Garbage disposal trouble, in the order it happens.
A disposal fails in a few predictable ways. It jams, and the motor hums. It leaks from the sink flange, the body or the drain connection. The motor dies. Or the sink backs up because the disposal outlet or the line past it is clogged.
Each has a different fix, and some are quick. A jam often clears with a hex key turned at the bottom of the unit. A leak from the body, by contrast, almost always means the disposal needs replacing. According to the City of Garfield's 2018 water quality report, hardness is above the recommended range, so a disposal drain that has scaled up clogs sooner than a clean one.
When a disposal problem is an emergency.
- Water is leaking from the disposal body into the cabinet.
- The sink is full and not draining and the disposal will not run.
- A burning smell or smoke comes from the unit. Switch it off at the breaker and call.
- The motor hums, and the lights flicker or the breaker trips.
- It is the only kitchen sink and you cannot cook or clean.
Disposal symptoms and likely fixes.
| Symptom. | Likely cause. | What we do. |
|---|---|---|
| Hums but does not spin. | Jammed flywheel. | Free the jam with a hex key, test, and check what jammed it. |
| Dead, no sound. | Tripped reset or failed motor. | Press reset, check wiring, replace if burnt out. |
| Leaks from the top. | Failed sink flange seal. | Reset the flange with fresh putty or gasket. |
| Leaks from the side or bottom. | Cracked housing or failed seal. | Replace the unit. |
| Sink drains slowly. | Clogged outlet or trap. | Clear the trap and the drain line. |
How a disposal replacement goes.
Power and water off.
We cut power at the switch or breaker and close the supply.
Remove the old unit.
We disconnect the drain, the dishwasher hose and the mounting ring.
Install the new unit.
The mount is set, the disposal is hung and the drains and wiring are reconnected.
Test.
We run water, switch it on and check every connection for leaks.
Sink full and disposal dead?
Call the emergency line, and we will tell you what is safe to try while you wait.
What a disposal should and should not handle.
Disposals are made for soft food scraps and small amounts of waste. They are not made for grease, coffee grounds in large amounts, fibrous vegetables like celery, potato peels in bulk, bones or pasta that swells. Those cause jams and clogs, and grease coats the pipes downstream.
In older Garfield kitchens, the drain from the sink is often small and may have scale inside from years of hard water, as the city's 2018 water quality report suggests with its above range hardness. A disposal puts more waste into a pipe that may already be narrow, so a repeat clog is a sign to call a drain cleaner too. See drain cleaning.
Choosing a replacement disposal.
Size the motor to the household. A half horsepower unit suits a single person or a small family. Three quarter or one horsepower units handle more volume and are quieter. Continuous feed models are the most common. Batch feed models run only with the stopper in place, which some families prefer for safety.
Check the mounting. Most new disposals fit most sinks, but older sinks and stainless units can need an adapter. If a dishwasher drains through the disposal, a new knockout plug must be removed. We handle that.
What affects the cost of disposal work.
You get a clear price before we start. We bring a replacement unit if we think the old one is finished.
Other kitchen work.
If the faucet is the problem, see faucet repair. We also reach Elmwood Park and Passaic.
Questions homeowners ask us.
Yes. The emergency line is open 24/7. Switch the unit off and tell the dispatcher what you see.
It is probably jammed. Turn the power off and use a hex key at the bottom to turn the flywheel back and forth. Never put a hand inside.
A leak at the sink flange can be resealed. A leak from the body or housing means the unit should be replaced.
Grease, bones, fibrous vegetables, large amounts of coffee grounds and pasta or rice that swells are common causes of clogs.
Often eight to fifteen years with careful use. Hard water and heavy use shorten that.
Removal is included in the work we spell out in the quote.
Written by the Garfield Express Plumbing team. Updated October 16, 2026.