(Help) Replacing a Garbage Disposal (Help)

[Bassist4Life]

My garbage disposal is leaking water out of the bottom. The water is leaking out of screw holes! OMG. I'm guessing that it needs to be replaced.

I've been sitting here going back and forth between the decision to do it myself or call a plumber.

I have no plumbing experience whatsoever. I'm really good with a plunger. I have to use that all the time! My plumbing experience stops there.

The current setup has a disposer with a 3-prong outlet under the sink. Looks like I won't have to do any wiring. That's a good thing. After plumbing, that's my second worst fear. I only have experience replacing light bulbs and batteries.

My concern is about making the discharge tube from the disposal line up with the drain. I'm afraid I'm going to have to cut things and pretend to be a plumber.

Does anyone else have any experience or advice for me? I don't want to spend over $300 to replace my disposal. I could probably pick-up a nice disposal for around $100 (or less) at my local Home Depot.


Joe

[onewebfoot]

hmm. I faced the same choice when renting a house in OC several years ago. I went for do it yourself. Took me 4+ hours and 3 trips to the hardware store. Outing 1 - bought disposal, then stopped at HW store for basic piping supplies. Most tools in-house. Outing 2 - after removing the outgoing disposal, and reading instructions for new disposal, I managed to install most of the way without incident. However, the kitchen sink was extra deep (custom), and none of the pipe components were sufficient. Outing 3 - I returned after failing twice for said pipe configuration, and returned to the hardware store with precise dimensions for the guy's help with figuring out a scheme. It took him (literally) 30 minutes to figure it out, laying out multiple sets of parts out on the floor.

After 3 outings and finally getting the pipe correct, I had to remove the disposal one final time as I had forgotten to punch out the plug that sealed the inflow from the dishwasher. Have patience for this and the tools? You'll be fine.

[nortonrider]

It's really pretty simple to swap one with the exact same model, everything will line back up. You may have to take the cord off of your old unit and put it on the new one, but its only three screws.

I have done quite a few and they all came with instructions in the box. It doesn't take a plumber or electrician to do this simple replacement.

[Bassist4Life]

Originally Posted by onewebfoot

hmm. I faced the same choice when renting a house in OC several years ago. I went for do it yourself. Took me 4+ hours and 3 trips to the hardware store. Outing 1 - bought disposal, then stopped at HW store for basic piping supplies. Most tools in-house. Outing 2 - after removing the outgoing disposal, and reading instructions for new disposal, I managed to install most of the way without incident. However, the kitchen sink was extra deep (custom), and none of the pipe components were sufficient. Outing 3 - I returned after failing twice for said pipe configuration, and returned to the hardware store with precise dimensions for the guy's help with figuring out a scheme. It took him (literally) 30 minutes to figure it out, laying out multiple sets of parts out on the floor.

After 3 outings and finally getting the pipe correct, I had to remove the disposal one final time as I had forgotten to punch out the plug that sealed the inflow from the dishwasher. Have patience for this and the tools? You'll be fine.

Thank you for your post. I really appreciate it. Honestly, your scenario is exactly what I see happening to me. I hope I have the patience for something like that.

I guess I have to ask myself, "How much patience can I purchase with $200?" If it's not enough, then I need to call a plumber.

Man, I consider myself a fairly intelligent individual. I hope that I can make a good decision here... Honestly, I feel pretty lame right now.

Joe

[Bassist4Life]

Originally Posted by nortonrider

It's really pretty simple to swap one with the exact same model, everything will line back up. You may have to take the cord off of your old unit and put it on the new one, but its only three screws.

I have done quite a few and they all came with instructions in the box. It doesn't take a plumber or electrician to do this simple replacement.

That's a great idea; however, the disposal that I'd be replacing is over $300. That's almost what it would cost a plumber to come out and replace it for me (with a lesser unit).

Joe

[Atoz]

Do it yourself. It's pretty easy. I had to replace mine last year, and I had the old one out and the new one in in under 20 minutes. just make sure to disconnect the power to the disposal before you start.

The only special thing you might need is plumber's putty (about $2) if you need to replace the drain ring in the sink, but sometimes the putty comes with the disposal.

[Bassist4Life]

Originally Posted by Atoz

Do it yourself. It's pretty easy. I had to replace mine last year, and I had the old one out and the new one in in under 20 minutes. just make sure to disconnect the power to the disposal before you start.

The only special thing you might need is plumber's putty (about $2) if you need to replace the drain ring in the sink, but sometimes the putty comes with the disposal.

Easy? That sounds good. 20 minutes? Yes, I like the sound of that.

The current disposal is plugged into the wall under my sink with a standard 3-prong cord. I hope that is common on disposals I can buy at Home Depot.

Thanks for your encouraging words.

Joe

[Atoz]

Originally Posted by Bassist4Life

Easy? That sounds good. 20 minutes? Yes, I like the sound of that.

