GARBAGE DISPOSAL REPAIR, INSTALLATION & REPLACEMENT

You flip the switch and hear a low humming sound, but nothing is happening. No grinding, no water draining, just that frustrated hum. This is one of the most common garbage disposal problems we see, and the good news is it's often fixable without replacing the whole unit. The humming tells you the motor is trying to work but something is stopping the blades from spinning. Usually, something hard got stuck down there and jammed the flywheel. Could be a bone fragment, a piece of silverware that fell in, fruit pits, or just years of buildup that finally locked things up. If the motor has been running while jammed for too long, though, it can overheat and burn out.

What you can try first: Start by turning off the disposal at the switch and the breaker for safety. Look underneath the unit for a red reset button (usually on the bottom or side) and press it. Sometimes the motor just tripped its internal breaker and needs to be reset. If that doesn't work, most disposals have a hex-shaped hole on the bottom center. Grab an Allen wrench (often a 1/4 inch), insert it into that hole, and manually turn the flywheel back and forth to break up whatever is jamming it. You can also try using a wooden spoon or broom handle from the top to manually rotate the blades (never use your hand). Once it moves freely, press the reset button again and try the switch.

When to call us: If you've reset it and freed up the jam but the disposal still just hums, or if it keeps tripping your circuit breaker when you turn it on, the motor is likely burned out. At that point, you're looking at a replacement. Garbage disposal replacement typically runs between $150 and $400 depending on the quality of the unit and how difficult your existing setup is to access. If your disposal is more than 8 to 10 years old and giving you trouble, replacement usually makes more sense than repair since they don't last forever. We've installed hundreds of disposals across Northeast Texas over 13 years, and we can usually get a new one in and running within an hour or two. Don't keep flipping that switch hoping it'll suddenly work. A jammed motor that keeps running will burn out for sure, and then you're buying a new one anyway.

You open the cabinet under your sink and find a puddle, damp paper towels you threw down last week, or water dripping every time you run the disposal. Leaks around a garbage disposal can come from several places, and figuring out where the water is actually coming from makes all the difference. The most common spots are the drain connection where the disposal meets the sink, the dishwasher inlet hose if you have one connected, the drain pipe going out to your plumbing, or the disposal unit itself if a gasket has worn out or the housing has cracked. Even a small, slow leak can cause cabinet damage, mold growth, and wasted water over time.

What you can try first: Dry everything off completely, then run water and the disposal while watching closely to pinpoint exactly where the leak is coming from. Check the rubber gasket between the disposal and the sink drain. It might just need to be tightened or resealed. Look at the dishwasher inlet connection (if you have one) and make sure the hose clamp is tight. Check where the drainpipe connects to the disposal outlet and tighten that connection if it feels loose. Sometimes vibration from the disposal running shakes connections loose over time, and a simple tightening solves it.

When to call us: If water is dripping from the bottom of the disposal unit itself, that usually means an internal seal has failed or the housing has cracked. That's not repairable. You'll need a replacement. If you've tightened all the connections and the leak persists, or if you can't figure out where the water is coming from, give us a call. Disposal gasket replacement and resealing typically runs $100 to $200 if the unit itself is fine. Full disposal replacement ranges from $150 to $400 depending on the model and installation complexity. We've troubleshot hundreds of disposal leaks across the Metroplex over 13 years, and we can usually diagnose it quickly and get you back to a dry cabinet. Don't let a small leak turn into rotted cabinets and a bigger mess. Catch it early and it's a quick, affordable fix.

If opening your cabinet under the sink or running water in that side of your sink hits you with a nasty smell, your garbage disposal is trying to tell you something. That rotten, sour, or sewage-like odor comes from food particles, grease, and organic matter stuck to the inside walls of the disposal or trapped in the splash guard and grinding chamber. Over time, this buildup creates a slimy coating where bacteria thrive, and that's what you're smelling. It's gross, but it's also very common, especially if you've been putting things down the disposal that don't break down easily like grease, fibrous vegetables, or starchy foods.

What you can try first: Start with the baking soda and vinegar trick. Pour half a cup of baking soda down the disposal, followed by a cup of white vinegar. Let it fizz and sit for 10 to 15 minutes, then flush with hot water. Next, toss in a handful of ice cubes and a cup of rock salt (or regular table salt), turn on the cold water, and run the disposal for 30 seconds. The ice and salt scrub the inside walls and knock loose stuck-on gunk. Finish by grinding up citrus peels like lemon or orange for a fresh scent. You can also lift out the rubber splash guard and scrub underneath it with an old toothbrush and dish soap since that's where a lot of the grime hides.

