Repair and replacement of garbage disposals — InSinkErator, Waste King, and Moen. We clear jams, fix leaks at the flange and gasket, replace burned-out units, and re-seal the sink connection so it drains clean.
Garbage Disposal is one part of our plumbing repair coverage in Illinois. For the full picture — symptoms, costs, and when to repair vs. replace — start with the complete Plumbing Repair guide, or browse every plumbing repair service we offer.
A garbage disposal fails in a few predictable ways — it hums but won't grind because something jammed the impellers, it leaks from the sink flange or the bottom seal, it trips its reset and quits, or the motor simply burns out after years of service. We diagnose which it is on the spot: a jam and a tripped reset are quick fixes, a flange leak is a re-seal, and a seized or leaking-from-the-bottom unit means the motor housing has failed and it's time for a new disposal. Most calls are resolved the same visit.
When replacement is the answer, we size it to how the kitchen actually gets used — a 1/2 HP unit for a light household, 3/4 to 1 HP for a family that cooks daily or runs a lot through it, with the quieter insulated models worth it under an open-plan kitchen. We install InSinkErator, Waste King, and Moen, mount it to the existing sink flange or replace the flange and putty if the old seal is shot, and tie it into the dishwasher drain and P-trap correctly so it doesn't leak or air-lock across Illinois.
A disposal is wired to power and mounted under a sink full of connections, which is why the leaks and the electrical faults get misdiagnosed. We check the whole picture — the reset button and the circuit before condemning a motor, the flange and the drain gaskets before blaming the unit, and the dishwasher knockout plug when a new install won't drain. If a disposal is genuinely dead we haul it away and recycle it, and we'll flag the sink drain or trap if that's the real source of a Illinois leak.
Watch for these garbage disposal warning signs
Disposal hums but won't spin
A hum with no grinding means the motor has power but the impeller plate is jammed by a bone, pit, or utensil. It's usually cleared and reset the same visit before the motor overheats.
A puddle in the cabinet can come from the disposal's mounting flange, its drain gaskets, or the bottom seal. Where it leaks from tells us whether it's a re-seal or a failed unit on a Illinois kitchen.
Disposal is completely dead
No hum and no motion usually means a tripped reset button, a bad switch, or a burned-out motor. We check the simple causes first before quoting a replacement.
Persistent foul smell
Odor that survives cleaning is food trapped in the grind chamber or a failing baffle. A worn unit that won't clear the smell is a candidate for replacement across Illinois.
Slow drain and frequent jams
A disposal that keeps jamming or drains slowly has a worn shredder ring and dull impellers. Once it's grinding poorly, a new unit restores the flow a Illinois kitchen needs.
Common causes, straight fixes
Jammed impeller plate
Fibrous scraps, bones, fruit pits, and stray flatware wedge the grinding plate and stall the motor. Clearing the jam and pressing the reset restores it in most Illinois calls.
Worn shredder ring and impellers
The grinding components dull and the ring corrodes over years of use, so the unit grinds poorly and jams often. At that point a replacement grinds cleaner than any repair.
Flange and gasket leaks
The sink flange putty dries out and the drain and dishwasher gaskets harden, letting water seep into the cabinet. Re-seating the flange and replacing the gaskets stops it.
Motor burnout
Repeated jams, overheating, and age eventually burn out the motor windings, and a motor that trips its thermal reset constantly is near the end. A burned-out Illinois unit is a replacement, not a repair.
Electrical and switch faults
A tripped reset, a failed wall switch, or a loose wire nut leaves a healthy disposal dead. We trace the circuit before condemning the motor on any Illinois unit.
What happens when you call
1
Book by phone or online. Pick a 2-hour window for garbage disposal in Illinois, by phone or online. Within five minutes you get a confirmation carrying the assigned tech's name and photo.
2
On-site diagnosis. On arrival we diagnose the garbage disposal on-site — free for most repairs, $39 on minor service calls (waived if you proceed). You see the issue and the fix before we start.
3
The quote, in writing. The garbage disposal quote is flat-rate, written, and good for 30 days — never an hourly meter, never after-the-fact add-ons.
4
Same-visit fix. Because the trucks carry the common valves, fittings, cartridges, and fixtures, most garbage disposal jobs wrap in that same visit — second trips are rare.
What does garbage disposal cost in Illinois?
Garbage Disposal in Illinois starts at from $189, every garbage disposal quote is flat-rate and presented in writing before work begins — no surprise add-ons, no hourly creep. Seniors (65+) and military save 10% on labor, and financing covers projects over $1,500 at 0% APR for 12 months, with no prepayment penalty.
Why Illinois calls us for garbage disposal
We've been a trusted choice since 1974 — over 50 years of family-owned plumbing service across Illinois. Our techs are CSLB-licensed (#1098234), background-checked, and complete an internal 12-week training program before rolling on calls alone.
Our garbage disposal carries a 10-year workmanship guarantee — separate from any manufacturer warranty on the parts themselves. If the garbage disposal we performed fails because of how we did it, we come back and fix it free for a full decade. Appliances and fixtures we install are backed by their full manufacturer warranty, and the parts and accessories we fit carry standard 1–5 year warranties by item.
We quote garbage disposal on honest scope: no unnecessary up-sell, salaried (never commissioned) technicians, and a transparent diagnostic so you see exactly what we see — including the parts still in good shape. If a repair is the right call we say so; if replacement is the better long-term economics, we say that. The flat-rate garbage disposal quote is written and good for 30 days.
Our garbage disposal service area
We provide garbage disposal throughout Illinois, with fast coverage in every major Illinois metro.
Outside Illinois? Our Garbage Disposal nationwide page is the national hub for this service in all 50 states.
Reach times for garbage disposal vary by traffic and time of day, so we quote an accurate ETA when you call — and the dispatch line routes straight to an on-call technician, no voicemail in between.
Frequently asked about garbage disposal
Top questions homeowners searching for Garbage Disposal near me ask us:
What size disposal do I need?
A 1/2 HP unit suits a light-use household; 3/4 to 1 HP handles a family that cooks daily and runs more waste through it. We recommend based on your kitchen, and the insulated models are worth the difference under an open-plan Illinois space.
Why does my disposal keep leaking?
The three sources are the top mounting flange (dried putty), the drain and dishwasher gaskets (hardened), and the bottom motor seal (a failed unit). We identify which one it is and re-seal or replace accordingly at your Illinois home.
Should I repair or replace my disposal?
Jams, resets, and flange leaks are worth repairing. A unit leaking from the bottom seal, grinding poorly from a worn ring, or with a burned-out motor is better replaced — repairs on those cost more than a new disposal across Illinois.
Can you connect my dishwasher to the disposal?
Yes — a new disposal has a dishwasher inlet that we knock out and connect so the dishwasher drains through it. If a new unit isn't draining, a forgotten knockout plug is the usual cause, and we serve ZIPs .
My disposal is humming — can it be fixed?
Usually yes, same visit. A hum means it's jammed, not dead — we clear the object binding the impellers, free the plate with the manual wrench, and press the reset. If the motor overheated from the jam we confirm it still runs before leaving your Illinois kitchen.