If you hire a plumber to take out your garbage disposal, it may be costly. Removing your garbage disposal by yourself will save you money and is a simple procedure. You can remove your waste disposal at little cost if you use a few tools and follow a few steps. Let’s dive into the detailed guide on how to take out garbage disposal.
Things Required
- Small bucket
- Towel
- Cardboard box
- Hex key
- Large screwdriver
- Tongue-and-groove pliers
- Voltage/current detector pen
Consider These Points Before Taking Out Garbage Disposal
Make sure the disposal is turned off. Locate your disposal’s switch in the breaker box and turn it off. If unsure if the connection is secure, attach a voltage detector pen to the wire. The wire will be hot if it lights up, indicating that it hasn’t been switched off properly.
To turn off the appropriate switch, return to your breaker box. Do not begin until you are sure that the electricity has been shut down.
How to Take Out Garbage Disposal Safely?
1. Remove the Drain Pipe
If you don’t know how much water is in the drain pipe, place a pail and a towel beneath the connection between the disposal and drain pipe. The drain pipe is about two inches in diameter. Locate the line and turn the connector counterclockwise using pliers. Take care not to bend or damage the plastic fitting.
2. Remove the Dishwasher Hose
Your disposal is connected with a one-inch hose if you have a dishwasher. This hose is associated with a hose clamp. Using a screwdriver, loosen the clamp screw, and disconnect the hose from the disposal. Place it in the bucket or towel in case of water drainage.
3. Remove the Disposal
It’s quite difficult for a single person to lift the disposal, but two persons can do it together if you’re in the home. When you take out the disposal, ensure it is level with both ends and doesn’t fall over. To support the disposal, place something like a cardboard box directly beneath it.
The disposer is connected to the sink drain with a mounting bracket with one metal loop and one plastic loop.
Insert a hex key or small screwdriver into one of the metal loops on the mounting bracket and turn it counterclockwise. Use moderate force to push it down the slide ramp. The mounting bracket will start to descend. Once the tabs on the bottom are in line with the sink, they will be disconnected. Check that it rests safely on the cardboard box before letting go entirely.
4. Disconnect the Power
Remove the cover plate with a screwdriver and look for wire nuts in the cavity. Unscrew each wire nut connector with your hand to cut power to the disposal. Remove the screw attachment on the copper grounding wire using a screwdriver.
The strain relief keeps all of the cables inside the disposal safe. It may be necessary to remove the strain relief with a screwdriver. Remove one of the wires. Your disposal is now disconnected, and turning on your breaker box switch is fine again.
5. Remove the Mounting Bracket (Optional)
If you want to get rid of the disposal entirely and not replace it, you first need to remove the mounting bracket. To do so:
- Use your screwdriver to loosen the three screws attaching the frame to the sink drain.
- Once they are loose, take out the bracket from under the sink. You will require new drainage pipes to connect your sink and dishwasher properly.
- Talk with a representative of your nearby hardware store for aid in choosing the ones that fit your sink perfectly.
Can a Garbage Disposal be Removed rather than Replaced?
Garbage disposals are quite popular in homes. They’re useful since they help break down specific types of waste. It is more of a convenience than anything else. If you have one and it breaks, would you be willing to spend the money to replace it?
If you don’t have at least a basic understanding of electricity and plumbing, then your best bet is to call a licensed plumber who can do the job in just two hours. The cost for this service should be reasonable as well.
Tips to Follow While Taking Out a Garbage Disposal
If you’re going to attempt to take out the garbage disposal on your own, there are some tips you should follow to make the process go as smoothly as possible:
- First and foremost, cut off power to the disposal by disconnecting it from the main breaker box. The importance of this safety measure cannot be overstated.
- Once the power is off, use a flashlight to look inside the disposal for any wires that may still be attached. If you see any, carefully unscrew them before proceeding.
- The next step is to loosen the drain pipe connected to the disposal. You’ll need a wrench or pliers for this.
- Once the drain pipe is loose, you can remove the mounting bracket holding the disposal in place. Again, a wrench or pliers will be necessary.
- With the disposal and mounting bracket now removed, you should be able to take out the entire unit without any further issues.
The Bottom Line
Taking out garbage disposal is not the most complicated task in the world. Still, it’s also not something that someone who doesn’t have at least a basic understanding of home plumbing and electricity should be attempted.
If you’re unsure of what you’re doing, your best bet is to call a professional plumber to handle the job. Otherwise, follow the tips outlined above, and you should be able to remove the disposal without too much trouble.
FAQs
Does garbage disposal add value to a home?
Although garbage disposals are often pricey, adding value to your home does not have to be. Something as small as changing out your sink or faucet can make a big difference.
When should garbage disposal be replaced?
If you don’t maintain your garbage disposals, they may last anywhere from eight to fifteen years before you need to replace them. The disposal might develop fractures or even spring a leak over time. When this happens, the unit will likely need to be replaced since a repair wouldn’t be worth your money.
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