When to call us: If you've cleaned the disposal thoroughly and the smell comes back within a few days, or if it never really goes away, the problem is likely deeper. Food could be trapped in the grinding chamber in a spot you can't reach, the disposal might not be draining properly and water is sitting stagnant inside, or there could be buildup in the drainpipe beyond the disposal that needs professional cleaning. Persistent odors can also mean the disposal is old and has developed cracks or crevices where bacteria can hide permanently. A professional disposal cleaning and drain treatment typically runs $75 to $150. If the unit is too far gone and harboring bacteria in places that can't be cleaned, replacement is the better option and ranges from $150 to $400. We've dealt with every kind of disposal smell across North Texas over 13 years, and we can tell you pretty quickly whether it's cleanable or time for a new one. You shouldn't have to hold your breath every time you open that cabinet.

You're running the disposal and suddenly it just stops. No warning, no noise, just dead. You flip the switch a few times and nothing happens. This is usually the disposal's built-in safety feature kicking in because something has gone wrong. The most common reason is overheating. If the motor works too hard (maybe it's jammed, overloaded, or just old and struggling), it heats up and an internal breaker trips to prevent the motor from burning out. Other possible causes include a loose electrical connection, a faulty switch, or a motor that's on its last legs and can't handle normal use anymore.

What you can try first: Look underneath the disposal unit for a small red or black reset button, usually on the bottom or lower side. Press it firmly. You should feel it click. If it pops right back out, the motor is still overheated and you need to wait 10 to 15 minutes for it to cool down before trying again. Once it stays pressed in, go ahead and try the switch. If it runs normally after that, you probably just overloaded it or something caused it to work too hard temporarily. Make sure you're running plenty of cold water while using it and not putting too much down at once.

When to call us: If the reset button won't stay in, if the disposal shuts off again within a few minutes of resetting it, or if you have to reset it every time you use it, something bigger is wrong. It could be a wiring issue, a failing motor that can't handle the load anymore, or an internal problem that's causing repeated overheating. At that point, repair usually doesn't make sense. Garbage disposal replacement typically runs $150 to $400 depending on the horsepower and model you choose. If your disposal is over 10 years old and giving you repeated trouble, replacement is almost always the better investment than trying to band-aid an old unit. We've replaced countless disposals across the Metroplex over 13 years, and we'll tell you straight whether yours is worth saving or ready for retirement. A disposal that keeps shutting off is just going to get more frustrating until it quits for good.

You're standing at the sink watching water pool around your feet instead of going down the drain. Or maybe the water drains eventually but takes forever to clear. When you have a garbage disposal, slow draining or frequent backups usually point to one of a few things. The disposal itself might be clogged with food that didn't grind up properly, the P-trap under your sink could be packed with grease and debris, or you might have a blockage further down the drain line. Sometimes the disposal grinds food but doesn't actually flush it all the way through, leaving it sitting in the chamber or trap where it builds up over time.

What you can try first: Run hot water down the drain for a few minutes to try melting away any grease buildup. Avoid putting fibrous foods like celery, asparagus, and corn husks down the disposal because they wrap around the blades and don't break down. Same goes for starchy foods like pasta, rice, and potato peels because they turn into a paste that clogs things up. Coffee grounds are another big culprit even though people think they're harmless. Always run cold water while the disposal is on and keep it running for 15 to 20 seconds after you turn the disposal off to flush everything through completely. If you're dealing with a partial clog, try the baking soda and vinegar method (half cup baking soda, one cup vinegar, let it sit 15 minutes, then flush with hot water).

When to call us: If your sink backs up regularly, if water pools every time you run the dishwasher, or if you've tried flushing it and the problem keeps coming back, there's a blockage that needs professional attention. It could be stuck in the disposal, trapped in the P-trap, or built up in the drain line beyond what you can reach. We can snake the line, clean out the trap, or assess whether the disposal itself is failing and not grinding food properly anymore. Professional drain cleaning for a kitchen sink typically runs $100 to $250 depending on the severity and location of the clog. If the disposal is worn out and leaving chunks of food behind instead of grinding them, replacement might be the smarter move and ranges from $150 to $400. We've cleared thousands of kitchen drain clogs across North Texas over 13 years, and we can usually tell within minutes whether it's a simple clog or a bigger issue. A slow drain always gets worse, never better, so don't wait until your sink is completely backed up and unusable.