10 Easy Steps to Change a Garbage Disposal

Garbage disposal unit

Garbage disposals are an essential part of any kitchen, but they can also be a pain to replace. If your disposal is making strange noises, leaking water, or simply not working properly, it’s time to replace it. While replacing a garbage disposal may seem like a daunting task, it’s actually quite simple. With the right tools and a little know-how, you can have your new disposal up and running in no time.

The first step is to turn off the power to your disposal. You can do this by flipping the circuit breaker or removing the fuse that powers the disposal. Once the power is off, you can start to disconnect the disposal from the sink and drain. To disconnect the disposal from the sink, simply unscrew the mounting nuts that hold the disposal in place. Once the disposal is disconnected from the sink, you can disconnect it from the drain by unscrewing the drain pipe.

With the disposal disconnected from the sink and drain, you can now remove it from the cabinet. To remove the disposal, simply lift it up and out of the cabinet. Once the disposal is out of the cabinet, you can disconnect the electrical wires that connect the disposal to the power supply. Once the electrical wires are disconnected, you can finally remove the old disposal and replace it with the new one.

Reasons for Changing a Garbage Disposal

Garbage disposals can malfunction or wear out over time, necessitating a replacement. Here are some common reasons why you may need to change your garbage disposal:

Motor Failure

The motor is the heart of a garbage disposal, responsible for grinding and draining food waste. If the motor burns out or fails, the disposal will no longer function. Overloading, prolonged use, or jamming can put excessive strain on the motor, leading to its eventual failure.

Signs of motor failure include a complete lack of operation, humming or buzzing sounds, or a burning smell emanating from the disposal unit.

Symptoms of Motor Failure:

Symptom	Possible Cause
Garbage disposal not working	Burned-out motor
Humming or buzzing sounds	Overloaded or jammed motor
Burning smell	Overheated motor

Safety Precautions Before Changing a Garbage Disposal

Turn Off the Power

Before you begin working on your garbage disposal, ensure your safety by turning off the power supply. Locate the circuit breaker panel for your home and turn off the breaker that controls the garbage disposal. If you cannot identify which breaker is associated with the garbage disposal, turn off the main breaker to cut power to the entire house.

Unplug the Garbage Disposal

Once the power is turned off, unplug the garbage disposal from the electrical outlet. The outlet should be located near the base of the garbage disposal unit.

Drain the Water

To prevent water from spilling when you disconnect the pipes, drain any remaining water from the garbage disposal. Place a bucket or bowl underneath the unit and open the drain plug. Allow all the water to drain out before proceeding.

Disconnect the Drainpipe

Use a wrench to disconnect the drainpipe from the bottom of the garbage disposal. Be careful not to overtighten the wrench, as this can damage the pipe.

Disconnect the Mounting Bracket

Locate the mounting bracket that secures the garbage disposal to the sink. Using a screwdriver or wrench, loosen the screws that hold the bracket in place. Once the bracket is loose, carefully remove it from the garbage disposal.

Lift the Garbage Disposal Out

With the drainpipe and mounting bracket disconnected, you can now lift the garbage disposal out of the sink. Be careful not to drop or damage the unit during removal.

Disconnecting the Power Supply

Unplug the garbage disposal from the electrical outlet. If the outlet is not easily accessible, you can turn off the circuit breaker that supplies power to the disposal.

To turn off the circuit breaker, open the electrical panel and locate the breaker that corresponds to the disposal. Flip the breaker to the “off” position.

Caution

Never work on a garbage disposal while it is still connected to power. This could result in serious injury or death.

Once the power supply has been disconnected, you can proceed to the next step of removing the old garbage disposal.

Additional Safety Precautions

In addition to unplugging the garbage disposal or turning off the circuit breaker, there are a few other safety precautions you should take before working on the disposal:

Wear gloves to protect your hands from sharp edges.
Use a flashlight to see clearly in the work area.
Have a helper assist you with lifting the disposal, especially if it is a large model.

Reconnecting the Power Supply

Once the new garbage disposal is installed, it’s time to reconnect the power supply. This step requires basic electrical knowledge and should be approached with caution. Here’s how to do it safely and correctly:

Turn off the power at the main electrical panel. Locate the breaker or fuse that corresponds to the garbage disposal and switch it to the “off” position.
Check the wires using a multimeter. Use a multimeter to ensure that no electricity is flowing through the wires. Set the multimeter to the “AC voltage” setting and touch the probes to the black and white wires coming from the wall.
Connect the black wire to the black terminal. The black wire is the “hot” wire and should be connected to the black terminal on the new garbage disposal.
Connect the white wire to the white terminal. The white wire is the “neutral” wire and should be connected to the white terminal on the garbage disposal.
Connect the green wire to the green screw. The green wire is the “ground” wire and should be connected to the green screw on the garbage disposal.
Tighten the wire connections. Use a screwdriver to securely tighten the screws that hold the wires in place.
Inspect the connections. Double-check all the wire connections to ensure they are tight and properly secured.
Turn on the power at the main electrical panel. Switch the breaker or fuse back to the “on” position.
Test the garbage disposal. Run a small amount of water into the sink and turn on the garbage disposal to make sure it’s working properly.

Wire Color	Terminal on Garbage Disposal
Black	Black
White	White
Green	Green Screw

How to Change a Garbage Disposal

A garbage disposal can be a convenient appliance to have in your kitchen, but it can also be a pain to change when it breaks down. The good news is that changing a garbage disposal is a relatively easy task that you can do yourself with a few simple tools.

Here are the steps on how to change a garbage disposal:

Shut off the power to the garbage disposal at the circuit breaker. This will prevent you from getting shocked while you are working on it.
Disconnect the water supply to the garbage disposal. There will be a shut-off valve under the sink that you can turn to stop the water flow.
Disconnect the drain line from the garbage disposal. The drain line is the pipe that carries the wastewater from the garbage disposal to the sink drain.
Unmount the garbage disposal from the sink. There will be several screws that you need to remove to do this.
Remove the old garbage disposal from the sink. Be careful not to drop it, as it is heavy.
Install the new garbage disposal in the sink. Line up the new garbage disposal with the drain hole and insert the screws to secure it in place.
Reconnect the drain line to the garbage disposal. Tighten the nuts on the drain line to secure it in place.
Reconnect the water supply to the garbage disposal. Turn on the shut-off valve to allow water to flow into the garbage disposal.
Turn on the power to the garbage disposal at the circuit breaker. Test the garbage disposal by running water through it and turning it on to make sure it is working properly.