Garbage Disposal Repair in Portland, OR
Try the safe resets first. If you still need us, you get a price to repair and a price to replace, and you choose.
Safe Resets to Try Before You Call
Plenty of disposal calls end with a reset button and a hex wrench, and if that fixes yours, you don't need us. Start with the power off. Turn off the switch and unplug the unit under the sink, or shut off its breaker if it's hardwired. Never put your hand in the disposal.
- Dead, no sound: press the red reset button on the bottom of the unit, then check the breaker and that the plug didn't work loose.
- Humming but not spinning: it's jammed. Put the hex wrench that came with the unit into the socket on the bottom center and work it back and forth until it turns freely, then press reset.
- Something stuck: with the power off, use tongs or pliers to pull out what you can see.
- Slow drain on that side: run cold water with the disposal on for a short burst after the jam is cleared.
Stop and call if it trips the reset again right away, smells like burning, the switch feels warm, or the jam won't free up. Those point to a motor or electrical problem, and the wiring sits a few inches from your drain pipes.
Leaks and Electrical Problems Can't Wait
A disposal leak usually drips onto the cabinet floor, and in most kitchens that floor is particleboard, which swells and crumbles once it stays wet. Put a bowl under the drip, run a little water, and look where it comes from. A leak at the top where the disposal meets the sink is the sink flange seal. A leak at the side is usually the drain pipe or dishwasher hose connection. A leak from the bottom or body of the unit usually means the housing has cracked, and that can't be patched.
A burning smell, a warm switch, a tripped breaker that keeps tripping, or a unit that sparks means leave it off and leave the switch off. Water and electrical connections under the same sink are not something to keep testing.
Repair or Replace: How We Help You Decide
If the problem is outside the motor, like a jam, a leaking flange, a loose drain connection or a clog in the line, repair usually makes sense. If the motor has failed, the body is cracked and leaking, or the unit is old enough that a repair costs close to a new one, replacement is usually the better spend. We'll give you a price for each option and tell you plainly what you get for that money, and you pick.
If replacement wins, we can install the new unit and reconnect the dishwasher drain. If the slow drain turns out to be a clog farther down the line, that's a drain clearing job, and we'll tell you which problem you have before we start so you don't pay for the wrong fix.
Water under the sink or a burning smell?
Call (503) 594-4779. We answer 24 hours a day.
What Drives the Cost
You get one price before work starts, and that's the price at the end of the job. A photo of the unit, its label and the plumbing under the sink is often enough for a quote before we come out. The things that move the price are what actually failed, whether the drain fittings under the sink are corroded or brittle and need replacing as they come apart, whether a dishwasher hose is involved, whether the unit is hardwired or plugs in, and how cramped the cabinet is.
Whoever you call, ask whether the price covers the whole job and parts, and whether they'll give you a repair price and a replace price side by side. If a new unit is more than you planned for, we offer financing through Wisetack, and military members, first responders and seniors get 10% off.
What to Expect at the Visit
Clear out the cabinet under the sink and run the dishwasher before we arrive rather than during the visit. We cut the power, find the cause, and show you what failed so you can see it yourself before anything is replaced. A repair is resealed or reconnected and tested with water running. A replacement unit goes in with new connections, and the dishwasher drain is checked so it doesn't back up into the sink.
After we leave, run the disposal with cold water for a minute, then run the dishwasher and look under the sink for drips. Check the cabinet floor again the next morning. Wild Pine Plumbing works under Oregon CCB license #249970, and you can find the rest of our work on our Portland plumbing services page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about garbage disposal repair in Portland
Why does my disposal hum but not spin?
Something is usually jammed between the plate and the ring. Turn the switch off and unplug it or shut off the breaker, then use the hex wrench in the socket on the bottom to work it back and forth. If it frees up, press the reset button and try again with cold water running. If it hums again, the motor or bearings may be failing.
Is a leaking disposal worth repairing?
It depends where the leak is. A leak at the sink flange, the drain pipe or the dishwasher hose is usually a connection that can be resealed or replaced. A leak from the body of the unit itself usually means the housing has failed, and replacement is the better option.
Should I put my hand in the disposal to clear a jam?
No. Never put your hand in the disposal, even with the switch off. Cut the power first and use tongs or pliers to pull out anything you can see.
Get a Disposal Repair Price Before We Start
Call (503) 594-4779 and send a photo of the unit and the label. We answer 24 hours a day.
Ask about our 10% discount for Military, First Responders & Seniors.