If water is dripping from the unit, turn off the disposal switch and the breaker, then place a bowl under the leak. Never put a hand into the disposal, even when it is off. Same-day appointments are available for stubborn jams, and nights, weekends and holidays are covered when a leak is flooding the cabinet.
Water under the sink: where the leak is coming from
A leak from a disposal almost always comes from one of five places, and where it shows tells you how serious it is.
| Where it leaks | Likely cause | Repair or replace? |
|---|---|---|
| Top, around the sink flange | Failed gasket or putty seal | Usually repair, by resealing the mount |
| Side, near the dishwasher hose | Loose clamp or cracked hose | Repair, a cheap part and a quick fix |
| Side, at the discharge pipe | Loose bolts or a bad gasket | Repair |
| Bottom or from the housing seam | Worn internal seal or corroded housing | Replace, because the unit cannot be resealed |
| Bottom reset button area | Water is getting into the motor housing | Replace |
To find the source, dry the unit, put paper towels beneath it and run water for a minute. The wet spot on the towel is your clue. Water that comes from the bottom of the body is the one we see replaced most often, since the seal inside has failed and the motor is at risk.
Jammed, humming and silent: what each means
A disposal that hums but does not spin is jammed. Something, often a bone, a fruit pit, a bottle cap or a utensil, has locked the grinding plate. The motor draws power but cannot turn, and it will overheat if left running.
A disposal that makes no sound at all has lost power. It may have tripped its own overload, tripped the breaker, lost its switch or burned out the motor.
A disposal that spins but jams again right away may have a worn impeller, a bent plate or an obstruction in the trap just below it.
What to do before you call, safely
- Turn off the wall switch, then switch off the breaker for that circuit.
- Never reach into the disposal with your hand, even with the power off.
- Use tongs or pliers to retrieve visible objects, with the unit powered off.
- Insert a hex key into the socket in the center of the bottom of the unit and work it back and forth to free the plate.
- Press the red reset button on the bottom of the unit once the motor has cooled.
- Restore power and run cold water, then test the disposal briefly.
- If it hums again, stop. Repeating the cycle can burn out the motor.
The reset button and the breaker
Most disposals have a small red button on the bottom. It is a thermal overload switch. When the motor overheats from a jam, the button pops out and cuts power. Waiting 10 to 15 minutes for it to cool and then pressing it often restores the unit.
If the button stays out and pressing it does nothing, or the breaker keeps tripping, the motor or wiring is probably faulty. Do not hold a breaker on or keep resetting it. Repeated trips mean something is drawing too much current, and that is a fire risk.
Repair or replace?
Repair makes sense for a loose hose, a bad sink flange gasket, a jam, a tripped overload or a worn switch. Replace the unit when the housing leaks from the bottom, the motor is burned out, the grinding plate is badly worn or rusted, or the unit is old enough that parts are no longer a bargain. A disposal that needs its second repair in a short time is usually cheaper to replace.
A technical point that saves money: horsepower matters less than build quality. A mid-range three-quarter horsepower unit with a stainless grinding chamber often outlasts a bigger model with a plastic chamber. Match the unit to your household’s cooking, not the largest number on the box.
Water under the sink right now?
Call the 24/7 line. We will tell you what to shut off while a plumber is on the way.
Installing a new garbage disposal
We install disposals as replacements and as new additions. The details matter, and a few can catch a do-it-yourself job.
Mounting. Disposals hang from a mounting ring under the sink. Replacing a unit of the same brand may reuse the ring. A different brand often needs a new one.
Power. The unit needs a switched 120 volt supply. If your sink has no switch or outlet, adding one is electrical work.
Dishwasher connection. The dishwasher drain hose connects to a port on the disposal. New disposals have a plug in that port. If it is not knocked out, the dishwasher will not drain. The hose should be looped high or run to an air gap, following the dishwasher maker’s instructions.
Drain. The discharge pipe must line up with the trap. If the drain was set for a different model, the trap arm may need to be adjusted.
Utah limits what homeowners may do themselves. First-time installation of an appliance or fixture is not covered by the homeowner exemption, so check with the Building Department and DOPL before you install one where none existed. A licensed plumber handles this without a worry about what the exemption covers.
When the sink is slow and the disposal is the cause
A disposal grinds food into small pieces that still have to travel through the drain. Grease, coffee grounds and starchy foods such as rice and pasta settle in the trap and the line beyond it. If the sink drains slowly even when the disposal is healthy, the clog is downstream, and drain cleaning with a cable is the fix. If the kitchen line clogs repeatedly, hydro jetting can scour the grease layer from the pipe wall.
A worn disposal can also make a clog worse by chopping food into pieces that stick.
What to keep out of the disposal
- Grease and cooking oil, which cool and coat the pipe.
- Bones, fruit pits and corn husks, which jam or wrap the impeller.
- Coffee grounds, eggshells and pasta in quantity, which pack into sludge.
- Fibrous vegetables such as celery or artichoke, which tangle.
- Non-food objects, such as utensils and bottle caps, which drop in by accident.
What changes the price of a disposal repair or replacement
We give you a clear price before work starts. These are the usual factors:
- Whether the problem is a seal or hose, which is cheap, or a failed unit.
- The size and quality of the replacement unit you choose.
- Whether the electrical supply and switch are already in place.
- The condition of the drain and trap beneath the unit.
- The hour of the call, since nights and holidays cost more to staff.
Homeowners insurance typically covers sudden and accidental water damage, not wear. If a leak soaked the cabinet floor, ask your insurer what applies. For other plumbing work in the home, our faucet repair page covers the fixture above the sink. Kitchens in Bountiful and West Bountiful are served from the same dispatch line, and the West Bountiful page explains how.
Safety first around a disposal
Before touching anything, switch the disposal off at the wall switch and at the breaker, then unplug it if it is cord-connected. Never put a hand into the grinding chamber. Use tongs or pliers for anything you can see, and use the hex socket at the bottom of the unit to free a jam. Replacement or new installation falls under the Utah plumbing code, the 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC) from July 1, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. The line is answered 24/7. If water is leaking from the unit, shut off the disposal and the breaker, place a bowl underneath and call so the plumber can come ready with a replacement unit if needed.
Something is jamming the grinding plate. Turn the power off, use a hex key from underneath to free it, and press the red reset button. If it hums again, call us.
No. Use tongs or pliers with the breaker off. The blades are not sharp, but the plate and motor can move and cause injury.
It varies with use and quality. Many last for years, and signs of age include rust, leaks, noise and repeated jams. We tell you when replacement is cheaper than repair.
For a loose hose or jam, yes. For a leaking body or a dead motor, replacement is almost always the sensible choice.
Yes. Adding one means a switched power supply and a connection to the sink drain, and in North Salt Lake it may involve the Building Department at 10 E Center Street.
It can contribute. Ground food that is not flushed with enough water settles in the trap and builds up in the line. Running cold water during and after grinding helps.