If your garbage disposal hums but does not spin, leaks from the bottom, or has stopped altogether, a local plumber can free a jam, replace a unit or fix the drain behind it, usually in one visit. We'll arrange a visit at your place, and you get a written quote before any work starts. The same applies to faucet drips, shower leaks and weak pressure at the sink: the fixtures in this group fail in familiar ways. See the guides further down, or ask for a quote now. Back to the home page.
What does a plumber do for a garbage disposal repair?
A plumber works out whether the unit is jammed, tripped, clogged downstream, leaking or worn out, then clears, repairs or replaces it. Most calls are one of four things: a jam freed with a hex wrench, a reset after an overload, a blocked drain or trap, or a leaking, rusted or seized unit that needs replacing.
Before you call, you can try what most manufacturers suggest. Switch the disposal off, and the breaker if there is no wall switch. Keep your hands out of the chamber. If you hear humming but nothing turns, the flywheel is usually jammed. Most units have a hex socket in the center of the underside, and a quarter-inch hex key turned back and forth frees many jams. Then press the red reset button on the base. If it keeps tripping, stop.
A leak from the bottom of the housing usually means internal seals have failed, and the unit is replaced rather than repaired. A leak at the top flange or the drain connection is often a sealing or tightening job. Our guide to unclogging a garbage disposal drain covers blockages and slow drains behind the unit.
How much does a plumber charge to repair or replace a garbage disposal?
Published guides put a replacement at about $200 to $700 installed, with the plumber's labor around $100 to $350 and the unit itself $80 to $400. A first-time installation costs more, often $400 to $1,500, because it may need a new switch, an outlet or drain changes. Repairs, such as clearing a jam, usually cost less than a replacement.
Treat these as a guide, because the cost guides use different methods. The price depends on:
- Horsepower and brand. A one-third horsepower basic unit sits near the bottom, a three-quarter or one horsepower sound-insulated unit near the top.
- Whether the mounting and wiring match. A direct swap is quick. A different mount, a hardwired unit with no plug, or a missing switch adds time.
- The drain. A plumber who finds the trap or branch drain blocked will clear that separately.
- Whether a dishwasher drain connects to the unit, which adds a step.
Ask for a written quote that lists the unit, the labor and any trip fee. For rates, see what plumbers charge per hour and what a service call costs.
What fixture problems does this page cover?
Besides disposals, we cover everyday faucet, sink and shower faults. A leaking or dripping faucet is the most common, and the right fix depends on the type of faucet. A leaking shower may be a worn cartridge or a pipe in the wall. Low pressure at one sink is usually a clogged aerator or stop valve. Each has its own guide below.
Start with the one that matches your problem:
- A dripping faucet of any kind: how to fix a leaky faucet.
- A kitchen faucet that leaks at the spout, handle or base: fixing a leaky kitchen sink faucet.
- A dripping tub spout or tub handle: fixing a leaky bathtub faucet.
- A shower that drips or runs on: fixing a leaky shower faucet, or see a plumber for a shower leak.
- An outdoor spigot: fixing a leaky outdoor faucet.
- Weak flow at the kitchen faucet: low water pressure at the kitchen sink.
- Weak flow at a bathroom faucet: bathroom sink low water pressure.
- A weak shower: shower water pressure is low.
- Water under the sink: repairing a leaking pipe under the sink.
- Hard water spots and scale on fixtures: removing hard water scale.
- A rising bill with no obvious leak: why the water bill is so high.
- Prices for new fixtures: faucet installation costs.
What signs mean you need a plumber for a fixture problem?
Call one when a drip continues after a new washer or cartridge, when water shows on a wall or ceiling near a shower or sink, when a fixture will not shut off, when a disposal keeps tripping or leaks from the bottom, or when pressure is weak at more than one fixture. These point to parts you cannot easily reach or a fault behind the wall.
A few Los Angeles specifics. Many houses from the 1920s to the 1950s still have galvanized supply pipe and old stop valves. Stops that have not been turned for decades can break or leak when you touch them, and a plumber replaces them as part of a fixture job. LADWP's own figures put hardness at about 5 to 17 grains per gallon across its service area, and its FAQ says hard water leaves deposits in plumbing and fixtures, so scale on aerators and cartridges is a regular cause of weak flow and drips.
EPA WaterSense says a faucet that drips once per second wastes more than 3,000 gallons a year. Early repair is cheap against that.
Some work has legal limits. In California, a plumbing job of $over $1,000 once labor and materials are added, or one that needs a permit, must be done by a contractor with a C-36 plumbing license from the CSLB. A fixture swap is usually under that line, but a valve replaced behind a wall may not be, so ask to see a license number on larger jobs.
How long does a plumber visit for a fixture repair take?
Most fixture repairs, such as a cartridge swap, a disposal replacement or a stop valve change, take one to two hours once the plumber has the right parts. Jobs that require opening a wall, replacing galvanized pipe or tracing a leak take longer. The plumber should give you a time estimate when they quote.
Common questions
How long does a garbage disposal repair or replacement take?
A replacement usually takes about an hour to two when the new unit mounts the same way and wiring is in place. Freeing a jam or resetting a tripped unit is quicker. A leaking drain, a first-time installation or an electrical fix adds time. Ask the plumber for an estimate with the quote.
What should I ask before I hire someone for garbage disposal repair?
Ask what the quote covers, whether the unit is included and which model, whether there is a trip or minimum charge, and who handles any wiring or switch. For a bigger job, ask for the C-36 license number and verify it with the CSLB. Ask what happens if the drain behind the disposal is the real problem.
Is it worth repairing an old garbage disposal?
Often not, if it leaks from the bottom or the motor has seized, because replacing costs about what a repair does and gives you a new unit. A jam or a tripped reset is worth fixing. If the unit is fairly new and the fault is minor, repair can make sense. A plumber can tell you which.
Does someone need to be at the property?
Someone should be there to let the plumber in, show them the problem and approve any change to the quote. For a simple job you do not need to watch every step, but clear the sink cabinet beforehand so the plumber has access.
Can a plumber fix a leaking shower or faucet in one visit?
Often, yes, when the fault is a cartridge, washer or stop valve and the part is on the truck. If the valve is buried in a wall, or the leak is a pipe inside the wall, the plumber will explain the options and quote the repair before opening anything.