Garbage Disposal Repair Service in Houston, TX

Is your garbage disposal not working? Humming but not spinning, tripping the breaker, leaking under the sink, or just dead: The Repipe Company repairs and replaces garbage disposals for homeowners across Houston and Pearland.

Garbage disposals are reliable appliances, which is exactly why a failure catches most homeowners off guard. A broken unit quickly leads to clogged sinks, foul odors, and water damage inside the cabinet. Our licensed plumbers diagnose the real problem, tell you honestly whether a repair or a replacement is the better investment, and complete most jobs in a single visit.

Below you will find troubleshooting steps you can safely try yourself, the warning signs that mean the unit needs professional attention, and what to expect from our repair and installation service. If you’d rather skip straight to a fix, call 713-NOLEAKS or request a free estimate.

Our Garbage Disposal Services for Houston Homes

  • Garbage disposal repair: Jammed impellers, tripped reset switches, electrical faults, and leaking connections. If the unit can be saved economically, we save it.
  • Garbage disposal replacement: When a unit is cracked, rusted through, or past its 8 to 10 year lifespan, we remove the old disposal, install a properly sized new unit, and haul the old one away.
  • New disposal installation: Adding a disposal to a sink that never had one, including the electrical connection, mounting, and drain reconfiguration done to code.
  • Drain and P-trap service: Slow draining that looks like a disposal problem is often a clogged P-trap or drain line. We service the whole path, not just the appliance.

Every job starts with a free evaluation and a written price up front. No subcontractors, ever. The plumber who quotes your job is part of our in-house team.

Table of contents:

When To Repair Your Garbage Disposal Unit

Unit Is Not Turning On

A garbage disposal that’s not turning on can be the source of many headaches. Many times, it could be a sign of serious damage to your unit. Other times, it could just be as simple as re-inserting a loose power cord.

First, NEVER put your hand inside the garbage disposal when the power is on. Always disconnect the unit first before attempting to fix it. The unit could start spinning at any moment and cause serious injury. If your garbage disposal is hardwired, contact a licensed technician to have it looked at.

Sometimes, there could be a loose connection between your unit and the outlet. Simply firmly re-insert the power cord into the outlet.

If your garbage disposal is still not turning on, find a red switch that’s usually located at the bottom of the unit. Press the button if it has popped outward to reset the unit.

If that doesn’t work, locate and open the main circuit breaker to see if it has tripped. Firmly switch the breaker to the “off” position and then switch the breaker back to the “on” position.

If all the above methods failed, contact The Repipe Company for a service appointment.

Jammed Garbage Disposal Unit

If your garbage disposal is humming but not spinning, an object could have jammed it. Locate a hole at the bottom of the unit and stick an Allen wrench in to turn it back and forth. This will free up any objects or debris that are blocking the blades. Some brands such as InSinkErator comes with a wrench for this purpose.

If your unit doesn’t have a hole at the bottom, use a long stick such as a broom handle to turn the blade from the top. Alternatively, you can buy a third-party unjamming wrench, which is a T-shaped wrench to help you spin the blade easier.

Be careful not to turn the entire unit, which could loosen the seal rings and cause water to leak.

Again, NEVER put your hand down the sink, the garbage disposal could spin at any second and cause injury to your arm.

If your garbage disposal is still jammed, it’s likely that an object was stuck in a way that can’t be unjammed by a wrench. In such case, contact a licensed plumber to safely remove and replace the unit.

Garbage Disposal Unit Drains Slowly

A sink that drains slowly will prevent dirty water from going down properly and create foul odors, which cause major disruptions to your daily cleaning routine. This can be caused by several factors including your garbage disposal and/or drainpipes.

When a garbage disposal is unable to grind up certain types of waste, it can build up, causing a clog within the unit. Waste can also build up in the P-trap, which is a U-shape drainpipe that’s connected to the garbage disposal. In such cases, it is actually the drainpipe that is causing the clog, not your garbage disposal. Contact our licensed plumbers to remove and clean up the P-trap.

To prevent sink clogs, avoid putting the following items down the drain:

  • Oil/fat
  • Pasta, rice
  • Fibrous foods
  • Fruit peels
  • Hard items such as seafood shells and nuts

When to Replace Your Garbage Disposal Unit

Leaking Garbage Disposal Unit

A leak usually indicates a more serious problem with either the garbage disposal or the drainpipe. The fixes will vary depending on the location of the leak. It is recommended to contact a plumber as soon as possible to prevent water from seeping through the furniture and restore the functionality of the unit.

