article

Replacing Your Garbage Disposal

By Bluehammer Admin

Your garbage disposal eats a lot of food and then one day it stops! The following are some helpful tips when it comes time to replace your Garbage Disposal.

It's broken.. or is it?

There are a few things you can do before you start heading to the local home improvement store or looking up plumbers. Important! Never put your hand down a garbage disposal while it's running!

  • Could it be jammed?Sometimes a hard piece that doesn't grind can fall into the drain and jam the unit making it seem like it is dead. Turn off your power, unplug your unit and remove the rubber part in the drain. Shine a light and make sure there is nothing stuck, if there is use pliers to fish it out.
  • Did you try the reset button?Garbage disposals work hard, sometimes too hard triggering their safety breaker. If you have been using your disposal before it shut off, wait ten minutes for it to cool down, and then press the reset button usually located on the bottom of the appliance.
  • Try and manually move the motorUnder the garbage disposal is a place for you to insert a hex wrench and manually move the motor. Doing this can loosen any jam and could get it working. Make sure your unit is off when you do this. After manually turning the motor back and forth try to turn on the garbage disposal.

Horsepower Options, Which One?

The most common household horsepower (hp) options for garbage disposals are 1/3hp, 1/2hp, 3/4hp and 1hp. For limited household use (1 -2 people) and grinding of soft foods a 1/3hp or 1/2hp unit will work although they will jam easier than the more powerful appliances. If you cook more and have a larger family it is suggested to lean more towards the larger 1hp appliances.

Cost Factors of Replacing Your Garbage Disposal

Garbage Disposals come in different types (continuous feed vs batch feed) and motor sizes. Below are the main cost factors in the project of replacing your garbage disposal.

  • Removal of the old garbage disposal
  • Purchase and installation of the new garbage disposal
  • Replacing drain lines (if applicable) and the material costs

Removing Your Garbage Disposal

Follow the steps below to remove your existing garbage disposal. It's a good idea to have a few bath towels on hand when disconnecting drain lines.

  • Turn off your powerTurning off your power is a good idea although you can also unplug the unit if it is plugged into the wall socket. Make sure your water is turned off.
  • Disconnect the drain linesYou will need to remove both the drain line from your dishwasher and the main drain tube from the garbage disposal.
  • Remove the unit from the mounting ringTo unhook the unit, twist the mounting ring until it dislodges. Be careful, garbage disposals can be heavy and once they dislodge they can surprise you.
  • Disconnect the electricalNow that your disposal is free, you can turn it over and remove the plate that holds the electrical wires. Disconnect the wires.
  • Remove remaining assembly parts (if needed)If you have purchased the same model of garbage disposal as before you can re-use the mounting hardware. If not, remove the mounting hardware and follow the directions that come with the new unit.

Installing Your New Garbage Disposal

Follow the steps below to install your new garbage disposal. Always refer to your appliance's installation directions

  • Install your new mounting hardware and mounting ring (if new)Clean where the old hardware was and refer to your appliance's instructions.
  • Prepare the connection to the dishwasher (if needed)If your dishwasher drained into your old garbage disposal you will need to prepare your new one. You will need to pop out the knockout plug for that connection. This can be done with a hammer and a screwdriver. Make sure to retrieve the plug from the unit before use.
  • Re-connect your electrical wiresSecurely re-connect your wires. Remove the electrical plate and take extra caution to connect the right wires to each other.
  • Re-attach the new unitYour new unit should twist into the mounting ring. Make sure it is tight and secure.
  • Re-connect drain linesRe-connect the drain lines from the dishwasher and the main line. If you purchased a different sized unit you might need new lines for a different configuration. Once finished, turn back on the water and power.
  • Test the applianceRun your water first to check for leaks. Once there are no leaks, turn on your garbage disposal to make sure it is functioning properly.

Want to estimate your home improvement costs before talking with a contractor? Claim your home for free with bluehammer to estimate costs, secure your home inventory and learn more about your home.

