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HiringGarbage Disposal Repair

Should I repair or replace my garbage disposal?

Fix it when the problem is outside the motor: a jam, a tripped reset button, a clog or a leaking drain joint. Check the warranty before paying anyone, because the maker may repair or replace it at home for free. Replace it when the body or motor joint leaks, or the motor hums or stays dead with the plate turning freely and the power checked.

Free to ask. Local shops send quotes, and you pay only when you book one.

By Kasra Taheri, Founder, LoclisPublished

Researched and drafted with AI, then checked claim by claim against the sources listed below before it was published. Prices and rules change; the dates beside each source say when it was last checked.

Step by step

Read when to stop and call a pro, further down this page, before you start.

  1. Step 1: Rule out a jam

    With the power off at the plug or breaker, put the wrench in the center hole on the bottom and work it back and forth until it turns one full revolution.[1]

  2. Step 2: Reset and check the power

    Press the red reset button on the bottom of the unit, then check the breaker or fuse at the service panel.[1]

  3. Step 3: Test the outlet

    For a plug-in unit, plug a lamp into the disposal's outlet and flip the switch; if the lamp works and the disposal does not, the disposal needs service.[3]

  4. Step 4: Find any leak

    Fill the sink, wrap dry paper towels around the sink flange, drain elbow and dishwasher connector, drain the sink and see which towel gets wet.[5]

  5. Step 5: Read the label

    Note the model and serial number from the label on the bottom of the disposal before you call anyone.[6]

  6. Step 6: Work out the warranty

    Look up your model's warranty term in its manual and count it from the later of the install date, purchase date or manufacture date.[2]

  7. Step 7: Call the maker if it is covered

    If the unit is inside its warranty term, contact the manufacturer before paying for a repair or a new unit.[1]

  8. Step 8: Price a matching replacement

    If it is out of warranty, look for a model that fits your existing mount, which keeps the swap short.[7]

  9. Step 9: Get written quotes

    Ask at least three licensed businesses for written quotes on the same job and compare them line by line.[12]

Repair a garbage disposal when the problem is outside the motor, and replace it when the motor or the housing itself has failed. Before you pay for either, check the warranty: many disposals are covered for several years, and the maker may send someone to fix or replace the unit at no cost to you.

Looking down a kitchen sink drain fitted with a garbage disposal, showing the metal sink flange and the black rubber splash guard over the opening
Photo: TaurusEmerald, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Problems you can usually fix

Several common problems look like a dead disposal but do not need a new unit:

  • A jam. The motor hums or stops because something is wedged against the grinding plate. A hex wrench in the hole underneath frees it; see how to unjam a garbage disposal.
  • A tripped reset button or breaker. The overload protector on the bottom of the unit can trip after a jam; the manual's fix is to let the motor cool for a few minutes and push the red reset button, then check the breaker or fuse.[1]
  • A dead outlet. For a plug-in unit, plug a lamp into the same outlet and flip the switch. If the test device turns on and off with the switch, InSinkErator says the disposal requires service; if it does not, the outlet needs an electrician.[3]
  • A slow drain or a smell. A clog in the drain line or food buildup under the splash guard. See why a garbage disposal smells.
  • A leak at a joint. Water at the sink flange, the drain elbow or the dishwasher hose usually means a loose screw, a worn gasket or a clamp that needs tightening or replacing.[5]

That last one can fool you. Moen notes that if the drain discharge gasket is damaged, water can travel down in between the shell and the garbage disposal and drain out by the cover plate on the bottom.[5] A drip from the bottom is not always a failed unit, so do the paper-towel test in the steps before you decide.

When replacement makes more sense

The body or motor joint leaks. InSinkErator's troubleshooting guide offers no fix for a leak through the wall of the container body or at the motor joint; once you have confirmed the water is not running down from the mount above, it says to contact the company.[4] Out of warranty, that means a new unit.

The motor fails with the plate free. If the plate spins freely by hand, the reset button stays up and the power checks out, but the motor hums or does nothing, the problem is inside the housing. Waste King's conclusion: "If the wiring and electrical components are intact, the unit may have internal mechanical problems that require replacement."[6]

It keeps failing. Repeated jams with ordinary food, constant resets or a grind that leaves food behind can be signs of a worn unit, and a new one is often the better use of a service call.

Check the warranty first

On an InSinkErator, the gray tag near the bottom of the disposal carries the serial number.[2] The company says the first two digits of the serial number give the year of manufacture and the next two the month,[2] and notes that a new 10-character serial format started in summer 2024.[2] The warranty period runs from the latest of three dates: when the disposal was installed, when it was bought, or when it was made.[2] If you have no installation or purchase receipt, InSinkErator decides the start date from the serial number.[2] Keep the receipt from any new unit.

The coverage is worth having. InSinkErator's in-home limited warranty covers defects in materials or workmanship and includes all replacement parts and labor costs, with repair or replacement done at your home.[1] It excludes wear and tear and damage from misuse, or from failing to install the unit according to the maker's instructions or local electrical and plumbing codes.[1] And it carries a warning worth reading twice: "This limited warranty is void if you attempt to repair the InSinkErator Product."[1]

How long you are covered depends on the model. When we checked InSinkErator's comparison chart on October 26, 2026, terms ran from a 2-year warranty on the 1/3-horsepower Badger 1 to 10 years on the 1.0-horsepower Evolution models.[8] Your model's term is in its manual.

