A Tolleson disposal that hums is usually jammed, one that is silent has often tripped its overload, and one that leaks has a loose mount or a failed seal. A plumber can repair the unit or replace it if it is worn out. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Tolleson.
Tolleson is a small West Valley city that runs its own water and sewer and bills for both. Part of its supply comes from city wells treated with electro-dialysis reversal, and much of it is finished water bought from the City of Phoenix. The city's water report lists total hardness of 92 to 200 ppm in its distribution system, which is on the moderate side for the Valley, so heavy scale is less of a factor here than wear and jams.
What to do now
- Switch off the disposal and cut its power by unplugging it or flipping the breaker.
- Shine a flashlight into the chamber and lift out anything hard with tongs.
- Find the red reset button on the underside and press it firmly.
- If the unit hummed, insert a hex key into the bottom socket and turn it both ways until it moves freely.
- Restore power, run cold water and try a short burst. If it hums or trips again, stop.
- For leaks, place a bucket underneath and hold off on the dishwasher.
Signs and likely causes
| What happens | Probable cause |
|---|---|
| Hum, no grinding | Jammed turntable from a pit, bone or utensil |
| Nothing at all | Tripped overload, unplugged cord or failed switch |
| Water at the top | Mount loosened or flange putty dried out |
| Water at a side connection | Dishwasher hose clamp or drain elbow gasket |
| Water from the bottom | Worn internal seal; needs a new unit |
| Sink slow with unit running | Trap or branch line partly blocked |
Cost factors
- Jam clearing or reset compared with installing a new unit
- The motor size and features of the replacement
- Worn trap parts or a corroded tailpiece
- Electrical setup, plug-in or hardwired
- Clearing a slow branch line found during the visit
Tolleson's Development Services handles permits for remodeling and improvements, applied for online through Civic Access. A plumber can tell you whether a disposal job needs one. For a sewer problem on the public side, contact the City of Tolleson at 623-936-7111.
When you call, mention whether the dishwasher drains through the disposal and whether any other drain in the house is slow. If only the kitchen sink is affected, the fix is almost always at the unit, the trap or the short branch line behind the cabinet wall.
Garbage Disposals questions in Tolleson
Does hard water affect a garbage disposal?
Who handles a backup coming from the public sewer?
Can I pour chemical drain cleaner into a disposal?
The disposal runs fine, so why does the sink drain slowly?
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