Disposal Jammed or Leaking? Safe Steps First
Never put a hand into a disposal, even when it is off.
- Turn off the switch and unplug the unit. If it is hardwired, switch off the breaker. A disposal that restarts unexpectedly causes serious injuries.
- Stop running water in the sink. A leaking unit sends water into the cabinet with every use.
- Look for the source of the leak. A wet top flange, side hose or bottom seam each point to a different repair.
- Empty the cabinet and set a bowl under the unit.
- Call (770) 214-4545. Dispatch answers nights, weekends and holidays.
If the sink is full of standing water, do not pour chemical cleaner in. It splashes back when a plumber starts work.
What Your Disposal Is Telling You
Sounds and leaks narrow down the repair quickly.
| Symptom | Likely cause | Usual fix |
|---|---|---|
| Hums but will not spin. | Jammed flywheel. | Free the jam with the hex key, reset the unit. |
| Dead with no hum. | Tripped reset or power issue. | Press reset, check the outlet and switch. |
| Leaks at the top. | Failed mounting seal. | Reseat the flange with new putty or gasket. |
| Leaks at the side. | Loose drain or dishwasher hose. | Replace the gasket or clamp. |
| Leaks at the bottom. | Cracked housing. | Replace the unit. |
| Sink drains slowly. | Clog past the disposal. | Clear the drain line. |
Repair or Replace the Disposal
A unit that leaks from the housing cannot be saved.
Jams, tripped resets and loose hoses are quick repairs. A cracked housing is not repairable, and a motor that burns out repeatedly is a signal to replace. Replacement units come in different horsepower ratings, and a bigger motor handles tougher scraps with less strain.
We install the new unit, reconnect the dishwasher drain and test the sink for leaks. If the old unit leaves pitting or corrosion on the flange, we mention it before you buy a new one.
Many disposal issues start with what goes down the drain, because fibrous peels, grease and coffee grounds clump in the trap below the unit and make a healthy motor look like a bad one. That is why we always test the drain beyond the disposal before we recommend spending money on a new unit, since a replacement installed over a clogged trap will fail the same way within weeks.
Disposal humming but not spinning?
Call the 24/7 line and a plumber will free it or replace it.
How We Handle a Disposal Call
The plumber works from the top of the sink to the sewer line.
- We make it safe. Power is cut and the unit is checked before any hand goes near it.
- We find the leak or jam. Water and a flashlight show where the leak starts, and the hex key frees most jams.
- We repair or swap. Seals, gaskets and hoses are replaced, or the unit comes out.
- We check the trap and drain line. Clogs below the disposal are cleared so the repair holds.
- We run water and test. The sink fills and drains while we watch every joint.
Kitchens in Peachtree Corners Homes
Most local calls involve a house kitchen with its own drain line.
About 59 percent of Peachtree Corners housing is single-family, according to the city's 2018 long-range plan. Single-family kitchens usually drain through a short branch into the main stack. A clog that starts at the disposal can slow the whole branch if it is not cleared.
If every sink in the house is slow at once, the problem is farther down the line. In that case our sewer line cleaning crews clear the main, and the disposal gets a clean bill of health.
Rental kitchens in the city's larger buildings often share drain stacks, so a tenant who reports a slow kitchen sink may be seeing a stack problem that affects other units. Property managers should call us early, because a stack clog that starts in one kitchen can surface in a unit two floors below.
Habits That Keep a Disposal Alive
Small changes save the motor and the drain.
Run cold water before, during and after each use. Cold water keeps grease solid so it moves through the unit. Cut large scraps down before feeding them in. Skip bones, fibrous vegetables, pasta, rice and anything starchy that swells.
Never pour grease in the sink, with or without a disposal. Grease cools and coats the pipe wall. If a disposal keeps clogging after repair, a camera check shows whether the drain beyond it has damage.
- Repair or replacementSeals and hoses cost less than a new unit.
- Unit sizeHigher horsepower units cost more but run easier.
- AccessTight cabinets and old plumbing add time.
- Time of the callAfter-hours calls include overtime labor.
You hear the price before we start.
Garbage Disposal Questions in Peachtree Corners
Yes. The line at (770) 214-4545 answers around the clock. Dispatch tells you the earliest window and what to switch off while you wait.
The flywheel is jammed. A plumber frees it with a hex key at the bottom of the unit and presses reset. Never reach in by hand.
The source is usually the top mounting seal, a side hose connection or a cracked housing. A cracked housing means replacement, while the others are repairs.
Yes, but the clog usually sits in the trap or line below the unit. We clear the line so the new or repaired unit works properly.
Grease, bones, fibrous vegetables, pasta, rice and coffee grounds cause most problems. Cold water and small portions help the unit last.
Yes. Our crews cover Dunwoody and neighboring towns. Tell dispatch your address and the symptoms when you call.