Is it worth it to repair a garbage disposal?
While garbage disposals are convenient, they can act up sometimes. If yours is giving you trouble, you might wonder whether to fix it or buy a new one. Let’s walk through everything you need to know to make the right call.
Common Garbage Disposal Issues
Here are six issues you might run into with your disposal, and what you can do about them. Sometimes you can fix a garbage disposal yourself.
1. Garbage Disposal Won’t Turn On
You flip the switch and…nothing happens. Before you panic, this is often just an electrical hiccup.
Here’s what to try:
- First, check if it’s plugged in (hey, it happens to the best of us!)
- Look for that little reset button on the bottom of the unit – give it a press
- Pop over to your circuit breaker panel and see if anything’s tripped
- Take a peek at the wiring for any apparent problems
If none of that works, you might need a pro to take a look.
2. Frequent Leaks
Finding water under your sink? That’s never fun. Your disposal might be leaking, usually because something’s loose or cracked.
Try tightening up those mounting bolts first – that often does the trick. But if you spot any cracks? Sorry to say, but you’re probably looking at getting a new unit. Don’t wait around on this one – water damage can really mess up your cabinets.
3. Frequent Clogs
If your disposal is constantly backing up, it might be because you’re throwing the wrong stuff down there (those chicken bones aren’t doing you any favors), or your blades are getting dull.
Here’s a neat trick: toss in some ice cubes with rock salt and a lemon. The ice helps sharpen the blades, and the lemon makes everything smell fresh!
But here’s something people often overlook: you might just have the wrong size disposal for your household.
Here’s a quick guide:
- Living solo or with one other person? A 1/3-horsepower motor should do fine
- Got 3-6 people? Step up to 1/2 or 3/4-horsepower
- Bigger family of 5-8? You’ll want 1-horsepower
- Running a small army of 8+ people? Go big with 2-horsepower
4. Slow Performance
Notice your disposal taking forever to grind things up? It could be the motor’s getting tired, or those blades need sharpening. Try that ice and rock salt trick I mentioned earlier. If that doesn’t help, your motor might be on its way out.
5. Foul Odors
Have you got a funky smell coming from your disposal? Usually, that’s just trapped food. The ice-salt-lemon combo I mentioned earlier works wonders here. If the smell sticks around, you might need a professional cleaning; stuff could be stuck way down there.
6. Loud Noise but No Grinding
If your disposal sounds like it’s trying to grind up a metal spoon but isn’t doing anything, check for obvious blockages first. If nothing’s stuck but it’s still super noisy, hate to break it to you, but it might be time for a new unit.
Garbage Disposal Lifespan
Most disposals hang in there for about 10-12 years, but treat them right and they might make it to 15. Want yours to go the distance?
Here are some pro tips:
- Always run cold water while using it (hot water just makes grease messier)
- Skip the grease, pasta, and stringy foods
- Feed it slowly – don’t dump everything in at once
- Stay away from harsh chemicals
- Give it that ice-and-citrus treatment now and then to keep things sharp and fresh
Before Replacing
Hold up! Before you buy a new disposal, be sure to try these quick fixes:
First, hit that reset button. Sometimes, that’s all it needs. Then check for any obvious clogs.
Also, check if you’ve still got warranty coverage. Most warranties last about two years, so if your unit’s older than that, repairs are probably coming out of your pocket.
Choosing between fixing and replacing your disposal comes down to what’s wrong with it and how old it is. Simple stuff like resetting, tightening things up, or sharpening the blades? Usually worth trying. But if the motor’s shot or you’ve got severe leaks, you might want to start shopping for a new one.
Still trying to figure out what to do? There’s no shame in calling a plumber for their professional opinion. At Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, we offer garbage disposal repairs or installation, and we promise to show up on time, every time. Give us a call!