{ "id": "disposal-service", "version": "2026-09-09", "reviewed": "2026-09-09", "sources": [ { "id": "how", "title": "InSinkErator: how the grind plate and ring work", "url": "https://partners.insinkerator.com/en-us/kitchen-better/how-a-garbage-disposal-works" }, { "id": "badger", "title": "InSinkErator Badger 5 drawing and specifications", "url": "https://www.insinkerator.com/documents/badger-5-specifications-en-us-121004.pdf" }, { "id": "5xp", "title": "InSinkErator Badger 5XP specifications", "url": "https://www.insinkerator.com/documents/badger-5xp-specifications-en-us-70892.pdf" }, { "id": "compare", "title": "InSinkErator disposal comparison", "url": "https://www.insinkerator.com/en-us/insinkerator-products/garbage-disposals/disposal-comparison-chart" }, { "id": "pro", "title": "InSinkErator PRO 750 specifications", "url": "https://www.insinkerator.com/documents/advanced-series-pro-750-specification-sheet-en-us-72554.pdf" }, { "id": "jam", "title": "InSinkErator: freeing a jam", "url": "https://support.insinkerator.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/515" }, { "id": "leak", "title": "InSinkErator: finding a disposal leak", "url": "https://support.insinkerator.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/578" }, { "id": "clog", "title": "InSinkErator: disposal and drain blockages", "url": "https://support.insinkerator.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/519" }, { "id": "clean", "title": "InSinkErator: cleaning the baffle and chamber", "url": "https://support.insinkerator.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/521" }, { "id": "install", "title": "InSinkErator: replacement connections", "url": "https://support.insinkerator.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/576" }, { "id": "food", "title": "InSinkErator: everyday food waste", "url": "https://support.insinkerator.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1048" }, { "id": "slc", "title": "Salt Lake City: fats, oils, grease and food waste", "url": "https://www.slc.gov/utilities/pretreatment-fats-oils-grease-fog/" }, { "id": "septic", "title": "EPA: caring for a septic system", "url": "https://www.epa.gov/septic/how-care-your-septic-system" }, { "id": "batch", "title": "Whirlpool: operating a batch-feed disposal", "url": "https://producthelp.whirlpool.com/Other_Products/Disposers/Operation/Operating_a_Batch-Feed_Waste_Disposer" } ], "pages": { "hub": { "path": "/services/garbage-disposal/", "label": "Disposal service hub", "title": "Garbage Disposal Repair & Replacement in Sandy & Salt Lake Valley", "heading": "Garbage disposal\nrepair & replacement.", "intro": "A hum, a leak or a sink full of yesterday’s dinner can stop the kitchen cold. We repair and replace garbage disposals, sort out their drain connections and help you choose a unit that fits the way you cook.", "view": "installed", "faqs": [ { "question": "Does a garbage disposal have blades?", "answer": "It uses a rotating plate with blunt swivel lugs. The lugs push scraps against a stationary grind ring around the chamber. Water carries the small particles through the ring and into the drain." }, { "question": "Should I replace a disposal that hums?", "answer": "A hum can mean the motor is powered but the plate is jammed. Switch it off promptly. A removable obstruction can make repair worthwhile; a seized or damaged motor may call for replacement." }, { "question": "Why does the dishwasher stop draining after a disposal replacement?", "answer": "The new disposal’s dishwasher inlet may still have its knockout plug. A kinked or obstructed hose can cause the same symptom. The installer checks the inlet, hose routing and a dishwasher drain cycle." }, { "question": "Is a bigger motor always the better choice?", "answer": "Motor power is one factor. Sound insulation, grind design, cabinet clearance, drain height and your cooking habits also matter. A quieter ¾ HP model can be a more useful upgrade than extra horsepower alone." }, { "question": "Can you remove the disposal and install a regular drain?", "answer": "Yes. We can fit a sink strainer and reconnect the drain, including a suitable dishwasher drain connection when needed. That is a useful option for a household that scrapes its food waste into the trash or compost." } ] }, "repair": { "path": "/services/garbage-disposal/garbage-disposal-repair/", "label": "Hums, leaks & clogs", "title": "Garbage Disposal Repair: Humming, Leaks, Jams & Slow Drains", "heading": "Find the failure.