How to Dismantle Under-Sink Garbage Disposals
Garbage disposals are a great addition to any kitchen. Designed to quickly get rid of food and organic material by chopping the material up and sending it down the drain. If your unit has stopped working you can replace it yourself. The first step in replacing the unit is knowing how to dismantle the under sink garbage disposal you currently have installed. The average handyperson can remove the garbage disposal with little difficulty.
- Difficulty:
- Moderate
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Bucket
- Phillips-head screwdriver
- Channel lock pliers
- Flathead screwdriver
- Mallet
- Putty knife
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1
Disconnect the power supply from the under sink garbage disposal. Turn off the circuit breaker to the garbage disposal if the unit is hard-wired to the home. Most garbage disposals plug into an outlet located under the sink.
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2
Place a bucket under the sink trap and the garbage disposal. Use a Phillips-head screwdriver to loosen the clamp on the dishwasher hose securing the hose to the garbage disposal. Pull the dishwasher hose off of the garbage disposal and position the hose out of your way.
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3
Locate the access panel to the electrical connections inside the garbage disposal, if your unit is hard-wired into the home. The access panel will either be at the base of the garbage disposal or on the side of the unit. Remove the screws securing the access panel to the garbage disposal with a Phillips-head screwdriver.
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4
Untwist the plastic wire caps connecting the house wires to the wires in the garbage disposal. Use a screwdriver to unscrew the ground wire from the base of the unit. Loosen the clamp holding the conduit to the side of the disposal with a screwdriver. Remove the electrical conduit with wires from the garbage disposal.
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5
Use a pair of channel lock pliers to remove the drain line from the garbage disposal. Loosen the retaining nut with the channel lock pliers and slide the nut completely off of the garbage disposal.
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6
Use the blade of a flathead screwdriver to unsnap the snap ring that locks the garbage disposal unit to the sink. Twist the garbage disposal counterclockwise and lower it from the sink drain. Use the Phillips-head screwdriver to remove the three retaining screws that secure the mounting ring to the sink drain.
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7
Pull the mounting ring off of the sink drain. Tap lightly with a mallet on the bottom of the sink drain flange to loosen it from the sink. Go up to the top of the sink and pull the sink flange straight up out of the sink. You may need to use a putty knife to assist in breaking the seal of any old plumbers putty.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Always disconnect appliance from their power source before attempting repairs.
