Garbage Disposal Repair & Installation in Winston-Salem, NC

Quick checks before you request help

Always turn off the switch, and unplug the unit or switch off its breaker, before reaching near a disposal. Never put your hand inside.

• Nothing happens at all: press the red reset button on the bottom of the unit, check the breaker and any GFCI outlet, and check that the plug under the sink is seated.
• It hums but will not spin: it is jammed. Many units have a hex socket in the center of the bottom; turning it back and forth with the wrench that came with the disposal (or a hex key) frees the flywheel. Then press reset.
• It runs but drains slowly: the clog may be past the disposal in the trap or the drain line. See drain cleaning.

Leaks under the sink

Where the water comes from tells you what is wrong:

• Top, at the sink flange: the plumber's putty or gasket has failed, or the mounting ring has loosened. Usually repairable.
• Side, at the dishwasher hose or drain outlet: a loose clamp or worn gasket. Usually repairable.
• Bottom of the unit: the internal seals have failed and the housing is cracked or corroded. That means replacement.

Repair or replace?

Disposals are relatively inexpensive appliances, and most problems beyond a jam, a reset or a loose connection are not worth repairing. A unit that leaks from the body, trips its reset constantly, or is loud and grinding even when empty is generally replaced. When replacing, horsepower matters less than build quality: a unit with stainless grinding parts and better sound insulation tends to jam less and last longer. Check that the new unit fits under the sink with the trap at the right height, and that the dishwasher knockout is removed if a dishwasher connects to it.

Disposals on septic systems

If your home is on a septic tank, which is common in the outer parts of Forsyth County and much of Davie County, a disposal adds solids to the tank and can mean more frequent pumping. Some manufacturers make septic-specific models. Ask your septic service what it recommends.

What should not go down a disposal

• Grease, fat and oil. They solidify in the drain line. The City of Winston-Salem asks residents to put cooled grease in a can and throw it away (City of Winston-Salem, Can the Grease).
• Fibrous scraps like celery, corn husks, onion skins and artichokes wrap around the grinding parts.
• Starchy foods like pasta, rice and potato peels swell into paste.
• Coffee grounds and eggshells settle in the trap and line like sand.
• Bones, fruit pits, and anything that is not food.

Run cold water before, during and for several seconds after grinding, and grind small amounts at a time.

Installing a disposal for the first time

A new installation needs a switched electrical outlet or hard-wired connection under the sink, which may mean an electrician, plus room for the unit and a properly configured trap. If the kitchen has a dishwasher, the drain hose needs an air gap or a high loop as local code requires.

Sources: City of Winston-Salem, Can the Grease.