Garbage Disposal Replacement and Installation
Disposal humming but not grinding, leaking from underneath, or tripping its reset button every few days? Try the three checks below first. If it still fails, Oasis Plumbers removes the old unit, installs a new disposal sized for your kitchen and tests every connection under the sink.
Honest repair-or-replace advice · Old unit removed · Licensed plumbers · 0% financing up to 48 months
Three safe checks before you call
- Press the reset button. It’s the small red button on the bottom of the unit. If the motor overheated, this restores power.
- Free a jam with the hex key. Switch the disposal off and unplug it or turn off its breaker. Put the hex key (Allen wrench) into the socket in the center of the underside and work it back and forth until it turns freely. Never put your hand inside the disposal.
- Check the power. Look for a tripped breaker or GFCI outlet.
Water dripping from the bottom of the disposal body is different: the internal seal has failed, and the unit needs replacing.
Repair or replace your disposal?
| What happens | Likely cause | What we recommend |
|---|---|---|
| Hums but doesn’t spin | Jammed grinding plate or seized motor | Clear the jam; replace if it seizes again |
| Leak where the disposal meets the sink | Loose mount or dried-out plumber’s putty | Repair: reseal the sink flange |
| Leak at the dishwasher hose or drain pipe | Loose clamp or worn gasket | Repair: new gasket or clamp |
| Leak from the bottom of the unit | Failed internal seal, corrosion | Replace the disposal |
| Trips the reset button often | Overloaded or worn motor | Replace, often with a stronger unit |
| Bad smell, but works fine | Food build-up | Cleaning – no replacement needed |
Choosing the right replacement disposal
Motor size
1/3 to 1/2 HP suits light use; 3/4 to 1 HP handles a busy family kitchen and jams far less often.
Continuous feed or batch feed
Continuous feed runs with a wall switch; batch feed only runs with the stopper in place – a safety choice for homes with small children.
Septic systems
Choose a model rated for septic use.
Noise
Insulated models are noticeably quieter, which matters in open-plan kitchens.
How we replace a garbage disposal
- Turn off power and disconnect the drain and dishwasher lines.
- Remove the old disposal and its mounting ring.
- Install a new sink flange and mounting assembly, sealed with fresh putty.
- Knock out the dishwasher plug on the new unit if a dishwasher connects to it – a missed plug is the most common reason a dishwasher won’t drain after a DIY install.
- Connect the trap and dishwasher hose, then plug in or wire the unit.
- Fill the sink, run the disposal and the dishwasher drain, and check every joint for drips.
Parts we replace without changing the whole unit
Sink flange and mounting ring
Rubber gaskets and the splash guard
Wall switch, air switch or power cord
Drain elbow and dishwasher connection
What affects the cost of garbage disposal replacement
- Motor size and model of the new disposal
- Whether the drain pipes and trap under the sink need replacing too
- Adding a disposal where there was none before (outlet, switch, new drain layout)
- Dishwasher connection
You see the full price before we start.
Keep your new disposal running
- Run cold water before, during and for a few seconds after grinding
- Keep grease, fibrous peels, coffee grounds and eggshells out of it
- Feed food in gradually instead of all at once
More tips: garbage disposal mistakes to avoid.
Garbage disposal replacement FAQs
How do I know if my garbage disposal needs to be replaced?
Replace it when it leaks from the bottom of the unit, keeps tripping the reset button, or still hums without turning after you have cleared a jam. A leak at the sink flange or a drain connection can usually be repaired instead.
Can a leaking garbage disposal be repaired?
It depends where it leaks. Leaks at the sink flange, dishwasher hose or drain pipe are repairable. A leak from the bottom of the disposal body means the internal seal has failed, and the unit has to be replaced.
What size garbage disposal do I need?
A 1/3 to 1/2 HP disposal is fine for light use. Households that cook daily usually do better with 3/4 or 1 HP, which grinds faster and jams less.
Can I switch to a different disposal brand?
Yes. If the new brand uses a different mount, we replace the sink flange and mounting ring at the same time so everything seals properly.
Can you install a garbage disposal in a home with a septic tank?
Yes, with a septic-rated model. Using one will add solids to the tank, so pumping may be needed more often.
How long does garbage disposal replacement take?
A straight swap is normally finished in one visit. Adding a disposal where there wasn’t one before, with a new outlet or drain layout, takes longer.
Garbage disposal replacement near you
Disposal swaps are handled by the team closest to your kitchen. Find your nearest office:
Los Angeles County
- Sunland — 8348 Foothill Blvd, Sunland, CA 91040 · (805) 883-6154
- Santa Monica — 701 Pico Blvd #551, Santa Monica, CA 90405 · (310) 818-7582
- Calabasas — 24025 Park Sorrento #430, Calabasas, CA 91302 · (818) 330-1138
Orange County
- Laguna Hills — 25272 McIntyre St #558, Laguna Hills, CA 92653 · (949) 635-7337
- Anaheim — 800 S Brookhurst St, Anaheim, CA 92804 · (714) 706-3926
Get your disposal replaced
Tell us what the disposal is doing – humming, leaking or dead – and whether a dishwasher drains into it. Call (888) 803-7895 or send the form and we’ll call you back with a time.