Garbage Disposal Repair and Installation Experts Serving Chicago Heights, IL
When your garbage disposal stops working, it can quickly turn into a real hassle—especially after a long day when you want to clean up but the sink won’t drain. Whether your unit is jammed, leaking underneath, won’t power on, or sounds like it’s grinding rocks, our team is usually able to fix it on the same day you call.
Give us a ring at 779-217-8261, and we’ll walk you through whether it can be repaired or if replacement is more practical. The decision depends on the disposal’s age, the type of fault, and repair versus replacement cost. For instance, a 12-year-old disposal with a burnt motor is better off replaced, but a newer jammed unit might just need a quick clear-out. We’re upfront about options and pricing before any work starts.
We also take care of drain clearing below disposals when clogs form in the P-trap or drain pipe, since sometimes the disposal is fine but the pipes are clogged. If you're updating your kitchen, check out our kitchen remodeling and faucet and fixture installation services.
Our Garbage Disposal Services
Garbage Disposal Repairs
Common fixes include clearing jams that cause the motor to hum without blade rotation—you can try our hex wrench reset, but if it lingers, give us a call. We also fix faulty reset buttons, leaks at the sink flange or discharge pipe, worn splash guards, and disposals that spin but don’t properly grind food. We always diagnose before recommending replacement, since many issues are affordable to repair. We service all popular brands like InSinkErator, Waste King, GE, and KitchenAid.
If your unit is too old or damaged beyond efficient repair, we’ll provide a straightforward cost comparison and let you decide whether to replace it or fix it.
Disposal Replacement
When your unit is past 10 years, leaking from the main housing, or the motor has failed, swapping in a new disposal is usually the best choice. We carefully remove the old unit, inspect and service the mounting hardware and sink opening, and install a new disposal. If you have a dishwasher connected, we’ll handle that plumbing too. We check the electrical setup—whether hardwired or corded—and test everything before leaving your home.
Choosing the right horsepower matters: 1/2 HP suits most households, 3/4 HP is better for frequent use and fewer jams, while 1 HP handles bigger families or heavy use and runs quieter. We guide you through those options during service.
New Garbage Disposal Installations
Adding a disposal where none existed before requires more work. We modify the sink drain to fit the mounting flange, coordinate electrical outlet or switch installation if needed, connect dishwasher drains if applicable, and correctly route the discharge plumbing to the drain. Our plumbers handle all the plumbing tasks and will alert you if electrical work is needed before we begin.
Tackling Disposal-Related Drain Blockages
If your kitchen drain slows down or backs up when running the disposal, the issue might be clogged pipes rather than the disposal itself. Food grease, soap scum, and debris often build up in the P-trap or drain line. We use professional drain snakes to clear blockages and inspect the P-trap and dishwasher drain connections at the same time. If both disposal and drain contribute to the problem, we’ll fix both.
Warning Signs Your Garbage Disposal Needs Attention
- Motor hums but blades don’t turn (jammed)
- Nothing happens when switched on
- Strange grinding, screeching, or rattling sounds
- Leaks coming from the bottom housing
- Leaks at sink flange or discharge pipe
- Slow or backed-up kitchen drain
- Reset button trips frequently
- Lingering bad odors despite cleaning
- Disposal is over 10 years old
Items You Should Never Put Into Your Garbage Disposal
- Grease, oils, or fats — they harden in pipes and cause clogs
- Fibrous vegetables — celery stalks, corn husks, onion skins, and similar
- Large amounts of starchy foods — pasta, rice, potato peels
- Bones and fruit pits — can damage blades and motor
- Eggshells — membranes can wrap around moving parts
- Excessive coffee grounds — form paste that clogs drains
- Always run cold water while the disposal is running and for 15 seconds afterward
Garbage Disposal FAQs
That usually means the motor is powered but the blades are stuck. Switch off the disposal before anything else. Locate the hex wrench socket at the base and use the wrench (often taped nearby) to manually turn the grinding plate back and forth. Use tongs or pliers—not your hand—to remove any jammed debris from the opening. If it keeps humming or won’t clear, call us at 779-217-8261.
If the disposal is under 5 to 6 years old and the problem is repairable, like a jam or leak, repairing usually makes the most sense. If it’s more than 10 years old, has a burnt motor, or leaks from the housing, replacement is generally the smarter choice. We’ll provide estimates for both so you can make an informed decision.
Disposals usually last between 8 and 15 years, depending on how heavily they’re used and what kind of food waste they handle. Units that deal with lots of fibrous or starchy foods or frequently jam tend to have shorter lifespans. Popular models from InSinkErator and Waste King are known to be reliable across a range of price points.
Yes, in most cases. We’ll modify your sink drain to fit the disposal flange and coordinate installation of an electrical outlet or switch if you don’t already have one (this typically requires an electrician). We manage all the plumbing connections and handle dishwasher drain hookups if needed. This is a common part of many kitchen remodels.