The current disposal is plugged into the wall under my sink with a standard 3-prong cord. I hope that is common on disposals I can buy at Home Depot.

Thanks for your encouraging words.

Joe

A previous poster recommended getting the same model as your existing one. This is very good advice. That way, you don't have to worry about rerouting the drain pipes if the two disposals are very different. That's one reason why my replacement was so easy. I replaced my Insinkerator with another Insinkerator (from Home Depot - $70), so everything lined right up. The cord is not an issue... you can remove the existing cord and attach it to the new disposal in about 2 minutes. The wire nuts should be included.

Good Luck!

[MJ5150]

Yeah bro, you got this. Replace it with the exact same model and you won't need to do any plumbing. DIY Network has a great website with videos on doing the replacement, and I'm sure HGTV does as well.

If it gets too complicated, think through your list of friends and maybe one of them is a plumber, has plumbing skills, or knows a plumber. You could always work out a deal that way with one of them.

-Mike

[MakiSupaStar]

+1 to all the good advice so far. Now to get to the bottom of this mystery. What did you put in your sink?

[Bassist4Life]

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

+1 to all the good advice so far. Now to get to the bottom of this mystery. What did you put in your sink?

I just got new tires on my car. How would dispose of the old ones?

Joe

[Bassist4Life]

I did it! I freakin' did it. I installed my own garbage disposal and it took less than 90 minutes. I've never done any sort of plumbing job ever.

First, I got an estimate from a pretty big pluming company. They quoted me $500 to replace the garbage disposal with one of their units. No way! That's a complete rip-off (IMO).

I went to a Home Depot, purchased one for $80, took it home, and installed it. I had to go back to buy an extension for one of the pipes, but big deal. It works great. No leaking.

I'm so happy. I saved so much money by doing it myself. I can't believe that company would actually get $500 for that job. It doesn't make any sense to me.

Thanks for all of your advice and encouragement.

Peace,
Joe

[MJ5150]

Originally Posted by Bassist4Life

I did it! I freakin' did it.

Nice job Joe!!! Nice job.

I do all of my own work around my house. I watched my dad do the same when I was growing up. We have friends who pay for any kind of work around the house. They are the ones who would have paid $500 for the disposal replacement. I could never afford that, and I get much more satisfaction out of saving the money myself.

-Mike

[Bassist4Life]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Nice job Joe!!! Nice job.

I do all of my own work around my house. I watched my dad do the same when I was growing up. We have friends who pay for any kind of work around the house. They are the ones who would have paid $500 for the disposal replacement. I could never afford that, and I get much more satisfaction out of saving the money myself.

-Mike

Thanks Mike. I appreciate it. I used to watch my dad do jobs around the house too. I kind of wish that I watched a little more closely sometimes. After the victory in the kitchen, it makes me want to tackle other tasks around the house.

Peace,
Joe

[Jeremy Crockett]

Originally Posted by Bassist4Life

...I saved so much money by doing it myself. I can't believe that company would actually get $500 for that job. It doesn't make any sense to me.

We pay for our ignorance. I'm glad you were able to git 'er done. Now, would you please come out and fix my garage door?

[Atoz]

Originally Posted by Bassist4Life

I did it! I freakin' did it. I installed my own garbage disposal and it took less than 90 minutes. I've never done any sort of plumbing job ever.

First, I got an estimate from a pretty big pluming company. They quoted me $500 to replace the garbage disposal with one of their units. No way! That's a complete rip-off (IMO).

I went to a Home Depot, purchased one for $80, took it home, and installed it. I had to go back to buy an extension for one of the pipes, but big deal. It works great. No leaking.

I'm so happy. I saved so much money by doing it myself. I can't believe that company would actually get $500 for that job. It doesn't make any sense to me.

Thanks for all of your advice and encouragement.

Peace,
Joe

Congrats, Joe on your success. I bet you're now searching around your house for stuff to fix!

[knarleybass]

is it a Clarkman?

[MJ5150]

Originally Posted by Bassist4Life

After the victory in the kitchen, it makes me want to tackle other tasks around the house.

Yep, I know the feeling. Now check this out....this opens the door for you to buy bass gear. It worked for me back when we had disposable income to buy bass gear.

After you do a few repairs around the house, let your wife know you have saved up enough money to buy a new bass/amp/cab/whatever. Explain to her that all of the money you have saved from paying someone to do the fixes around the house has equaled enough to buy that piece of gear you want!

Just going off the dispoal repair, you're at about $400 saved up right now!!!!

-Mike

[Pilgrim]

Originally Posted by Bassist4Life

I did it! I freakin' did it. I installed my own garbage disposal and it took less than 90 minutes. I've never done any sort of plumbing job ever.

Congrats, and I hope that got you started on doing this kind of stuff. As #43 says, it's not "rocket surgery", and 'most anyone can do it if they take their time and work carefully. With the internet available, there are thousands of "how-to" sites that will walk you through plumbing, electrical, car repair, etc. You can save a ton of money by going the DIY route.