Garbage Disposal Repair and Replacement in Camp Hill, PA
When you call about a disposal, dispatch asks three things: what it does when you switch it on, where water shows up and whether the sink drains. Those answers tell the plumber whether to expect a reset, a jam, a leak or a replacement.
A plumber from your area brings common disposal parts and fittings, checks the connections and gives the repair-or-replace answer at the sink.
- Licensed and insured plumbers
- Same-day service when available
- 24/7 emergency dispatch
Garbage disposal replacement: when repair is not worth it
A disposal is replaced when the motor has failed, when it leaks from the housing itself or when the grinding parts are worn smooth and it no longer clears scraps. Leaks from the body are not repairable: the seal between the upper and lower halves has failed, and water will keep escaping. A unit that hums but does not turn after you have cleared a jam may also have a burned-out motor.
If you have already bought a new one, tell dispatch the brand and horsepower. Replacement means disconnecting the drain and dishwasher hose, releasing the mounting ring, fitting the new unit and sealing the sink flange. The wiring is a plug on many units and hardwired on others, and the plumber will say which applies.
- Motor hums, then stops, and the reset button will not hold: usually a failed motor.
- Water drips from the bottom or sides of the unit: a failed housing seal.
- Unit is rusted or pitted inside: worn out, replace.
- Sink flange leaks where it meets the sink: a seal that can be redone.
Never reach into a disposal, even when it is off at the switch. Use a wrench or a spoon handle, and unplug it or turn off its breaker first.
Replacing the disposal yourself?
If the new unit is already bought, give dispatch the brand and horsepower when you call.
Call (717) 897-7332Disposal down or leaking?
Describe what it does when switched on. Tell dispatch what the unit is doing and the nearest plumber takes it.
Call (717) 897-7332Garbage disposal repair: jams, humming and a unit that will not start
A jam is the most common repair. The motor hums because the spinning plate is stuck against a spoon, a bone or a fruit pit. With the power off, an Allen wrench in the hole at the bottom of the unit turns the plate back and forth, or a wooden spoon handle from above does the same thing. Many units also have a red reset button on the underside that trips when the motor overheats.
If the unit is silent when switched on, the reset button and the wall switch or outlet are the first checks. If the unit runs but does not grind, the shredder plate may have loosened. If the unit smokes or smells of burning, switch it off at the wall and call.
- Switch the disposal off at the wall, and unplug it if it is on a cord.
- Unjam the plate with an Allen wrench from below or a wooden spoon handle from above.
- Press the reset button under the unit.
- Restore power and test with cold water running; call if it hums again.
Leaking under the sink: the unit, the drain or the dishwasher hose
Water under a disposal comes from four places: the sink flange at the top, the seam in the housing, the drain pipe on the side and the dishwasher hose connection. Wipe each dry, run water and watch where the first drop forms. A drip from the flange or a loose drain connection can be repaired; a drip from the housing means replacement.
The dishwasher drain line connects to the side of the disposal, and a knockout plug inside must be removed on a new unit or the dishwasher will not drain. If the dishwasher leaves standing water after a replacement, that plug is the first thing to check.
Clogged disposal and a sink that backs up
A clog that holds water in the sink may be in the disposal, the trap or the line behind it. Run water and listen: if the dishwasher drain sends water back into the sink, the blockage is past the disposal. Coffee grounds, rice, pasta and fibrous scraps such as celery are common causes, as is grease that cools and coats the pipe.
Chemical drain cleaners are a poor idea here: they sit in the disposal and trap, and they can burn a person who then takes the trap apart. If a plunger and a manual clear do not work, the line behind the disposal needs cleaning, which is covered on the slow-drain steps.
Jammed, humming or stuck units, dishwasher connections and drains, and clogs are the usual reasons for a call. For the sink faucet and the shutoff valves under it, faucet and shutoff valve work covers those parts. Factors in disposal installation pricing are listed separately.
| What happens | Likely cause | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Hums, nothing turns | Jam or burned motor | Turn the plate, press reset |
| Silent when switched on | Tripped reset or no power | Check reset, then the outlet |
| Drips from the bottom | Failed housing seal | Replace the unit |
| Leaks at the sink rim | Flange seal | Reseal the flange |
| Sink backs up | Clog past the disposal | Clear the line |
Disposal questions
My disposal hums but does not spin. Is it broken?
Not necessarily. Humming usually means the plate is jammed. Switch it off, turn the plate by hand with an Allen wrench from below and press the reset button. If it hums again, the motor may be failing.
Can a plumber install a disposal I bought myself?
Yes. Give dispatch the brand and horsepower on the call. The plumber checks that the sink flange fits and that the dishwasher plug is removed.
Why is my dishwasher full of water after the disposal was replaced?
A new disposal has a plug inside the dishwasher inlet. If it was left in, the dishwasher cannot drain into the unit. Removing it is a short fix.
What should never go down a disposal?
Grease, coffee grounds in quantity, bones, fibrous vegetables, pasta and rice. Cold water running for several seconds after use helps carry waste along the pipe.
Next to the sink
Disposal not working?
Call dispatch and say how the unit behaves when switched on. A plumber from your street's service area takes it from there.
Call (717) 897-7332- Licensed and insured plumbers
- Same-day service when available
- 24/7 emergency dispatch