Telltale signs: garbage disposal installation
Some clients are adding a disposer for the first time during a kitchen update. Others have a worn-out grinder that buzzes but will not spin, weeps from its housing or has simply rusted through. In either case, the work involves the sink flange, the waste piping, the dishwasher connection and an electrical supply, all of which need to suit one another.
- A unit that hums but will not spin
- Water dripping from the bottom of the housing
- Frequent resets or tripped breakers
- A new sink or countertop going in
What we bring
- A drum machine and hand auger matched to the bore
- Slip-nut wrenches and a box of trap washers
- Wet vacuum and drop sheets
Tested before we leave
- Full-flow test with a filled basin or tub
- Every slip joint we opened checked dry
- Trap reassembled with a fresh washer
On the job: what we open, clear and test
We remove the old unit or existing basket strainer and clean the sink opening. A new mounting flange is set in plumber's putty, and the mounting ring is tightened evenly. The disposer hangs from that ring and locks in place. The discharge is then connected to the trap with the correct slope, and if a dishwasher shares the sink, its knockout plug is removed and the hose secured with a high loop or air gap to keep dirty water from flowing back.
The unit must have a proper electrical supply. Where an outlet or switch already exists under the sink, we connect to it. A brand-new circuit is electrician's work; we will tell you that up front rather than make do.
What can change the job
Sink depth and drain height decide whether the trap can sit low enough. A very deep basin sometimes leaves too little room below for a good fall to the wall drain. Double sinks need a continuous waste or separate trap arrangement. Septic systems are another consideration, although nearly every Etobicoke home is on municipal sewer.
Etobicoke homes and this job
Kitchens in mid-century Etobicoke houses often still have their original galvanized or cast-iron drain arm in the wall. Adding a disposer to an aged line can reveal a narrowed pipe, and the extra solids may find the restriction. If we see this, we will mention it and offer options, from cleaning the line to replacing a short section. Condo kitchens, common near Humber Bay towers and in Islington, may have building rules about disposers, so check with management first.
Planning more work nearby? Pages on bathroom plumbing renovation and shower valve replacement may be useful.
Before you call
Look under the sink and see whether there is an outlet or switch for a disposer. Tell us the sink model if you know it, and whether a dishwasher drains into it. For older homes, our guide on lead pipes in older homes covers a related question worth asking. Call (365) 816-2905 to arrange a time.