\nKeep the useful parts.", "intro": "Start with what the disposal does when you use it: silence, a hum, a harsh rattle, a leak or water that will not leave the sink. Those observations help separate a power problem, a grinding problem and a drain problem.", "view": "grind", "chapters": [ { "id": "dp-jammed", "title": "It hums but the plate stays still", "body": [ "Switch it off. A stuck object can hold the plate while the motor continues trying to turn. Leaving it humming heats the motor and can trip its overload protector.", "Before inspection, disconnect the plug or switch off its circuit breaker. Keep hands out of the chamber. Use a flashlight to look for an obstruction and tongs to remove a visible loose object.", "Many InSinkErator models have a center hex socket underneath. Their matching wrench can rock the plate free with power disconnected. Remove the wrench and all tools before restoring power. The model’s instructions show the release method; some disposals use a different arrangement." ], "sources": [ "jam" ] }, { "id": "dp-silent", "title": "It is completely silent", "body": [ "Check whether the switch is on, whether a cord has come loose and whether the circuit or ground-fault outlet has tripped. Leave a wet plug or outlet alone and shut the circuit off from a dry location.", "A manual overload reset is a small button on the unit. It responds to overheating or a stall. After the jam is cleared and the motor cools, reset it as the manual describes. Repeated trips call for a fault check.", "An air switch adds another part to the chain: the countertop button sends air through a small tube to a switch module. A loose tube or failed module can leave an otherwise working disposal silent." ], "sources": [ "jam" ] }, { "id": "dp-leaks", "title": "Trace the first wet connection", "body": [ "Dry the outside and look upward from the drip. Water from the sink flange can run all the way down the housing before it falls.", "At the sink: check the flange seal and mounting stack. At the side: inspect the outlet gasket, drain tube and dishwasher hose clamp. At the trap: inspect the joint washers and alignment.", "Water coming through a cracked chamber or failed internal shaft seal usually makes replacement the practical repair. External seals and drain joints often let you keep the disposal." ], "sources": [ "leak" ] }, { "id": "dp-drain", "title": "The motor runs but the sink backs up", "body": [ "The grind chamber drains through a side outlet, an elbow and a P-trap before water reaches the branch in the wall. A blockage anywhere along that route can hold water in the sink.", "Food collecting in the outlet or trap may need removal. When both bowls back up, or the dishwasher pushes water into the sink, check their shared drain. We follow the restriction downstream when the fixture connections are clear.", "Avoid chemical drain opener in the disposal. Tell the plumber if any has already been added. An ongoing drain restriction needs attention before judging whether the disposal itself needs replacement." ], "sources": [ "clog" ] }, { "id": "dp-noise", "title": "Rattle, vibration or a grinding screech", "body": [ "Stop the unit and disconnect power before looking for a spoon, bottle cap or other loose object. A foreign object can bounce around the chamber and sound like a failed motor.", "Loose mounting hardware or a drain tube pressing against the cabinet can carry vibration into the sink and countertop. Worn internal parts can produce noise even after the chamber is clear.", "After repair we run water, operate the disposal and check the disturbed joints for leaks. When a dishwasher connects to it, its drain connection belongs in that check too." ], "sources": [ "leak", "install" ] } ], "faqs": [ { "question": "Can I keep pushing the reset button?", "answer": "Repeated trips mean there is still a problem. Leave it off and have the jam, motor and electrical supply checked. The reset restores an overload protector; it does not remove the cause." }, { "question": "Can a disposal leak only when the dishwasher runs?", "answer": "Yes. The dishwasher hose and inlet carry water during pump-out. Watch that connection during a drain cycle; a leak there may stay dry during ordinary sink use." }, { "question": "Will a new disposal fix a blocked kitchen drain?", "answer": "The drain still needs to be cleared. A replacement grinder does not remove buildup in the trap or the pipe in the wall." } ] }, "replace": { "path": "/services/garbage-disposal/garbage-disposal-replacement/", "label": "Choosing & replacing", "title": "Garbage Disposal Replacement: Power, Quiet Models & Installation Fit", "heading": "Choose the unit.