Garbage disposal repair for jammed, humming and leaking units
A disposer that only hums or drips into the cabinet is usually fixable at the sink. We repair the unit itself in homes around Parma and Cleveland.
One discount per visit. Mention it when you book.
When a disposer quits, it's usually the unit itself acting up and not the pipes behind it. That's our kind of job. We'll test the motor and the switch right there under your sink, and you'll know the price before we take anything apart.
Plenty of disposers that seem dead aren't. They're jammed or the overload popped. You can often sort that out yourself in about five minutes with the reset steps further down.
What the sound under the sink tells you
Before you call, flip the switch for a second and just listen. What you hear tells us a lot.
That hum means the motor's getting power and can't spin. Usually there's a pit or a bottle cap stuck against the grind ring. Don't leave it humming, though, because the overload trips pretty quickly.
No sound at all means no power is getting through. Push the red button underneath and look at the breaker. Still nothing? Then we'd check the wall switch and the cord, since the motor is often fine.
Somebody dropped a spoon in, or a bit of glass. Kill the power and fish it out with tongs. Please don't put your hand down there, even with the switch off.
If the noise got louder slowly over a few months, water has probably worked its way past the seal into the bearings. At that stage you're better off with a new disposer.
Resetting a disposer safely
- Cut the powerWall switch off. If yours has a plug under the sink, unplug it as well.
- Free the flywheelLook underneath for a little hex hole dead center. Most take a quarter inch Allen key. Rock it back and forth till it'll go all the way around.
- Press the resetIt's the red button, and it pops out when the motor gets too hot. Wait ten minutes or so and push it back in. You'll feel a click.
- Test with cold waterTurn the cold water on and hit the switch. Still humming after all that? Then it's the motor or the start circuit, and that's where we come in.
Always grind with the cold water on. Cold keeps grease hard, so it gets chopped up and rinsed away. Hot water melts it, and it coats the pipe further down.
Leaks at the disposer
Tuck a dry paper towel under each joint and run the water for a bit. The first one to get wet shows you where it's coming from. Then shut the disposer off and park a bucket underneath.
Sink flange
If it drips right under the drain opening, the mounting ring has worked loose or the putty has dried out. We reseat the unit and seal it again.
Dishwasher inlet
Only leaks when the dishwasher drains? Look at the little inlet on the side. It's usually a loose clamp or a hose end that's split.
Bottom of the housing
Water coming out by the reset button or the bottom seam means the seal inside has given up. The motor's already wet by then, so the unit needs replacing.
Don't let a slow drip ride. A few weeks of it can soften the cabinet floor before you notice.
When the dishwasher drains through the disposer
In most kitchens the dishwasher hose runs into the side of the disposer. A jammed disposer leaves dirty water sitting in the dishwasher tub. Clear the disposer and let it run a few seconds before you start the dishwasher.
New disposer and the dishwasher quit draining right after? The plastic plug inside the inlet was likely never knocked out. If the disposer grinds fine and the tub still holds water, our dishwasher repair page fits better.
Where our work stops and a plumber's starts
We repair the disposer and whatever is bolted to it. That means the motor and its switch. It also means the seals and the mount at the sink.
A clog deep in the wall pipe is plumbing. So is a drain that backs up in two sinks at once. If your description sounds like that, we tell you on the first call and you save a visit.
Repair the disposer or put in a new one
Jams and tripped overloads are quick. Loose mounts and a leaking dishwasher connection are small repairs too. So is a bad wall switch or air button on a unit that still has years left.
A leak from the housing body or a motor roaring on worn bearings. Inner parts like these are rarely sold for household disposers, so we explain why a new one costs less.
Thirty dollars off the disposal visit goes to veterans and seniors. Booking with us for the first time saves twenty, and only one of these applies per call.
Disposers we work on
- Continuous feed
- Batch feed
- Air switch models
- Hardwired and plug-in
Continuous feed models run as long as the wall switch is on. Batch feed units start only when you twist the stopper into the drain, so a worn stopper magnet can make one seem dead. Air switch models use a button on the counter, and the little air tube under the sink can split.
We drive out to homes from Lakewood to Strongsville and in every part of Cleveland. While we are under the sink, ask about the dishwasher next to it.
Why is my garbage disposal humming but not working?
The motor gets power but the flywheel is stuck. Cut the power, turn the hex socket under the unit with an Allen key, then press the red reset button. If it keeps humming, the motor needs a test.
How do I reset a garbage disposal?
Switch it off and let the motor cool for about ten minutes. Then press the red button on the bottom until it clicks. A button that pops right back out means a jam or a failing motor.
Why does my garbage disposal leak when the dishwasher runs?
Look at the hose connection on the side of the disposer. A loose clamp or a cracked hose end lets water out every time the dishwasher pumps. It's a short repair at the unit.
Why won't my garbage disposal turn on at all?
Press the reset button and check the breaker first. On a batch feed model the stopper has to be turned all the way. After that we test the switch and the wiring.
Should I call a plumber or an appliance technician?
Call us when the disposer won't run or leaks from the unit itself. A clog farther down the drain line is plumbing work, and we say so if your symptoms point there.
Is it worth repairing a garbage disposal?
Yes when the unit is sound and only a switch or a seal at the sink failed. A leaking housing or worn bearings mean a new disposer makes more sense.
Do you do garbage disposal repair near me?
If your home is within roughly 50 miles of Parma, yes. That reaches all of Cuyahoga and six neighboring counties, and a morning call often means we come out that day.
Choose Other, write disposal and tell us whether it hums or leaks.
We will call you shortly to confirm a time for your repair.
How a disposal repair visit goes
Usually one trip under the sink.
Say what it does
Tell us if it hums or drips. Mention whether the dishwasher drains into it.
Get a time
We call back with the nearest arrival window we have.
Switch and motor tests
We test the power path and the motor, then quote the repair.
Grinding again
Work on the disposer carries our 90-day warranty.
Other appliances in the same kitchen
The dishwasher beside the sink is the usual second stop.
Refrigerator repair
Fridge warm on the top shelf
Freezer repair
Basement chest freezer thawing
Ice maker repair
Ice bin stays empty
Washer repair
Washer stuck with water inside
Dryer repair
Dryer runs but stays cool
Dishwasher repair
Dishwasher holding dirty water
Oven repair
Oven stuck below the set heat
Range repair
Stove burner that only clicks
Double oven repair
Lower wall oven gone cold
Cooktop repair
Element on the glass top cold
Wine coolers and all-in-one washer dryers too. All appliance services
Business kitchens
Restaurants and offices can book commercial equipment repair with us.
Google reviews of our technicians
A 4.9 average from neighbors after repairs in their kitchens and laundry rooms.
Read all reviewsKitchens from recent visits
Sinks and dishwashers we have worked under in local homes.
Kitchen brands we repair
Disposers come from their own makers. These are the appliance brands we repair around them.
Read us the label on the disposer housing and we check parts before the trip.
Disposal repair near Parma
Homes in all seven counties we cover, about 50 miles out from our base.
Phone us or send a disposal repair request online. Send it any day, our phones take requests on Saturday too.
(216) 352-3935