Garbage Disposals
Get Your Kitchen Sink Grinding Again
Humming, jammed, leaking or dead silent, your disposal is in good hands with Geek Plumbing Services, day or night.
Garbage Disposal Repair, Replacement & Installation
A disposal that won't turn on, hums at you or leaves a puddle in the cabinet can bring the whole kitchen to a stop. Geek Plumbing Services handles garbage disposal repair, replacement and installation for homes across Asheville, NC, and we'll tell you honestly which of the three you actually need. It's part of our everyday home plumbing services, and yes, we'll explain what went wrong while we fix it.
Garbage Disposal Repair: What That Noise Means
Your disposal is pretty good at telling you what's wrong, if you know how to listen:
- It hums but won't spin. Something is wedged between the spinning plate and the grinding ring (a fruit pit, a bottle cap, the occasional runaway spoon), or the motor is seizing up.
- It does nothing at all. A garbage disposal not working at all has probably tripped its built-in overload protector. If a reset doesn't bring it back, the motor may be finished.
- It's leaking underneath. Where it drips tells the story: the top usually means a worn seal at the sink flange, the side points to the drain connection, and the bottom often means the unit's internal seals have failed.
- It drains slowly or backs up. There's a clog in the disposal or the drain line past it. Grease, coffee grounds and stringy peels are the usual suspects.
- It grinds, rattles or clanks. Something hard is loose in the chamber, or the parts inside are worn out.
Geek tip: before you call, turn the disposal off at the switch, then look underneath for a small red reset button and press it. Most units also have a hex-shaped socket in the center of the bottom. Turn it back and forth with the little wrench that came with the disposal to free a jam. Never put your hand inside.
Repair or Replace? An Honest Answer
A jam, a tripped reset or a loose drain connection is a repair, plain and simple. A garbage disposal leaking from its own body is a different story. So is a burned-out motor or a unit that's rusted through. Those internal seals and parts aren't really worth rebuilding, so garbage disposal replacement is the smarter spend. We'll show you what we found and let you decide.
Garbage Disposal Installation & Replacement
Swapping out an old unit or adding one for the first time, we mount the disposal to the sink with a fresh seal, connect the drain, run water through it and check every joint for drips before we call it done. We'll help you pick a unit that fits how you cook and what you want to spend. Planning a bigger kitchen update? Our kitchen remodel plumbing page covers the rest of the sink area.
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Financing
Ask About Financing
A bigger repair or a replacement doesn't always fit this month's budget. Ask about financing when you call or text (828) 344-5244, or mention it in your Free Estimate request, and we'll walk you through the options.
Garbage Disposal FAQs
Still have questions? Call us at (828) 344-5244 or browse our full plumbing FAQ.
Why is my garbage disposal humming?
Humming almost always means the motor is getting power but the plate can't turn, usually because something is jammed inside. Cut the power, free the jam with the hex wrench from underneath, press the reset button and try again. If it spins freely and still just hums, give us a call.
What shouldn't go down a garbage disposal?
Grease and cooking oil, coffee grounds, eggshells, pasta and rice (they swell), bones, fruit pits and stringy stuff like celery, corn husks and onion skins. Anything that isn't food stays out too. Run cold water while it grinds and for a few seconds after.
Can a leaking disposal be fixed?
Sometimes. A leak at the sink flange or the drain connection usually comes down to a seal or a loose fitting we can fix. Water dripping from the bottom of the unit itself usually means the internal seals are done, and that means a new disposal.
Is it safe to reach into a garbage disposal?
No, even with the switch off. Use tongs or pliers to pull out anything stuck, and cut the power first. If you can't see what's jamming it, let us take a look.
Why does my disposal smell?
Food bits love to hide under the rubber splash guard and inside the chamber. Scrub the underside of the guard and run some ice cubes through to knock the gunk loose. If the smell sticks around, there may be a partial clog further down the line, and our drain cleaning service can clear it.
Why Choose Us
Why Choose Geek Plumbing Services
Women-Owned & Operated
A locally owned, women-run plumbing team that treats your home the way we'd want ours treated.
Licensed & Insured
A licensed plumber who's insured too, from the first visit to the final fix.
Honest Answers
You'll hear what broke and what it takes to fix it, in plain English, before any work starts.
Fast Turnaround
Quick replies, and we don't let a job drag on.
Budget-Fit Materials
Tell us your budget and we'll pick materials that fit it.
Limited Lifetime Workmanship Warranty
If we made the mistake on the install, it's ours to fix for as long as you own and live in your home.
Ready for a Disposal That Just Works?
From a quick unjam to a brand-new unit, Geek Plumbing Services keeps kitchen sinks running in Asheville, West Asheville, Canton, Mills River, Leicester and Waynesville. Call or text (828) 344-5244, day or night, or ask for your free estimate.