Sink Backed Up and the Disposal Silent? Garbage Disposal Repair in Artesia, CA

Jam, Motor or Leak: Which Is It?

A disposal has three common problems and they look different. A jam is a hum with no spinning, because something is stuck against the blades. A dead motor makes no sound at all and may be tripped or burned out. A leak shows as water under the sink, and the source can be the sink flange, the unit body or the drain connections. Telling them apart takes a minute and saves a wrong repair.

SafetyNever put a hand into a disposal, even if it is off. Switch the unit off at the wall and at the breaker before any check, and use tongs or a hex key from below to clear a jam.

Fix a Garbage Disposal: Jams, Humming and a Dead Motor

A jam is the easiest to deal with. Most disposals have a hex socket at the bottom of the unit. With the power off, a hex key turned back and forth loosens the blades, and a red reset button on the bottom restores power to the motor. If the motor still hums with no movement, or trips again at once, the unit is worn out.

• Turn the power off at the wall switch and the breaker
• Look in with a flashlight and remove what you can see with tongs
• Use the hex socket under the unit to turn the blades loose, then press reset
• Run cold water and test the unit briefly
• If it trips again or hums with no spin, stop and call

Garbage Disposal Replacement: When Repair Stops Making Sense

A disposal that has been repaired twice, leaks from the housing or has a motor that fails to restart is usually past the point of repair. A replacement involves removing the old unit from the sink flange, mounting the new one, reconnecting the drain and the dishwasher hose and wiring or plugging it in. Ask the plumber about the size of the motor, whether a new electrical cord or switch is needed, whether the new unit fits the existing mounting ring or needs a new one, and whether the dishwasher knockout plug is removed, which is a small step that is often forgotten. Also ask whether the old unit is being hauled away, and whether the new one comes with its own power cord, since a hard-wired unit is a different install.

A Leak Under the Sink: Flange, Housing or Drain Connection

Dry the area, run water and look for the first drop. A drip at the top ring points to the flange seal. A wet side or bottom of the unit means a cracked housing and a replacement. A drip at the drain pipe is a loose slip nut or a worn gasket. If the leak appears only when the dishwasher runs, the dishwasher hose connection is the place to check. A small leak can soak the cabinet floor for months and lead to mold, which the cabinet water damage page describes for cases where the damage is already done.

Dishwasher Connection and Drain

Dishwasher plumbing is short: the dishwasher drains into the disposal or into the sink drain by way of a hose. If dishwasher water backs up into the sink or the dishwasher stands full, the cause is often a clogged disposal, a knockout plug that was never removed or a hose with a low loop that holds waste. A plumber checks the hose route, the high loop, and whether the connection is clear.

Clogged Beyond the Disposal: Whose Drain Is It?

If the disposal spins and the sink still drains slowly, the clog is in the drain line. A clog in a branch that serves only the kitchen is a plumber's job on your side of the system. A backup that affects several fixtures, or the lowest drains in the house, points to the main line, covered on the drain cleaning Artesia page. Under the street, the County looks after the sewer mains through its agreement with the City, while the lateral from your house to that main is the property owner's, according to a County report and newsletter that are several years old. Confirm with the County in an unusual case.

Housing age is worth a question when the sink drain is original. Median home age in Artesia is reported near 1965 by an aggregator, a secondary source, so the kitchen drain may be older metal pipe. Ask the plumber what the pipe looks like where it is visible under the sink.

Also handled: sink faucet and drain work, which is on the faucet repair Artesia page.

Garbage Disposal Questions Answered

Do I need a plumber to repair a garbage disposal?

A jam is something a careful homeowner can clear with a hex key from below, with the power off. A leak, a motor that will not restart or a drain that stays clogged is a plumber's job.

Why is my garbage disposal humming but not spinning?

The blades are stuck against something, or the motor is worn. With the power off, turn the blades by the socket underneath, then press reset. If it hums again without spinning, the unit needs replacing.

What do I do if the garbage disposal is leaking?

Find where the water comes from. At the top it is the flange seal, at the sides or bottom it is the housing, at the pipe it is a connection. Housing leaks mean a new disposal.

Who fixes garbage disposals?

A plumber does. Call the dispatch line and a plumber from our network is arranged, and ask for a license number you can check on the contractor board's website.