\nCheck the whole connection.", "intro": "The right replacement fits beneath the sink, connects to a drain that can empty by gravity and gives you the power and sound level you want. A few measurements and a look at the existing plumbing keep the choice straightforward.", "view": "connections", "chapters": [ { "id": "dp-power", "title": "Horsepower, sound and grind design", "body": [ "Horsepower describes motor power. A basic ⅓ or ½ HP unit can suit lighter cleanup. A ¾ HP model offers more capacity for regular meal preparation; 1 HP options are available for heavier use.", "Sound control is a separate feature. Insulation around the unit and vibration isolation at its mount and outlet can make an open kitchen more comfortable.", "Some premium models add grinding stages to make particles finer. The drain still has to carry those particles away, so grease and large food loads remain poor habits." ], "sources": [ "compare", "pro" ] }, { "id": "dp-fit", "title": "The outlet height decides whether it drains", "body": [ "Measure from the sink bottom to the disposal outlet and compare that with the trap and wall drain. The route must let water leave the unit instead of holding it in the housing.", "A deeper replacement sink can move the disposal lower. A wider quiet model can take space used by filters, pull-out bins or the faucet’s hose weight.", "The new unit may fit an existing compatible mount, but the mounting ring, seal, discharge elbow and dishwasher connection still need inspection. A photo of the model label and a wider picture under the sink help us plan the work." ], "sources": [ "badger", "install" ] }, { "id": "dp-controls", "title": "Wall switch, air switch or batch feed", "body": [ "A continuous-feed unit runs while its switch is on. You feed small scraps gradually with cold water flowing.", "An air-switch button can sit on the countertop. A small air tube operates the electrical switch module beneath the sink. The disposal still needs electrical power.", "A batch-feed unit starts when its matching stopper is seated and operated. Load the chamber, fit the stopper and run that batch with water as instructed. Its stopper is part of the control system." ], "sources": [ "batch", "compare" ] }, { "id": "dp-installation", "title": "What the replacement work includes", "body": [ "With power disconnected, the old unit is supported, disconnected and removed. The sink flange seal and mounting hardware are renewed or reused according to their condition and compatibility.", "The new disposal is secured, its discharge is aligned to the trap and its electrical connection is completed. A corded unit needs the correct cord; a hardwired installation needs the proper connector and wiring arrangement.", "When the dishwasher drains into the disposal, the inlet knockout must be removed and retrieved from the chamber. The hose is secured and routed with its required high loop or air gap.", "The final check includes water held in the sink, a full drain-down, powered operation and the dishwasher connection. The old unit is removed and the cabinet left usable." ], "sources": [ "install" ] }, { "id": "dp-price", "title": "What changes the installation price", "body": [ "The selected unit, a leaking sink flange, damaged drain fittings, a high wall drain and electrical changes all affect the job.", "A straightforward swap uses a sound sink mount and a workable drain route. Cabinet or plumbing changes add work, particularly after a new deep sink goes in.", "Tell us whether you already have a disposal, which unit you want and what is failing. We explain the work and price before starting." ], "sources": [] } ], "faqs": [ { "question": "Can I supply the disposal?", "answer": "Tell us the model and send a photo of the existing connections. We can check the fit and identify any cord, adapter or drain fittings the installation needs." }, { "question": "Will a quiet disposal fit where my Badger was?", "answer": "Check its diameter and the sink-to-outlet dimension, along with space around the plumbing. Quiet models often use a larger outer shell. Matching the sink mount alone does not settle the fit." }, { "question": "Do I need a new sink?", "answer": "Usually the existing sink can stay when its drain opening, mounting surface and condition are suitable. An unusual opening, damaged surface or a changed sink layout may need additional work." } ] }, "care": { "path": "/services/garbage-disposal/what-can-go-in-garbage-disposal/", "label": "Food & everyday care", "title": "What Can Go in a Garbage Disposal? Food Guide, Cleaning & Drain Care", "heading": "Scrape first.\nGrind the little leftovers.", "intro": "Small scraps left after scraping a plate are the useful job for a disposal. Large loads, grease and hard objects create trouble in the grinder or farther along the drain. Use the food guide below to see where common kitchen waste belongs.", "view": null, "chapters": [ { "id": "dp-routine", "title": "A simple routine after a meal", "body": [ "Scrape the bulk of the food into the trash or an accepted compost collection. Start a steady stream of cold water, turn the disposal on and feed the remaining small scraps gradually.", "Let it finish grinding. Switch the unit off, then keep cold water running briefly to carry the particles along the drain.", "Keep utensils out of the sink opening while it runs. Disconnect the power before inspecting the chamber or cleaning around its opening, and keep hands out of the grinding chamber." ], "sources": [ "food", "jam" ] }, { "id": "dp-cleaning", "title": "Clean where