* THIS REPORT IS AN OPINION THAT MAY BE INACCURATE AND IS PROVIDED SOLELY AS AN INFORMATIONAL TOOL NOT DESIGNED TO PROVIDE DEFINITIVE ANSWERS. ALL ELEMENTS ARE OFFERED "AS IS" AND BLUEBOOK EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES, REPRESENTATIONS, AND GUARANTEES OF ANY NATURE, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABLITILY, NONINFRINGEMENT, TITLE, QUIET ENJOYMENT, ACCURACY, OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL BLUEBOOK (OR THEIR SUPPLIERS) BE LIABLE FOR ANY GENERAL, DIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, THOSE RESULTING FROM USE OF THE PRODUCT, INCLUDING : (1) RELIANCE ON THE MATERIALS PRESENTED, (2) COSTS OF REPLACEMENT GOODS, (3) LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, (4) DELAYS OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTIONS, (5) AND ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF INFORMATION) WHETHER OR NOT BLUEBOOK HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

Know what you should pay for your home improvement projects with bluehammer.Claim your home. It's free!

Popular


Double up! Stylish Solutions For Shared Bedroom Spaces

Fitting multiple kids in a house can be challenging, and when they have to double - or tripl - up (or more!) in one room, style can take a hit.

Chimney Liners: Does Your Home Have One - Do You Even Need One?

You rely on your chimney being safe. Whether you use your fireplace for wood-burning fires, you have a furnace that vents through your chimney, you utilize a wood stove or gas insert, your chimney needs to be able to handle heat and sparks without allowing damage to your home. Stone or brick chimneys can be made safer with a flue lining that helps to move heat and gases up and out of your home.

The First-Time Homebuyer's Guide To Grown-Up Furniture

You just bought your first home. Congratulations: You're an adult! Now it's time to fill it up. But if you were planning to pack up those ratty old beanbag chairs and the bed that awakens you with a morning backache and move them to your new place, we have a few suggestions. It's time for a grown-up upgrade. Here's where to start.

The Top-Three Considerations When Starting a Home-Based Business

If you’re considering starting a home-based business, you're in good company. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, more than half of all businesses are run out of the owner’s home.

Lawn Care For The Fall: Essential Tips to Follow

All summer you've been watering, cutting, trimming and feeding your yard in the hopes of having the greenest plot of land in the neighborhood. So what should you do to get your lawn in shape for the cool breezes of autumn? These six steps will help you get a head start on the colder weather.

New Kitchen Cabinetry: Make Your Investment A Smart One

At an average of $50,000, a kitchen remodel is a major undertaking. A good return on that investment means different things to different people. You may be considering resale value, your bank balance at the moment, the elements of your dream kitchen-or all of the above. Whatever the case, kitchen cabinets are a key component of every remodel.

9 Ways to Eliminate Congestion In The Kitchen

Rubbing elbows with chefs isn't always a boon. Consider circulation pathways for a kitchen that lets everyone work in comfort

Stylish Bath Storage Solutions: Ways to Complement Your Bathroom Vanity

Finding adequate storage is a particularly challenging problem in bathrooms, and not just because they are usually the smallest rooms in the house. Bathrooms have increasingly become the place to store a large and diverse number of items, including bath towels, beauty supplies, toiletries, hair care products, medications, soaps, shampoo, and assorted cleansers. And if the primary inhabitants of the bathroom happen to be teenagers, then the demand for storage space increases exponentially.

Expert Advice for Styling Beautiful Home Photography

Annette Joseph shares her tips for styling beautiful home photography and finding the soul of a room.

New Tech All Homes Will Have By 2020

New technologies are constantly emerging, rendering others obsolete every day. Many of these technologies eventually enter into our homes after being used in businesses or other capacities throughout the world first. Once they show themselves to be useful, people incorporate them into their everyday lives. Here are some technologies that every home will have by 2020.

See More Articles