What to do right now if the disposal is leaking
Switch off the disposal at the wall and, if you can, at the breaker. Never put your hand in the chamber, even when it looks quiet. Stop running the sink and the dishwasher, because both drain through the same unit.
Put a bucket or tray under the leak and note where it drips from, whether the top flange, the side of the body or the pipe at the back. Call our 24/7 line if water is pooling under the sink or the sink is full of standing water. A humming unit that is not leaking can be booked for the next visit.
What your disposal is telling you
The noise, the smell and the leak location tell us most of what we need to know before we arrive.
Humming but not spinning
The motor has power, but something is jammed in the grinder. A stuck impeller is a common cause.
Totally dead and silent
A tripped reset button, a tripped breaker or a failed motor is likely. Press the red reset button under the unit once before you call.
Leaks from the bottom
A cracked housing or a worn internal seal. This usually means replacement, not repair.
Leaks from the top or sides
A failed sink flange seal, a loose mounting ring or a worn dishwasher or drain connection.
Sink drains slowly or backs up
The unit or the drain beyond it is clogged. If other drains are slow, it is a line problem.
Bad smell after cleaning
Food trapped under the splash guard or in the chamber. A thorough cleaning often fixes it.
Repair or replace, by symptom
| Symptom | Usual verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Hums, jammed. | Often repairable. | Clearing the impeller can restore the unit. |
| Dead, reset does nothing. | Depends on age. | A tripped breaker is a simple fix, a burned motor is not. |
| Leaks from the housing. | Replace. | A cracked body cannot be sealed reliably. |
| Leaks at the flange or drain. | Often repairable. | New putty, gasket or connection. |
| Sink backs up after use. | Check the drain. | May need drain cleaning beyond the unit. |
Water standing in the sink?
Do not use the disposal again. Call the 24/7 line and we will send a plumber with the parts.
How a disposal replacement goes
Disconnect power and plumbing
We cut power, disconnect the drain and dishwasher hose and release the old unit from its mounting ring.
Prepare the sink flange
The flange gets cleaned and sealed with fresh plumber's putty, or the mounting kit is replaced if it is worn.
Mount and connect the new unit
The new disposal locks onto the ring, the trap and dishwasher inlet are reconnected and the electrical hookup is made safe.
Test with water
We run water and the unit, check for leaks at every joint and clear the drain before we leave.
Older kitchens in Maple Heights
The median home in Maple Heights was built in 1956, based on older survey data, so many kitchens have been remodeled once or twice. A newer disposal often sits on an older drain line, and a worn trap or tailpiece is one of the usual causes of a leak after a replacement.
If the drain past the unit is clogged, the disposal will back up no matter how new it is. That is why we test the line before we leave.
Source type: Housing survey dataWhat changes the cost of a disposal repair
A reset and a full replacement are very different jobs. We quote a clear price after we look at the unit.
What you can and cannot do before we arrive
Turn the power off, clear the sink and press the reset button once if the unit is silent. If the unit is jammed, there is usually a hex socket at the bottom for a wrench to free the impeller, but only after the power is off.
Do not pour drain cleaner into a disposal. It can splash, and it damages the seals. Keep grease, coffee grounds, fibrous scraps and pasta out of it, since those cause most of the clogs we see.
Nearby areas and related repairs
We take disposal calls in Maple Heights and in Garfield Heights, Bedford and Warrensville Heights. If the leak is at the faucet and not the disposal, see faucet and sink repair.
The disposal trap and drain connection follow the Ohio Plumbing Code, OAC 4101:3, and we test the sink for leaks before we leave.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Our 24/7 line answers day and night, and a plumber can come when a unit is leaking into the cabinet or the sink is full of water.
Turn off the power and free the impeller with a hex wrench from underneath. If it will not move or keeps jamming, call us.
A leak at the flange or a connection often is. A leak from the bottom of the housing means the unit needs to be replaced.
Yes. Tell us the model and whether you have a nearby outlet, and we will confirm the mounting and the electrical hookup.
No. Both build up in the trap and the drain beyond it, which is a common cause of backups.
Yes. You get a clear price on the phone or on site before work starts.