A garbage disposal that is leaking under the sink, or that has stopped and left the basin full of standing water, is a problem you cannot ignore for long. Our 24/7 line in Braintree, MA covers nights and weekends. Switch the disposal off at the wall, do not put your hand in the chamber, and put a bucket under any drip.
A disposal is a small grinder bolted under the sink drain. When it fails, the cause is almost always one of four things: a jam, a motor or electrical fault, a leak at the body or flange, or a blockage downstream that makes it look like a disposal problem. Telling those apart takes a few minutes with a flashlight, and it decides whether the fix is cheap or a replacement.
What the symptom usually means
Match what you hear and see to the likely cause before you touch anything.
Humming but nothing turns.
The grinding plate is jammed. Power is reaching the motor, but a spoon, bone or fruit pit is locking it.
Dead silent, no hum.
The overload has tripped, the outlet or switch is off, or the motor has failed. A red reset button on the bottom is the first check.
Water drips from the bottom.
A seal or the body casing has failed. That usually means replacement.
Water drips from the top ring.
The sink flange seal or mounting has loosened. This is often repairable.
Water drips at a side pipe.
A loose discharge or dishwasher hose connection. Tightening or a new gasket often cures it.
Both sink sides fill.
The clog is past the disposal, in the shared drain. See drain cleaning.
A leaking or flooded disposal tonight
A disposal leak can run for hours before you notice it under the cabinet. Treat steady dripping as urgent.
- Turn the disposal off at the switch and unplug it if the cord is dry and reachable.
- Shut the sink's supply valves if water is spraying.
- Empty the cabinet and place a bucket or towels under the leak.
- Call (617) 752-0573. Nights and weekends are handled the same as daytime.
Water under the sink right now?
Turn the disposal off, shut the supply valves and call (617) 752-0573.
The jam fix we use, and you can too
A jammed disposal often frees with a hex key. Only do this with the power off.
Kill the power.
Switch off at the wall switch and unplug under the sink, or turn off the breaker. Never reach in with it powered.
Turn the plate by hand.
A hex key fits a socket in the center of the underside. Work it back and forth until it rotates freely.
Remove the object.
With a flashlight and tongs, not fingers, pull out whatever was jamming. Bones, glass and utensils are common.
Reset and test.
Press the red reset button, restore power and run cold water while you turn it on briefly.
Repair or replace the disposal
| Situation | Usually repair | Usually replace. |
|---|---|---|
| Jam. | Free it and reset. | Repeated jams from a worn plate. |
| Leak at the sink flange. | Re-seat and re-seal. | Corroded or cracked flange. |
| Leak from the body. | Not repairable. | Replace the unit. |
| Motor will not run. | Reset or switch fix. | Failed motor on an older unit. |
| Loose discharge pipe. | New gasket or hose. | Cracked unit housing. |
A leak through the body casing is the clear case for replacement. The rest depend on age and what else is wrong.
Installing a new disposal: what to expect
A replacement is a swap of the unit on the existing mounting ring when sizes match. We check the power supply, the switch and the discharge piping at the same visit. A cord that is too short or a missing plug is common in older kitchens.
Horsepower is a trade-off. A larger motor grinds tougher scraps and runs quieter, but fits only if the cabinet allows. Most households do well with a mid-range unit.
A note on the dishwasher connection
The dishwasher drain hose connects to a nipple on the disposal. If you install a disposal on a line that already has a dishwasher, the knockout plug on that nipple has to be removed, or the dishwasher will not drain. Missing that step leaves a dishwasher full of dirty water.
We also check that the dishwasher hose loops high under the counter, which helps prevent backflow into the machine. If your dishwasher is the source of a leak, we trace the hose as part of the visit.
What affects the cost of disposal work
Disposal jobs are small, but a few things move the price.
Insurance seldom covers a worn-out disposal. If it leaked and damaged the cabinet or floor, a water damage claim may apply, so photograph the leak and keep the old unit. Call (617) 752-0573 for a clear price before work starts.
Disposal questions, answered
Yes. The dispatch line is open 24/7. Switch the disposal off and shut the sink's supply if water is spraying, then call (617) 752-0573.
It is almost always a jam. With the power off, turn the plate with a hex key from underneath, remove the object and press the reset button.
A loose flange or hose often can. A leak through the body casing cannot, and the unit needs replacing.
Soft food scraps in small amounts with cold water running. Grease, coffee grounds in bulk, bones, pasta and fibrous peels are the common causes of jams and clogs.
The blockage is beyond the disposal. Our drain cleaning service clears it, and a main line issue falls under sewer line cleaning.
Yes. We remove the knockout plug and check the hose loop. For a leak that is not the disposal, see leak detection.
Yes, see our Weymouth page for the area we cover.