Wittmann AZ Wittmann Garbage Disposal Repair, Leaks and Replacement
A disposal that hums, leaks or backs up is easier to fix when you know which part is failing. Call the dispatch line and describe the sound or the leak.
CALL (623) 323-3182ALL SERVICES- Licensed and insured plumbers
- Same-day service when available
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Garbage disposal repair: jammed, humming or dead
Disposals fail in a few ways. A hum with no spin means the blades are jammed. No sound at all points to a tripped reset button or a power problem. A grinding or rattling noise often means a foreign object, such as a utensil or a bone, is stuck inside.
Safe steps before you call
- Turn the wall switch off, and unplug the unit or flip its breaker.
- Look for the red reset button on the bottom and press it.
- Use the hex socket under the unit to turn the blades by hand.
- Remove loose objects only with tongs, never with your hand.
- Test with water running, then switch the unit on.
Never reach inside. Blades can hurt even when the unit is off. Cut the power at the switch and the plug or breaker before you try anything.
Leaking disposal: where the water comes from
Find the leak by drying the unit and the pipes, then running water and watching. A leak at the sink flange comes from a worn seal. A leak at the side hose is a loose clamp or a worn gasket. A leak from the body or the bottom of the unit means a failed housing.
| Where it leaks | Likely cause | Usual fix |
|---|---|---|
| Top flange at the sink | Worn seal or putty | Reseat the flange |
| Side drain pipe | Loose clamp or gasket | Tighten or replace the gasket |
| Dishwasher hose connection | Loose clamp or cracked hose | Replace the hose or clamp |
| Body or bottom | Failed seal inside the unit | Replace the disposal |
A leak that goes unnoticed soaks the cabinet floor and can spread to the wall behind it. If water has spread, see water damage restoration.
Disposal leaking or dead? Call the dispatch line.
Say where the water appears and what you hear.
Clogged or backed-up sink with a disposal
A disposal clog can sit in the unit, in the trap or in the drain line past it. If water rises in the sink on the disposal side only, the blockage is likely in the disposal or the nearby drain. If the other side of a double sink also fills, the drain line is blocked further down.
Grease, coffee grounds, rice, pasta and fibrous scraps, such as celery and corn husks, are common causes. Run cold water while the unit runs, and flush for a few seconds after. A repeated clog may mean a drain problem the plumber needs to inspect. See drain cleaning for how those lines are cleared.
The dishwasher also drains through the disposal in many kitchens. A blocked disposal can make the dishwasher back up. Ask the plumber to check the dishwasher drain connection and the air gap at the same visit.
Sink backed up or unit stuck? Call dispatch.
Ask about the next available visit.
What a disposal can and cannot take
Most disposal trouble starts at the sink. Small soft scraps pass through. Bones, fruit pits, stringy vegetables, grease and large amounts of starch do not. Grease cools in the pipe and coats the walls, and starch swells into paste.
Run cold water before, during and after use. Cold water keeps grease solid so the blades can chop it, and it carries the waste past the trap. Do not pour drain cleaner into a disposal. The chemicals can damage the seals and splash back onto skin.
Odors
A smell from the sink often comes from food film on the underside of the splash guard and the walls of the grinding chamber. Cleaning the rubber guard and grinding a handful of ice can help. A smell that returns after cleaning may come from the drain trap or from a vent problem, which a plumber can trace.
Hardware to check on an older unit
Look at the mounting ring under the sink for rust and check the electrical cord or hardwired connection for damage. A rusted housing or a frayed cord is not a repair to attempt at home. Turn off the power and call.
Disposal installation and replacement
Installing a disposal means mounting the flange, hanging the unit, connecting the drain and the dishwasher hose and wiring or plugging in the power. The new unit should match the horsepower and mounting style that suits your sink. A plumber knocks out the dishwasher drain plug when needed, a step easily forgotten.
Ask if the disposal suits your house. Septic systems handle food waste differently from a municipal sewer. In Maricopa County, onsite wastewater, or septic, systems fall under the county's Environmental Services program. Check whether your home has a septic tank or a sewer connection, and if septic, ask the plumber and the county before adding a disposal.
What a repair or replacement costs depends on the unit and the work. The cost guide shows what drives a price. For other kitchen sink problems, see faucet and fixture repair.
Four disposal questions, answered
Should I repair or replace a garbage disposal?
A jam or a loose connection is a repair. A seized motor, a cracked housing or a leak from the body means replacement. If the unit is old and needs its second repair, replacement usually makes more sense. Ask the plumber what each option includes.
Why is my garbage disposal leaking?
Leaks come from three places: the sink flange at the top, the drain connection at the side and the body of the unit. A leak at the top or side is often a seal or a bolt. A leak from the bottom or the body means the unit has failed and needs replacement.
What if my sink is clogged or backed up?
Do not run the disposal. Water that will not drain means a blockage in the trap or the drain line, not just the disposal. Turn the unit off and call. If other fixtures are slow, the problem is further down the line.
Why is my disposal humming but not spinning?
A hum without spinning means the motor has power but the blades are stuck. Turn the unit off at the switch, then use the hex socket under the unit to turn the blades by hand. Never put your hand inside. If the blades will not move, call a plumber.
Disposal trouble in Wittmann? Call the dispatch line.
Day or night, someone answers.
- Licensed and insured plumbers
- Same-day service when available
- 24/7 emergency dispatch
- Licensed and insured plumbers
- Same-day service when available
- 24/7 emergency dispatch