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


7 Simple & Smart Basement Repairs to Consider

No space in your home is more accommodating and homey, or conversely scary, than your basement. A nicely finished basement can be the entertainment centerpiece of your entire home, housing your big-screen TV, the most comfortable couches in the place and a warm, inviting atmosphere that wraps each guest in comfort.

8 Paint Colors for a Standout Front Door?

Extend a standout greeting with a memorable hue at your home's entry

Tips For Selecting An Interior Door

Take a minute to count the number of doors in your house. Surprising, right? Consider then, the impact that a little attention to the doors can have on the overall style and design of your home. Whether you're just moving in or staging for a sale, new doors are a simple way to dramatically update the space. The good news is that there are as many styles of doors as there are doors in your home. Making the decision is the toughest part.

Clever Ways To Give Your Small Bathroom Some Pop And Make It Look Larger

Small bathroom? It doesn't have to be short on style. And it doesn't have to feel like a cave either. Many of the same tips for creating a standout space will also help to make it feel bigger.

Inspired Ways To Create A Guest Space When You Don't Have A Guest Room

Not all of us are blessed with enough bedrooms to accommodate every member of the family plus a home office and a man cave and a theater room and a guest space. And, it's that last one that often ends up as a challenge when friends and family come to visit and you either have to break out the blow-up bed or give up your room and hunker down with the kids. You don't need to add on or buy a new home to provide a comfortable space for guests. These smart solutions will help you create a great space for guests with minimal effort.

How To Choose The Right Vanity To Kick Off Your Bathroom Remodel

You can change your bathroom lighting, your floors, and your fixtures. But if your vanity is rickety, chipped, timeworn, or just plain ugly, your bathroom might feel that way too.

Using the Homeowners Insurance Report to Gauge Your Insurance Coverage

When it comes to knowing how much homeowners insurance you need, running the Bluebook Homeowners Insurance report gives you insight into the potential costs to rebuild your home and the value of your home contents.

Making Your Home More Energy-Efficient

Your home is your place to rest, play, and spend time with your family. It should be a place of comfort, and this comfort need not come at a high cost. Many homes, however, waste a lot of energy in ways that can be prevented. Here are five ways to make your home more energy-efficient.

10 Spring Cleaning Tricks For Everyone

Lazy cleaning is all about minimizing the effort. But, minimal effort doesn't have to mean you live like a slob - it just means you need to know some cool tricks tools that will help do the work for you, or at least make it less painful.

Is Your Furnace Affecting Your Indoor Air Quality?

The push to make our houses as energy-efficient as possible has, in some cases, led to unintended consequences. Because modern houses are less drafty due to tighter-fitting windows, doors and weather stripping, pollutants that were vented in the past are trapped inside. Most of the pollutants are relatively harmless, but some can be dangerous, and they all contribute to what some people call "sick house syndrome."

See More Articles