plumber to fix your garbage disposal is how old it is. Some garbage disposals can last for 10 to 15 years, especially if they don’t get much use and are always used properly. However, the majority of units will either fail or just no longer work effectively enough after only six to eight years.
Even if a plumber can fix the issue, it almost never makes sense to repair a garbage disposal if it’s old and will likely fail again in the near future or if it already isn’t working as well as you need it to. Depending on what the problem is, you’re usually looking at paying at least $100 to $200 for a plumber to fix your garbage disposal. At the same time, you can usually get a new unit for between $100 and $350, excluding the additional cost for a plumber to install it. Even if you’re handy, it generally isn’t recommended that you try to replace it yourself. Homeowners doing this run significant risks of leaks and water damage. If your existing disposal is hardwired instead of a plug-in model, you should absolutely hire a professional due to the extreme danger of working with electrical wiring around water.
Common Garbage Disposal Issues
There are really only a few issues that can cause a garbage disposal to break or stop working effectively. The specific problem you’re dealing with is important for determining whether you might be able to fix the disposal yourself or whether you need a plumber to repair or replace the unit.
Garbage Disposal Is Leaking
If you open up the cabinet under your kitchen sink and see that water has pooled up underneath your garbage disposal, you definitely want to contact a plumber. Nonetheless, where the water is leaking from determines whether the problem can be fixed or if you need to have your garbage disposal replaced.
One common problem is that the flange or gasket that connects the garbage disposal to the drain breaks or wears out. This results in water leaking out of the connection and the water then dripping down the side of the disposal. To fix the problem, the plumber will need to unhook the disposal and then replace the flange or possibly the drain pipe. This usually isn’t that expensive of a repair. However, if your disposal is near the end of its life, you’re better off just replacing it at the same time. That’s because the parts and labor costs will be about the same whether you have a plumber just fix the leak or install a replacement disposal. You’ll obviously have to pay for the new disposal itself, but you’ll still save money in the future.
If water is leaking out of the bottom or side of your garbage disposal, replacement is your only option. This type of leak can happen because of a worn-out inner seal or because the shell of the disposal is cracked. In either case, the problem can’t be fixed and the disposal will continue leaking every time you use your sink.
Garbage Disposal Won’t Turn On
The first thing to do if your garbage disposal won’t turn on is to press the reset button. Most disposals have an internal mechanism that will shut them off in certain situations, such as if the flywheel gets jammed or the motor overheats. A power surge can also cause the same thing to happen.
If your garbage disposal still won’t turn on after pressing the reset button, it potentially means the unit isn’t receiving power. One thing to check in this situation is that the circuit breaker for the disposal isn’t tripped. If you have a plug-in disposal, you can also unplug the power cord and plug something else into the outlet to check that it still has power. If the outlet is dead, you’ll need to have an electrician repair or replace it. The other possibility in this situation is that the motor is dead, which again means you’ll need to have a plumber install a replacement.
Garbage Disposal Isn’t Spinning
The most common issue you’ll encounter is that the flywheel and impellers don’t spin when you turn your garbage disposal on. You’ll still hear a humming noise from the motor, but nothing else will happen. In this case, you can be almost certain that the disposal is jammed. Garbage disposals can get jammed as a result of a hard object getting trapped between one of the impellers and the grinding ring. It can also happen because of tough fibers getting wrapped around the impellers and flywheel, binding everything up.
There’s a slot on the bottom of garbage disposals that is specifically used for unjamming. All you need to do is insert the right size hex wrench into this slot and then turn it back and forth until the flywheel starts spinning freely again. Before turning the unit back on, you should use a flashlight and look inside for any hard items. If you see something like a bone or fruit pit, you’ll want to remove it with needle-nose pliers first. However, you need to make sure to unplug the disposal or shut the circuit breaker off before doing so, just to be fully certain that you don’t accidentally turn the unit on.
Garbage Disposal Isn’t Working Effectively
Many people think that the reason their garbage disposal no longer works effectively is because its blades are dull. It’s a very common misconception that garbage disposals have sharp blades that dice all of the food scraps up. How a garbage disposal really works is that the spinning flywheel and impellers force everything up against a stationary grinding ring, pulverizing the scraps so that they easily get washed out of the disposal and down the drain.
The grinding ring can get dulled over time or corrode, both of which can make a garbage disposal work much less effectively and lead to frequent clogs. The same thing can happen when the unit’s motor is starting to wear out. It’s possible to replace the grinding ring if needed. However, doing so is quite complex and time consuming, as it requires removing and then disassembling the unit. As such, it’s almost always going to cost you more than it would to install a replacement.
For the most dependable plumbing services in the Hanover area, rely on our team at Beltway Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing. We specialize in all aspects of kitchen plumbing from garbage disposals and drains to faucets and water lines. If you’re dealing with a garbage disposal issue or need any other help with your plumbing, contact us today for rapid, expert service.