the food film collects", "body": [ "The underside of the rubber baffle and upper chamber can hold food residue. With power disconnected, clean the accessible surfaces with a long-handled brush and a cleaner the manufacturer permits. Remove a baffle only if that design is removable.", "Regular flushing helps carry loosened residue away. Citrus scent can cover an odor briefly, but the trapped food film still needs cleaning.", "Avoid chemical drain openers. Persistent sewer odor after cleaning can mean a trap, drain or vent problem that deserves a closer look." ], "sources": [ "clean" ] }, { "id": "dp-wastewater", "title": "Give the drain less food to carry", "body": [ "Salt Lake City Public Utilities asks households to scrape plates and avoid grinding food into the sewer. That keeps food solids and grease out of collection pipes.", "On a septic system, food scraps add solids to the tank. EPA recommends eliminating or limiting disposal use; added food solids can increase pumping needs.", "Compost the materials your local program accepts, and put the rest of the bulk food waste in the trash. The disposal can stay available for small incidental scraps." ], "sources": [ "slc", "septic" ] } ], "faqs": [ { "question": "Do eggshells sharpen the disposal?", "answer": "No. The unit has swivel lugs and a grind ring, with no kitchen-knife blades to sharpen. Put eggshells in the trash or accepted compost rather than adding their grit to the drain." }, { "question": "Can I pour grease in with hot water?", "answer": "Keep grease out of the drain. Hot water can move it away from the sink before it cools and collects farther along the piping. Let it cool in a container and put it in the trash." }, { "question": "Is hot dishwater a problem?", "answer": "Use cold water while grinding scraps. Ordinary hot dishwater can drain through the disposal between grinding periods." } ] } }, "options": [ { "id": "basic", "name": "Badger 1", "power": "⅓ HP", "label": "Light cleanup", "image": "/pb/part-images/304539.jpg", "text": "A compact, basic replacement for a kitchen that mostly scrapes food into the trash. Standard sound level and a single grinding stage.", "tradeoff": "Lower-cost unit; fewer sound-control features.", "task": "K21075", "system": "InSinkErator Badger 1 1/3 HP", "sources": [ "compare" ] }, { "id": "everyday", "name": "Badger 5XP", "power": "¾ HP", "label": "Everyday cooking", "image": "/pb/part-images/3030263.jpg", "text": "More motor power in the familiar compact Badger body, with stainless steel grind components. A practical choice for regular meal cleanup.", "tradeoff": "More power while retaining standard sound control.", "task": "K20075", "system": "InSinkErator Badger 5XP 3/4 HP", "sources": [ "5xp" ] }, { "id": "quiet", "name": "PRO 750", "power": "¾ HP", "label": "Quieter kitchen", "image": "/pb/part-images/10102812.jpg", "text": "Sound insulation, vibration control and multiple grinding stages. Worth comparing when the sink shares space with conversation or television.", "tradeoff": "Check the larger body’s clearance under your sink.", "task": "K19075", "system": "InSinkErator Pro 750 3/4 HP", "sources": [ "pro" ] } ], "foods": [ { "id": "scraps", "name": "Small, soft food scraps", "search": "vegetable fruit cooked leftovers meat fish", "group": "small", "verdict": "Small amounts", "text": "Soft bits left after scraping the plate can be fed gradually with cold running water. Remove bones and packaging first." }, { "id": "grease", "name": "Grease, oil & fat", "search": "bacon butter lard cooking oil gravy", "group": "avoid", "verdict": "Keep out", "text": "Cool grease in a container and put it in the trash. It coats and builds up inside drain pipes." }, { "id": "peels", "name": "Potato peels & fibrous scraps", "search": "celery onion skin corn husk artichoke asparagus banana peel", "group": "avoid", "verdict": "Trash or compost", "text": "Peel piles and stringy scraps can pack the outlet or collect in the drain. Scrape them into the trash or an accepted compost stream." }, { "id": "starch", "name": "Rice, pasta & dough", "search": "bread noodles flour oatmeal potato starch", "group": "avoid", "verdict": "Scrape it out", "text": "Sticky, starchy masses can collect in the trap and branch drain. An entire pan of leftovers belongs in the trash or accepted compost." }, { "id": "grounds", "name": "Coffee grounds & eggshells", "search": "coffee filter tea egg shells grit", "group": "avoid", "verdict": "Trash or compost", "text": "Grounds and shell fragments add settling solids to the drain. Eggshells do not sharpen the grinding parts." }, { "id": "bones", "name": "Bones, pits & hard shells", "search": "chicken beef steak peach cherry avocado oyster clam seafood nut", "group": "avoid", "verdict": "Keep out", "text": "Large bones, fruit pits and hard shells can jam or damage the mechanism. Put them in the trash." }, { "id": "objects", "name": "Utensils, glass & packaging", "search": "fork spoon knife plastic metal foil bag rubber sponge", "group": "never", "verdict": "Never grind", "text": "Hard objects can be thrown or damage the unit. Switch off and disconnect power before retrieval; use tongs for visible loose objects." }, { "id": "chemicals", "name": "Drain cleaner & chemicals", "search": "drano lye acid bleach paint solvent chemical", "group": "never", "verdict": "Keep out", "text": "Avoid caustic drain openers and household chemicals in the disposal. Use a disposal cleaner permitted by the unit’s manufacturer." } ], "parts": { "whole": { "name": "The disposal and its drain", "text": "Food enters from the sink. The motor turns a grinding plate inside the upper chamber, and water carries the small particles through the side outlet into the P-trap.", "repair": "Choose a named part to see its construction and the symptoms it can cause.", "view": "installed" }, "mount": { "name": "Sink flange & three-point mount", "text": "The stainless flange seals against the sink. A fiber gasket, backing flange and mounting ring clamp underneath; three locking tabs carry the disposal’s weight.", "repair": "A leak starting at the sink can run down the housing. Inspect the flange seal and mounting engagement.", "view": "connections" }, "baffle": { "name": "Rubber splash baffle", "text": "Flexible rubber fingers surround the opening. They help contain splash and reduce the chance of loose material flying upward.", "repair": "Food film collects underneath. Disconnect power before cleaning with a long-handled brush. Keep hands out of the chamber.", "view": "grind" }, "plate": { "name": "Grinding plate & swivel lugs", "text": "The motor turns a steel plate. Two blunt lugs swivel on the plate and push scraps outward against the grind ring.", "repair": "A utensil or hard object can lock the plate. Shut it off promptly when it hums without grinding.", "view": "grind" }, "ring": { "name": "Stationary grind ring", "text": "Raised edges and openings around the chamber break the scraps down. Small particles and water pass into the discharge space outside the ring.", "repair": "The ring stays fixed while the plate rotates. Worn or damaged grinding parts can leave poor performance or unusual noise.", "view": "grind" }, "motor": { "name": "Motor, shaft & water seal", "text": "The motor sits below the wet chamber. Its shaft turns the plate through a sealed bearing area that keeps wastewater out of the motor.", "repair": "A failed internal seal or a seized motor often makes replacement worthwhile. Water tracking down from an upper joint can look similar.", "view": "grind" }, "outlet": { "name": "Discharge elbow & gasket", "text": "The side outlet carries ground scraps and water to the drain. A gasket seals the elbow to the housing; the drain tube connects to the trap.", "repair": "An offset or strained pipe can pull on the seal. Align the drain so it falls away from the disposal and the joints fit squarely.", "view": "connections" }, "trap": { "name": "P-trap & wall drain", "text": "The curved pipe holds a water seal that blocks sewer gas. Water flows over the trap’s outlet and along the horizontal arm into the wall drain.", "repair": "A running motor with a backed-up sink can mean a blocked trap or branch drain. The trap outlet needs a workable height below the disposal outlet.", "view": "connections" }, "dishwasher": { "name": "Dishwasher inlet & hose", "text": "The dishwasher pumps used water through this smaller upper inlet. A new unit ships with a knockout closing that connection.", "repair": "For a connected dishwasher, remove the knockout and retrieve it before use. Secure the hose and provide its required high loop or air gap.", "view": "connections" }, "reset": { "name": "Overload reset & wrench socket", "text": "This Badger-style unit has a manual overload reset underneath and a separate center hex socket for its jam-release wrench.", "repair": "Disconnect power before freeing a jam. Let the motor cool and follow its reset instructions. Remove the wrench before restoring power.", "view": "service" }, "power": { "name": "Power connection", "text": "A corded unit plugs into a suitable supply; a hardwired unit connects through its protected wiring compartment. The switch controls that supply.", "repair": "Shut off the circuit if water reaches electrical parts. Cord type, strain relief and grounding belong in the installation check.", "view": "service" } }, "model": { "reference": "InSinkErator Badger 5XP dimensional layout", "units": "inches", "bodyDiameter": 6.3125, "installedHeight": 12.625, "sinkToOutlet": 6, "sourceIds": [ "5xp", "badger", "how", "install" ], "note": "Built from the Badger dimensional layout and installation references. The cutaway illustrates a single-stage grinder; the motor winding and water-flow details are teaching geometry. Rotation is slowed so you can follow it." } }