Garbage Disposal Repair in Denver, CO

Try this before you call

1. Switch the disposal off and cut power at the switch or breaker. Never reach into the grinding chamber.
2. Press the red reset button on the bottom of the unit.
3. If it hums but won't spin, use the hex key that fits the socket under the unit to work the flywheel back and forth.
4. Restore power, run cold water and try it again.

If it trips again right away, or the hex socket won't budge, stop and have a plumber look. Forcing it can burn out the motor.

Reading the symptoms

• Leak from the top: the sink flange putty or mounting ring has loosened.
• Leak from the side: the dishwasher hose or drain outlet connection needs attention.
• Leak from the bottom: internal seals have failed, which usually means replacement.
• Sink drains slowly even with the disposal running: the clog is in the trap or the drain line past it.

What goes down, and what shouldn't

A disposal grinds food; it doesn't make grease, fibrous peels, coffee grounds or eggshells disappear. Those collect in the trap and the drain line, and fats cool and stick as they travel. Older Denver homes deserve extra care here: with the median house built in 1975, many kitchens still drain through original cast iron, and buildup inside old pipe narrows it over time. Scrape plates into the trash, run cold water while grinding, and keep cooking grease out of the sink entirely. Your home's waste line ties into the sewer system run by Denver Wastewater Management, and grease that gets past your pipes adds to blockages down the line.

Repair or a new unit

Jams, reset trips and loose connections are repairs. A disposal that leaks from its body, smells hot, or has seized for good is generally replaced. A plumber can also check that the dishwasher drain has a proper high loop or air gap while the cabinet is open.

What sets the price

Cost depends on whether the fix is a reset or connection repair versus a new unit, the horsepower and model you choose, whether the electrical connection needs changes, and whether the drain line past the disposal needs clearing. Ask for the quote before work begins.