Garbage Disposal Repair in Phoenix, AZ

A humming disposal is usually jammed, a silent one has often tripped its overload, and a leaking one may need a new seal or a new unit, depending on where the water is coming from. Grease and fibrous food scraps cause many of the clogs behind it. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Phoenix who can repair or replace your disposal.

Garbage disposal being installed under a kitchen sink, garbage disposals in Phoenix, AZ

Quick checks you can make safely

Turn the disposal off and switch off its power at the wall or the breaker. Keep your hands out of the unit.
Find the small reset button on the underside and press it in.
If the motor hummed but did not turn, fit an Allen wrench into the socket at the center of the bottom and rock it in both directions to free the plates.
Turn power back on, run cold water, and test it.

If it trips again or will not free up, leave it for a plumber. Repeated restarts on a jammed motor can burn it out.

Where the leak is tells you a lot

At the sink opening: the mounting assembly or plumber's putty under the flange has loosened.
At the hose connections: the dishwasher inlet or the drain elbow needs to be tightened or resealed.
From the bottom of the housing: internal seals have worn out, and a replacement unit is usually the fix.

Call now to be connected with a local plumber in Phoenix.

(602) 313-0394

Grease and the sewer

A disposal chops food but does nothing to stop grease. The City of Phoenix notes that households, like restaurants, produce fats, oils and grease, and that grease poured down the drain hardens and sticks to sewer pipe walls. The City names it as a leading cause of sewer backups and overflows. Let cooking grease cool and put it in the trash, scrape plates before rinsing, and keep potato peels, celery, rice, pasta, coffee grounds and eggshells out of the unit. Those items pack into the trap and the line beyond it.

When the sink drains slowly

If the disposal runs fine but water still sits in the sink, the clog is usually in the trap or the kitchen branch line, not the unit itself. Homes in older central Phoenix neighborhoods can still have original cast iron drain lines, which narrow as buildup collects inside. If several drains are slow at once, the issue may be in the main line, which property owners maintain up to the City sewer main.

Repair or replace, and what affects cost

Jams, loose mounts and hose leaks are usually repairs. A unit leaking from its housing, or a motor that has quit, is usually replaced. Cost depends on the repair versus a new unit, the horsepower you choose, and any changes to the drain, dishwasher hookup or electrical connection.

Garbage Disposal Repair questions from Phoenix homeowners

Why does my disposal hum but not spin?

Something is jamming the grinding plate, or the motor is struggling. Cut the power, then try turning the flywheel from below with an Allen wrench; if that fails, have a plumber look before the motor burns out.

Can I put grease down the disposal if I run hot water?

No. The City of Phoenix says grease poured down the drain hardens and sticks to sewer pipe walls and is a leading cause of sewer backups. Let it cool and throw it in the trash.

Is a leaking disposal worth repairing?

Leaks at the sink flange or hose connections are usually repairable. A leak from the bottom of the unit generally means the internal seals have failed and replacement is the practical fix.

Why is my sink slow even though the disposal works?

The clog is most likely in the trap or the drain line beyond it. If other fixtures are slow as well, the blockage may be in the main line.