Garbage Disposal Repair
Quick answer
A disposal that hums but does not grind is usually jammed; a dead one often just needs the reset button pressed. Water dripping from the bottom of the unit means the internal seal has failed, and that is a replacement, not a repair. For a plumber to replace or reconnect it, call (888) 217-6781.
Follow the short menu, then your 5-digit ZIP. The line goes quiet for a few seconds while it connects; stay on. If it does not connect, call once more: companies taking calls change minute to minute.
Signs you need a plumber
- Water dripping from the bottom of the disposal
- Humming with no grinding
- No sound at all when switched on
- Leaks at the sink flange or the dishwasher connection
Turn the disposal off at the switch and the breaker before reaching under the sink or into the unit.
What to check before you call
- Press the red reset button on the bottom of the unit
- With power off, turn the hex socket on the bottom with the wrench that came with it to free a jam
- Find where it drips: top flange, side connections or the body
What the plumber does
- 1
Finds the leak or fault
Separates a loose flange or drain connection from a failed internal seal.
- 2
Reseals or reconnects
Reseats the sink flange and tightens or replaces the drain and dishwasher connections.
- 3
Replaces the unit
A disposal leaking through its body is replaced and wired back in.
Ready to book a plumber?
One call reaches a plumbing company taking calls in your ZIP.
Follow the short menu, then your 5-digit ZIP. The line goes quiet for a few seconds while it connects; stay on. If it does not connect, call once more: companies taking calls change minute to minute.
Step-by-step guides
Garbage Disposal Not Working: Humming, Silent or Jammed
A jam, a tripped overload or no power: what to try, and when a disposal needs replacing.
Garbage Disposal Leaking From the Bottom: Why It's Usually the End of the Unit, and What to Check First (2026)
Bottom leak: the seal is gone and the housing is going — replace it. Top leak: sink flange putty. Side leak: dishwasher hose or drain elbow. Then look at the cabinet floor.
Garbage disposal repair: common questions
Can a garbage disposal leaking from the bottom be fixed?
RarelyWater from the bottom usually means the seal between the grinding chamber and the motor has failed and the housing is corroded; the unit is replaced.
Why does my disposal hum but not work?
Something is jammed between the plate and the ring. With the power off, turn the hex socket on the bottom to free it, then press reset.
Other plumbing services
(888) 217-6781 is the plumbing line. HearthDry is a referral service; the company you reach is independent.