How to Fix and Install a Garbage Disposal
Garbage disposals are one item in your kitchen that you use multiple times each day. This "machine" works hard at chewing up your food waste. You will eventually need a repair on the unit or, after so many faithful years, you might simply need to replace the old garbage disposal.
Repairing or replacing your garbage disposal unit is not too difficult to do and does not take up a lot of your time.
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Things You'll Need
- Eye protection
- Ear protection
- Dust mask
- Knee pads
- Gloves
- Groove joint pliers
- Basket strainer wrench
- Screwdrivers
Instructions
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1
Put on all necessary protective gear and lay some towels on the floor beneath the garbage disposal.
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2
Remove the garbage disposal connector pipe. This connection depends on whether or not you have two sink compartments. Use a pair of groove joint pliers to loosen the supply nut of the plumbing connector.
Single sinks will have an elbow connection that leads to the p-trap. Double sinks will have a straight connector going from the garbage disposal on one side to the other sink on the opposite side.
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3
Unplug the garbage disposal unit from the wall or turn off the power for hard wired units.
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4
Replace any washers that might be leaking in your garbage disposal connector pipe. Remove the washer by hand by pulling the connector pipe apart from the p-trap or straight connection to the other sink. Install a new washer and then tighten the connector nut with the groove joint pliers.
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5
Insert a basket strainer wrench in the top of the sink drain. From below, have a helper insert a screwdriver into the mounting ring and turn it counterclockwise. This will allow the disposal to drop down from the sink.
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6
Remove the rest of the drain assembly from below with a screwdriver by unscrewing the three screws that hold the drain to the garbage disposal.
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7
Drop the ring down that was held in place by the three screws. Insert a screwdriver behind the large metal ring and pry it off. Now from above, remove the sink drain from within the sink and the disposal will drop down from below, so have a helper there to assist.
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8
Apply plumber's putty around the drain hole opening before you place the garbage disposal drain assembly and unit back together. Lower the drain into the hole from above. Snap the ring in from below.
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9
Tighten the three screws, just like you removed them, and tighten the garbage disposal onto the mounting ring.
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10
Hook up the drain and plug in the unit or turn on the power. Check for any leaks.
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