If you replace it

A replacement is usually simpler than a first install, because the drain, outlet and sink hole are already there. InSinkErator says its Quick Lock mount makes it fast and simple to replace one InSinkErator disposal with another,[7] and Waste King says that when you replace one of its disposals with one using the same mounting assembly, you can keep the top mounting hardware in place.[6] When we checked on October 26, 2026, InSinkErator's replacement guide put the cost of a new kitchen sink disposal at roughly $100 to $450,[7] before labor. The full breakdown is in what garbage disposal repair costs in Virginia and what installation costs.

If you want to repair rather than replace an out-of-warranty unit, parts are sold separately: Waste King lists companies that sell parts and says to have the model number ready.[6] Waste King, for example, sells a replacement splash guard for its EZ Mount models.[6]

Who to hire in Virginia

A plug-in swap on the same mount is a reasonable job for a handy owner; replacing a garbage disposal walks through it. If you hire it out, use a licensed plumber. Virginia defines a tradesman as anyone who works for the general public for compensation in the electrical, plumbing or HVAC trades,[10] and no individual may do that work unless licensed as a tradesman or working under the supervision of a tradesman licensed in that specialty.[11] If an outlet, switch or hardwired connection needs work, that part is for a licensed electrician.

On permits, Virginia's building code exempts the replacement of plumbing fixtures without alteration of the water supply, drainage or vent systems,[9] but requires one for alterations involving the sanitary drainage system or electric wiring.[9] Ask whether your quote includes a permit if the job changes the drain or the wiring.

Get the quote in writing. DPOR's consumer guide states: "Virginia law requires all licensed contractors to provide a written contract for residential work."[12] It also warns: "A license number in an advertisement or on a business card does not necessarily mean the contractor's license is valid."[12] Check it on DPOR's online licence lookup before you sign.

Stop and call a pro if

  • The disposal is hardwired, or there is no grounded outlet near it. That is electrical work.
  • The breaker trips every time the disposal is switched on, or the outlet fails the lamp test. That is an electrical fault for a licensed electrician.
  • You smell something burning or see smoke or sparks. Switch the disposal off at the breaker, leave it off and call a licensed electrician.
  • The drain has to change: the wall connection is too high, the trap is corroded, or there was never a disposal there.
  • Water is coming from the body or the bottom and the paper-towel test points to the unit itself.
  • It is still under warranty. Let the maker's authorized service do the work, so the coverage stays intact.

Getting help on Loclis

Local businesses on Loclis handle garbage disposal repair, and you can find plumbers in Blacksburg for a replacement or browse garbage disposal services. More answers are under appliance repair.

When you are ready, describe the disposal problem once and local businesses quote it.

Common questions

Is it worth repairing a garbage disposal motor?
Rarely, out of warranty. Once the grinding plate turns freely and the power, outlet and reset button check out, a motor that hums or stays silent has a fault inside the housing. Waste King says that at that point the unit may have internal problems that require replacement. Inside the warranty, a covered defect should be handled by the maker's authorized service at no cost to you.
Can a leaking garbage disposal be fixed?
It depends where the water comes from. Leaks at the sink flange, the drain elbow or the dishwasher connector are usually fixable by reseating or replacing a gasket, clamp or screw. A leak through the body of the unit or at the motor joint has no homeowner fix; ask the maker about the warranty, and if it is out of warranty, plan on replacing it.
How do I tell how old my garbage disposal is?
Look at the label on the bottom of the unit. On InSinkErator units the serial number is on a gray tag near the bottom, and the first two digits give the year of manufacture and the next two the month. InSinkErator moved to a new 10-character serial format in summer 2024, so call the maker if yours does not match that pattern.
Will fixing it myself void the warranty?
It can. InSinkErator's manual says its warranty is void if you attempt to repair the unit, and only its authorized service representatives may do warranty work. Clearing a jam with the wrench and pressing the reset button are normal use, not repairs, but do not open the unit or replace parts on a disposal that is still covered.
Do I need a permit to replace a garbage disposal in Virginia?
Not usually for a like-for-like swap. Virginia's building code exempts replacing plumbing fixtures without altering the supply, drain or vent piping. A first install, a new outlet or switch, or a re-routed drain can need a permit, so ask your local building department if your job changes any of those.

Sources

  1. [1] Badger Series Installation, Care and Use Manual, InSinkErator. Checked October 26, 2026.
  2. [2] Warranty, InSinkErator. Checked October 26, 2026.
  3. [3] Garbage Disposal Won't Turn On or Off, InSinkErator. Checked October 26, 2026.
  4. [4] Garbage Disposal Leaking, InSinkErator. Checked October 26, 2026.
  5. [5] Leak Underneath: Existing Garbage Disposal, Moen. Checked October 26, 2026.
  6. [6] Frequently Asked Questions, Waste King. Checked October 26, 2026.
  7. [7] Garbage Disposal Replacement Guide, InSinkErator. Checked October 26, 2026.
  8. [8] Badger Series Garbage Disposals (comparison chart), InSinkErator. Checked October 26, 2026.
  9. [9] 13VAC5-63-80. Section 108 Application for permit (Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code), Virginia Administrative Code, Virginia General Assembly. Checked October 26, 2026.
  10. [10] § 54.1-1128. Definitions (tradesmen), Code of Virginia, Virginia General Assembly. Checked October 26, 2026.
  11. [11] § 54.1-1129. Necessity for licensure, Code of Virginia, Virginia General Assembly. Checked October 26, 2026.
  12. [12] What You Should Know Before You Hire a Contractor, Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. Checked October 26, 2026.

Want a pro to handle it?

Describe the job once. Licensed local businesses send quotes, and you pay only when you book one.