Matthews, NC · Jams, leaks, hums and replacements
Garbage disposal repair in Matthews, NC for jams, leaks and units that only hum
A disposal that hums and will not turn, drips under the sink or smells no matter what you run through it? Call (833) 571-0120 and describe the sound and where the water shows.
Many jams are a two-minute reset. A leak or a burned-out motor is a repair or replacement. The first job is telling which one you have.
Disposal hums but does not grind: unplug, hex wrench, reset
Most disposal guides give the same order. HomeTips advises unplugging the unit or switching off its circuit breaker before anything else, and says not to keep running a disposal that hums without grinding because it can burn out the motor.
- Switch off the wall switch, then unplug the unit or turn off its breaker.
- Never put your hand in the disposal. Use tongs or pliers to remove anything you can see.
- Look under the unit for a hex-shaped socket. Fit a 1/4-inch hex wrench and work it back and forth to loosen the blades.
- Press the reset button on the bottom of the unit.
- Restore power and run cold water. If it hums again, stop and call.
If there is no hex socket, some models allow you to turn the blades from above with a wooden handle while the power is off. Do not use anything you cannot control.
Where the leak is, and what that tells you
| Where it drips | Likely cause | What it usually takes |
|---|---|---|
| Pipe connections under the unit | A loose or worn connection | Tightening or replacing the connection |
| Where the unit meets the sink | A worn gasket or loose mounting | New gasket or remounting the unit |
| The dishwasher hose connection | A loose clamp or worn hose | Re-seating or replacing the hose |
| The body of the disposal | A failed seal inside the unit | Usually replacement |
HomeTips notes that when the motor or shredder is shot, replacing the whole unit is generally the simplest and wisest choice. Wipe the area dry, run water and watch to see where the drip appears first.
The sink backs up when the disposal runs
If water rises in the other side of the sink, the kitchen drain line is blocked beyond the disposal. If it backs up in several fixtures, the problem is further down. Charlotte Water says a blockage in private plumbing is for a plumbing contractor, while a public main is for the city. The call to 311 or 704-336-7600 applies if backups continue after you stop using water.
A kitchen line that clogs repeatedly is more than a disposal problem. See clearing a clogged kitchen line for how that is handled.
What should and should not go down the drain
- Keep metal, glass, rubber and fibrous scraps such as artichoke leaves out.
- Keep bones and cooking grease out.
- Do not pour drain cleaners or bleach through it.
- Run cold water while grinding and for a few seconds after.
- Cut large scraps small instead of forcing them in.
These habits prevent most jams and most repeat clogs in the line beyond the unit.
Repair or replace?
A jam, a loose connection or a worn gasket is a repair. A seized motor, a leaking body or a unit that has needed repeated repairs is a replacement. Ask what the plumber recommends and why, and ask whether the sink flange and the drain connections are reusable.
Ask whether the new unit needs an electrical change. A disposal is wired to a switch and an outlet, and a unit with a different plug or a hard-wired setup may need an electrician to confirm the circuit. If you are not sure, ask before the day of the install.
Installing a new disposal
A new unit mounts to the sink flange under the basin, connects to the drain trap and, if you have a dishwasher, to the dishwasher hose. Ask the plumber to check the sink flange and mounting parts, and to test for leaks after the install.
Ask whether the work needs a permit. Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement says permits are required for installing, extending, altering or repairing plumbing, so ask your plumber which office issues the permit for your address.
Disposal humming, leaking or dead? Call and tell us what you hear.
Call (833) 571-0120Smells and slow drainage that are not a jam
A disposal that smells usually has food residue on the shredder ring or the underside of the rubber splash guard. Run cold water, grind small ice and a little citrus peel, and wipe the splash guard by hand with the power off. Do not use chemical drain cleaners in a disposal.
A smell that comes back, or one that seems to come from the drain and not the unit, points to a trap or line problem. If the sink also drains slowly, the clog is past the disposal. The person to call is a plumber with a cable or a camera, not a larger disposal.
Choosing a replacement unit
Disposals differ in motor size, how they mount, whether they feed continuously or by batch, and how much noise they make. A household that cooks often will notice the difference between a small and a large motor. A household that rarely grinds food will not.
Ask what mounting system the existing sink flange uses. Ask whether the unit needs a new power cord or a hard-wired connection. Ask what the manufacturer warranty covers, and whether it requires a professional install to stay valid.
- Motor size suited to how much you grind.
- Mount type that fits your sink opening.
- Sound insulation if the kitchen is open to a living area.
- Warranty length and what voids it.
Safety around the sink
Treat the disposal like any other power tool. Switch off the power at the breaker or unplug the unit before any work, and never put your hand inside, even with the power off, because blades can be moved by water pressure or a tool.
If a spoon or fork falls in, use tongs or pliers after the power is off. Keep the wall switch labeled and out of reach of children. If the unit trips the breaker repeatedly, stop using it and call an electrician or plumber, since that may point to a motor or wiring fault.