Scottsdale disposals mostly fail from jams, tripped overloads, worn seals and mineral scale, and the city has some of the hardest water in the Valley in its southern areas. A plumber can fix what is repairable and tell you plainly when a new unit makes more sense. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Scottsdale.
Scottsdale stretches a long way north to south, and its water changes along the way. The city's hardness figures run highest south of Indian School Road, at about 22 to 25 grains per gallon, ease to about 20 to 22 between Indian School and Chaparral Road, and drop to about 16 to 18 north of Chaparral. That scale shows up on disposal flanges, dishwasher inlets and seals. The median home dates to about 1990, so plenty of kitchens have older drain lines behind the unit too.
What to do right now
- Turn off the wall switch and unplug the unit or shut its breaker.
- Look into the chamber with a flashlight. Use tongs to pull out anything hard, such as a bottle cap or fruit pit.
- Press the red reset button on the underside of the housing.
- If it hummed before, turn the hex socket on the bottom back and forth until the plates move freely.
- Restore power, run cold water and try it once. If it trips or hums again, stop and call.
- If water is leaking, put a pan under it and do not run the dishwasher until it is fixed.
Symptoms and likely causes
| What you notice | What is probably behind it |
|---|---|
| Hum, no movement | Object or packed scraps jamming the turntable |
| Completely silent | Tripped reset, breaker, outlet or failed switch |
| Water at the top rim | Loose mounting ring or failed sink flange seal |
| Water at the side hose | Loose clamp on the dishwasher or drain connection |
| Water from the bottom | Internal seal failure; replacement is usual |
| Sink slow even when unit runs | Clog in the trap or kitchen branch line |
What affects the cost
- A reset or jam versus installing a replacement unit
- The motor size and grinding materials you choose
- Scale-crusted or corroded drain fittings that need replacing
- Hardwired versus plug-in electrical setup
- Permit requirements: Scottsdale says a plumbing permit is needed to install, alter or repair plumbing systems, so ask the plumber how that applies to your job
Some parts of Scottsdale are not on municipal sewer and use a private onsite wastewater system. If your home is one of them, mention it when you call, since a disposal adds solids to that system.
Garbage Disposals questions in Scottsdale
Does hard water affect a garbage disposal?
Do I need a permit to replace a garbage disposal?
Should I run a disposal if my home is not on municipal sewer?
Can I pour chemical drain cleaner into a disposal?
More plumbing services in Scottsdale
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