Disposal humming, jammed or leaking
If the disposal hums but will not spin, or water is pooling under the sink, switch the unit off at the wall switch and the breaker. Our dispatch is open 24/7, and while you wait you should keep your hands out of the unit and run no water into the sink.
Never put a hand in a disposal, even when it is off. Use tongs for anything stuck, and call us if it will not clear.
What the symptoms mean
The sound and the leak location tell us most of the story.
- Humming with no spin means a jam or a seized motor
- Silence at the switch means a tripped reset button or dead power
- Water from the bottom means the housing has failed
- Water from the top means a worn sink flange seal
- Water from the side means a loose drain or dishwasher hose connection
- A foul smell means trapped food or a slow drain line
Clearing a jam the safe way
This often works without a service call.
- 1
Power off
Turn off the switch and unplug or switch off the breaker.
- 2
Use the hex socket
Many units have a hex socket at the bottom for a wrench to free the flywheel.
- 3
Reset
Press the red reset button on the bottom of the unit.
- 4
Test with water
Run cold water and flip the switch.
If it still hums, the motor may be failing and we should look at it.
What goes down a Barberton kitchen drain
Disposal trouble often ends up in the drain line. Fat, coffee grounds and starchy peels settle, then harden into a paste that narrows the pipe. In a city with older lines and hard water, that paste builds up faster.
If the sink drains slowly even with the disposal running, the clog is past the unit. Our drain cleaning service clears it, and hydro jetting removes the grease coating for good.
Repair or replace the disposal
Use this as a rule of thumb.
| Situation | Better choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Jam freed with the hex key | Repair | No damage to the motor |
| Leak at the sink flange | Repair | Reseat the flange with new putty |
| Leak from the housing | Replace | Seals have failed inside |
| Motor hums and seized after a reset | Replace | Windings are shot |
| Unit older than 10 years with repeated failures | Replace | Repairs add up |
Installing a new disposal
A straightforward swap takes about one to two hours. We remove the old unit, mount the new one, reconnect the drain and dishwasher hose, and wire it to a switch.
Wiring or a missing switch adds time, and a sink without a power outlet needs an electrician for the new circuit. We tell you before we start, and we can plan the work alongside other plumbing installation jobs.
Keeping a disposal healthy
Run cold water before, during and for several seconds after grinding, which keeps fats solid enough to move through the trap. Feed scraps in gradually instead of dumping a full bowl at once.
Skip bones, corn husks, artichoke leaves and anything fibrous. If the unit smells, a handful of ice and a splash of dish soap scrubs the chamber, and it costs nothing. A unit that smells even after cleaning often signals a drain-line problem, not a dirty disposal.
What affects disposal pricing
We give you the price first.
Insurance does not usually cover disposals. For a quote, call (855) 575-2890.
Disposal dead or leaking?
Call the 24/7 line. We will help you stay safe until we arrive.
Installation and safety guidelines
A disposal must be installed according to the manufacturer's instructions, and its drain connection has to meet the Ohio Plumbing Code, which builds on the International Plumbing Code (IPC). That includes a proper trap and an air gap or high loop on the dishwasher drain where required.
Never put a hand in a disposal, even when it is off. Cut power at the breaker before any repair.
Service area
We repair and replace disposals across Barberton, Norton and Copley. If the sink leak is in the supply lines, a faucet repair visit may cover it.
Garbage Disposal Repair questions from Barberton homeowners
Yes. Dispatch is open 24/7. A leaking disposal or a backed-up sink gets same-day attention when a plumber is available.
A hum means the motor has power but the flywheel is jammed. Turn off power and use the hex socket, then press reset.
A straight swap takes one to two hours. New wiring or a changed sink setup takes longer.
Fats, grease, coffee grounds, eggshell volume, fibrous peels and pasta that swells. Cold water and small food scraps are safest.
Top leaks at the sink flange are fixable. Leaks from the housing mean the unit needs replacement.
Disposal down? Call (855) 575-2890.