A North Potomac homeowner had already bought a new garbage disposal and needed it installed. Our technician replaced the old unit, tested the new one, and found an electrical issue that needs an electrician, not a plumber.
The problem
The homeowner wanted their kitchen garbage disposal replaced with a new unit they had already purchased, and booked a same-day midday visit.
What our technician found
When a new disposal won't run, the disposal itself isn't always the cause. Most disposals plug into an outlet under the sink that's controlled by a wall switch. If that outlet, the switch or the circuit has a problem, even a brand-new disposal will sit silent. Plugging the disposal into a different, known-good outlet is a quick way to tell a plumbing problem from an electrical one.
What we did
- Removed the old garbage disposal.
- Installed the new disposal the homeowner supplied and reconnected it to the sink drain.
- Tested the new disposal and found an electrical issue with the power supply that feeds it. Our technician then tested the disposal on a different outlet, where it ran.
- Let the homeowner know the issue was electrical and advised them to have an electrician track it down.
Parts used
- New garbage disposal (supplied by the homeowner)
The result
The new disposal is installed and ran when tested on a different outlet. The homeowner was advised to bring in an electrician for the electrical issue.
Tips for North Potomac homeowners
- If your disposal hums or does nothing, check the reset button on the bottom of the unit and the circuit breaker before calling for service.
- If a disposal won't run at all, try it on another outlet (or test the outlet with a lamp). That tells you whether you need a plumber or an electrician.
- When you buy your own disposal, match the horsepower to your household and check that it fits the space under your sink.
- Use cold water while the disposal runs, and keep grease, bones and fibrous scraps like celery out of it.