Disposal jammed, humming, or leaking? We fix it — or install a new one.
A garbage disposal that hums but won't turn, makes a grinding noise, leaks underneath the sink, or just won't power on is one of the more frustrating kitchen plumbing problems — mostly because they're heavily used and the failure always seems to happen at the worst time. Poor John's repairs and replaces garbage disposals across Kansas City with flat-rate pricing and same-day service when available.
This is the most common garbage disposal complaint. The motor is running but the grinding plate is jammed — usually by a piece of food, a small utensil, or a foreign object that got into the disposal. Most disposals have a reset button on the bottom of the unit and a hex key socket that allows you to manually turn the grinding plate to free the jam. If the jam is cleared and the unit still won't spin, the motor may be burned out from running while jammed.
If the disposal makes no sound when you hit the switch, start with the reset button on the bottom of the unit — disposals have a thermal overload protection that trips when the motor overheats. If the reset button doesn't fix it, check the circuit breaker. If both are fine, the switch, wiring, or motor itself may have failed.
Garbage disposal leaks come from three places: the sink flange at the top (where the disposal mounts to the sink drain), the dishwasher connection on the side, or the drain connection at the bottom. A leak from the bottom of the disposal unit itself usually means the internal seals have failed — at that point replacement is more cost-effective than repair. Flange and connection leaks are typically repairable.
An unusual grinding or rattling sound usually means something hard has gotten into the disposal — a piece of glass, a bottle cap, a coin, or a small utensil. Turn off the disposal, reach in carefully (with the power off and the switch in the off position), and check for foreign objects before running it again. Continued metal-on-metal grinding after clearing foreign objects suggests the grinding plate or shredder ring is damaged.
A slow-draining disposal usually indicates a clog in the drain line beneath the sink, not a problem with the disposal itself. Food waste that isn't ground finely enough, or disposal use without sufficient water running, can build up in the drain line. This is a drain cleaning issue rather than a disposal problem.
When repair isn't the right call — either because the motor is burned out, the unit is leaking from the body, or it's simply old — replacement is straightforward. Poor John's installs garbage disposals of all brands and sizes. If you supply the disposal unit, labor for installation is $295. If we supply the unit, materials pricing varies by brand and HP rating. See the prices page for full details.
When selecting a replacement disposal, consider horsepower rating (⅓ HP is entry-level, ½ HP handles most households, ¾ to 1 HP for heavier use), noise insulation, and whether you need a dishwasher drain connection.
The most common cause of disposal damage and kitchen drain clogs in Kansas City homes is putting the wrong things down the disposal. Avoid: grease and oils (coat the drain line walls), fibrous vegetables like celery and artichokes (wrap around the grinding plate), potato peels and starchy foods (create a paste that clogs lines), bones and fruit pits (too hard for residential disposals), and coffee grounds in large quantities (accumulate in pipes).
Flat-rate pricing. You'll know the cost before we start.