Key Takeaway
A garbage disposal that hums, trips its reset button or has stopped mid-grind is usually jammed or overloaded, and freeing the jam with the hex key on the bottom and pressing the reset button often fixes it. A leak at the sink flange or the drain connection can usually be repaired. A leak from the body of the unit, a motor that hums even when the plates turn freely, or a reset button that keeps tripping usually means the disposal needs replacing. A replacement typically takes 45 minutes to 1.5 hours. SKS Plumbing is open 7 days, 8am to 9pm. Call (503) 319-9348.
A garbage disposal that hums, jams or trips its reset button can usually be repaired, while one that leaks from the body of the unit or keeps failing after a reset needs replacing. Where the problem is, and how old the unit is, decides which way to go.
Disposals work hard in Hillsboro kitchens, and most of the calls we get come down to the same handful of problems. Here is how to tell a quick fix from a unit that has reached the end.
Problems a Reset or Repair Usually Fixes
It hums but does not spin. Something is wedged between the grinding plate and the ring: a fruit pit, a bone, a bottle cap. Switch off the disposal and unplug it or turn off its breaker. Then put the hex key (a 1/4-inch Allen wrench) into the socket in the centre of the underside and work it back and forth until the plate turns freely. Lift the debris out with tongs, never your hand.
It does nothing at all. Press the red reset button on the bottom of the unit. It is an overload protector that trips when the motor overheats or jams. If that does not work, check the breaker and the wall switch.
It drains slowly. That is often a clog in the drain line below the disposal rather than the disposal itself, especially if grease has been going down the sink. Clean Water Services, the wastewater utility for much of Washington County, warns that "if you pour grease down your drain, it sticks to pipes and eventually causes clogs and messy overflows." (Clean Water Services, Freeze the Grease) Running a disposal does not change that. Our post on drains that keep clogging covers what to do when it keeps happening.
It leaks at a connection. Leaks at the sink flange (where the disposal meets the sink), the dishwasher hose or the drain pipe connection can usually be fixed by resealing the flange or replacing a gasket.
Signs It Is Time to Replace It
- Leaking from the body of the unit. Water dripping from the housing itself, not from a connection, means the internal seals have failed. That cannot be repaired.
- It hums even when the plate turns freely. If you have cleared the jam and it still will not spin, the motor is failing.
- The reset button keeps tripping. One trip after a jam is normal. Tripping every few days means the motor is overheating under normal use.
- Rust on the housing. Corrosion on the outside usually means corrosion on the inside too.
- Age. A disposal typically lasts around 8 to 15 years. Past 10 years, a major repair is rarely worth it.
What Replacement Involves
A straightforward replacement typically takes 45 minutes to 1.5 hours. The plumber disconnects the drain and dishwasher line, removes the old unit, checks the sink flange and reseals it if needed, mounts the new disposal, reconnects everything and runs water to check every connection for leaks. If the old unit leaked for a while, they will also check the cabinet floor and the drain pipe for water damage.
The main thing that drives the cost is the unit you choose. A higher-horsepower model handles tougher scraps and tends to run quieter, but a standard unit is fine for most households. We will give you a written estimate before any work starts.
Repair or Replace: A Quick Rule
If the problem is a jam, a tripped reset or a leak at a connection, repair it. If the leak is from the unit itself, the motor will not run with a free plate, or the disposal is past 10 years old and failing, replace it. Repeated repairs on an old disposal usually cost more than a new one.
Get Your Disposal Sorted
SKS Plumbing repairs and replaces garbage disposals as part of our kitchen plumbing service, along with leaking sinks, faucets and dishwasher connections, across Hillsboro, Beaverton, Tigard and the rest of Washington County. If the sink is leaking underneath as well, our guide to finding the source of a kitchen sink leak is a good first step.
We are open seven days a week, 8am to 9pm. Call (503) 319-9348, or book a visit for a free estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Usually something is jammed between the grinding plate and the ring, such as a fruit pit, a bone or a utensil. With the power off, turn the hex key in the socket on the bottom of the unit back and forth until it moves freely, clear the debris with tongs, then press the reset button. If it still only hums once the plate turns freely, the motor is likely failing.
It is an overload protector. When the motor overheats or jams, it trips to protect the motor. Pressing it back in restores power once the motor has cooled. A button that trips again and again means the motor is struggling and the unit is near the end of its life.
It depends where it leaks. Leaks at the sink flange, the dishwasher hose connection or the drain pipe connection can usually be fixed by resealing or replacing a gasket. A leak from the body of the disposal itself means the internal seals or housing have failed, and the unit needs replacing.
Roughly 8 to 15 years depending on how hard it works and the quality of the unit. Once a disposal is past 10 years old, a significant repair usually costs more than it is worth compared with a new unit.
A straightforward replacement typically takes 45 minutes to 1.5 hours, including removing the old unit, mounting the new one, reconnecting the drain and dishwasher line, and testing for leaks.