  • If water is leaking from the drainpipe, a connection likely needs to be tightened.
  • If water is leaking at the top of your garbage disposal, the sink flange seal could be loose or broken. You will need a new unit.
  • If water is leaking at the bottom of your garbage disposal, a sharp object could have damaged the plastic body or the internal seals of the unit. Your garbage disposal will need to be replaced.

Old And Failing Garbage Disposal

In some cases, a garbage disposal is simply too old and has developed severe rusts and cracks within. Trying to unjam the unit by spinning the blades could loosen the entire unit cause a leak.

Garbage Disposal Installation Service

Let us tackle your garbage disposal problems so that you don’t have to. Whether it is a jammed or clogged disposal, we make the repairs or replacement efficient and cost-effective.

What Is Included In The Service?

  • Inspection of your sink and garbage disposal for damages and leaks
  • Repair the garbage disposal and/or drainpipe if deemed suitable
  • Remove and install a new garbage disposal if the unit is beyond repair
  • Disposal of the old unit

How Long Does A New Garbage Disposal Last?

You can expect a new garbage disposal to last about 8 to 10 years. This depends on each individual models and your usage. Here are some tips to maximize your unit’s lifespan.

What Does Garbage Disposal Repair or Replacement Cost in Houston?

Straightforward repairs such as clearing a jam, resetting the unit, or fixing a leaking connection typically run between $100 and $250. If the disposal itself has failed, replacement is usually the smarter investment: a new mid-grade unit professionally installed generally costs between $250 and $600 depending on the model’s horsepower and whether your sink’s plumbing needs updating during the swap.

There are two situations where the honest answer is replacement rather than repair. First, when the repair estimate approaches half the cost of a new unit, since a failing disposal rarely fails only once. Second, when the unit is leaking from the body itself, which means internal seals are gone and no repair will hold.

We give you the repair-versus-replace numbers side by side in a written estimate before any work begins, so the decision is yours with the real costs in front of you.

Tips For Maintaining Your Garbage Disposal

Run Garbage Disposal Even When You Don’t Need It

Run your unit every so often with water even when there’s no waste to grind. A garbage disposal that has been idling for too long can develop rusts and become jammed.

Avoid Cleaning Your Unit With Commercial Drain Cleaner

Harsh chemicals do clean your sink to some extent. However, it will also weaken the pipe, which could cause a leak in the long term. Instead, clean your garbage disposal regularly with vinegar and baking soda. If your garbage disposal is causing smells, use cut-up lemon wedges along with warm water to neutralize the odors.

Never Put These Items Down Your Garbage Disposals

Despite its name, a garbage disposal cannot handle all types of garbage. Putting the wrong types of waste in your unit could cause your sink to clog and leak. Never put the following items down your garbage disposals:

  • Coffee grounds
  • Pasta/rice/oatmeal
  • Celery
  • Eggshells
  • Banana/ potato peels
  • Bones/ plastic pieces
  • Pits
  • Seafood shells

Frequently Asked Questions About Garbage Disposal Repair

Why is my garbage disposal not working at all?

Start with the basics: press the red reset button on the bottom of the unit, check that the cord is fully plugged in, and look for a tripped breaker. If none of those bring it back, the motor or internal wiring has likely failed and it’s time to call a plumber. Never put your hand inside the disposal, even when the power appears to be off.

Why is my garbage disposal humming but not spinning?

A hum with no spin almost always means the impeller plate is jammed. You can often free it by turning the hex socket at the bottom of the unit with an Allen wrench. If the jam will not clear, or the unit jams repeatedly, an object may be lodged where a wrench cannot reach it, and forcing it risks damaging the seals.

Is it worth repairing a garbage disposal, or should I just replace it?

Age is the deciding factor. A disposal under five years old with a minor problem is usually worth repairing. A unit past eight years that’s jamming, leaking, or draining slowly is at the end of its life, and money spent repairing it is usually money wasted. We’ll put both numbers in writing so you can decide.

How long does a garbage disposal replacement take?

A standard replacement takes about an hour. If we are installing a disposal where one has never been, or the drain and electrical connections need updating, plan on two to three hours.

What should I never put down a garbage disposal?

Grease and cooking oil, coffee grounds, pasta and rice, fibrous vegetables like celery, eggshells, fruit pits, bones, and anything that isn’t food. These either dull and jam the unit or build up in the drain line and cause clogs downstream of the disposal.

Do you install disposals in Pearland and the rest of the Houston area?

Yes. The Repipe Company is based in Pearland and services garbage disposals throughout the greater Houston area. Call 713-NOLEAKS for a free estimate.

Other Plumbing Services for the Houston Area

Some of our other plumbing services available to the Houston area include:

To view the full list of our plumbing services, visit our main plumbing page.