Faucet & Sink Repair
Repair drips, weak flow, stuck shutoff valves and leaking outdoor spigots.
Fixtures and appliances
Garbage Disposal Repair and Installation in St. Pete
A disposal that hums and does not spin is jammed. One that does not make a sound has lost power. One that drips has a failed seal. Each has a different fix.
Never put a hand in a disposal. Use the tools in the steps below.
What the symptom means
- Humming, no spinA jam. The motor is trying to turn but cannot.
- Silent and deadA tripped reset button or a power problem.
- Dripping underneathA failed seal at the flange, hose or housing.
Clearing a jam
Turn off the switch and the power to the disposal. Under the unit, there is a hex socket in the center of the bottom. A hex key, often an Allen wrench included with the unit, turns the flywheel back and forth to free the jam. Look inside with a flashlight and remove any object with tongs or pliers, never a hand.
Once it spins freely, press the red reset button on the bottom of the unit. If it trips again, the motor may be failing.
Leaks
Where the water appears tells you what failed. A leak from the top, at the sink flange, is a failed gasket or putty seal and the unit has to come off to reseat it. A leak from the side where the dishwasher hose or the drain pipe connects is a loose clamp or a worn gasket.
A leak from the body, below the grinding chamber, means the housing has cracked or the internal seal has failed. That usually means replacing the unit.
In St. Pete
Kitchens, dishwashers and septic questions
Many Pinellas County homes are on city sewer, where disposals are common. If your home is on a septic system, ask before installing one, since the added solids affect the tank.
Condos and rentals often have rules about appliances. Check with the association or the landlord before replacing a disposal.
Cost
What affects the price of a disposal job
Disposal work ranges from a simple unjam to a new unit with new plumbing.
Ask whether the quote includes the new unit, the mounting kit and the removal of the old one.
Odors and slow draining
A smell from the disposal comes from food that sticks to the walls of the chamber and the underside of the flapper. Grinding ice, citrus peel and a little dish soap, then running cold water, cleans it. A disposal that drains slowly may have a clog in the trap or the drain line past it.
Grease, coffee grounds, pasta, rice and fibrous stalks cause trouble. They clump in the drain and make clogs. Run plenty of cold water while grinding and for a few seconds afterward.
Installing a new disposal
Most disposals are mounted under the sink with a flange and a mounting ring. The plumber removes the old unit, cleans the flange and seals the new one, then reconnects the drain and the dishwasher hose. If the dishwasher drain is connected, the knockout plug on the new unit must be removed.
The unit is wired to a switch or plugged into an outlet under the sink. Disposals are rated by horsepower, and a larger one runs smoother and handles more. Ask about noise levels, jam-resistant designs and warranty.
Dishwasher connections
Most dishwashers drain into the disposal or into a branch tailpiece on the sink drain. A high loop or an air gap in the hose keeps dirty sink water from running back into the dishwasher. If the dishwasher does not drain, the disposal inlet knockout may still be in place, or the hose may be clogged.
If you are replacing the unit, ask the plumber to check the dishwasher connection at the same visit. A hose that was clamped loosely for years is a common source of a slow drip under the sink.
Related services
Drain Cleaning & Unclogging
Clear kitchen, bath, laundry and main-line clogs and find out why they came back.
Toilet Repair & Installation
Fix a running, leaking or clogged toilet or replace it.
Common questions
Garbage disposal questions
It is jammed. Turn off the power, use a hex key in the bottom to free the flywheel, remove the object and press reset.
Many last around eight to fifteen years depending on use and quality.
Grease, fibrous vegetables, coffee grounds, pasta and rice, bones and anything that is not food.
Yes, if grease and food solids build up in the drain past it. Running cold water while grinding helps.
Often yes. Share the brand and horsepower when you call, and ask the dispatcher to confirm it before the visit.
Press the reset button on the bottom and check the breaker. If it still hums or stays dead, a jam or a motor fault is likely.
Yes, that is part of a normal install. Mention the dishwasher when you call so the right parts are on hand.
Usually yes. It needs power under the sink, a drain connection and room in the cabinet. A plumber can check these.
Disposal jammed or leaking?
Call and say what it is doing. The dispatcher will connect you with a local contractor.