Department: Kitchens
Garbage Disposal Installation in Oakville
A good disposer is a handy kitchen helper. A tired one hums, leaks and jams. Here is what goes into fitting a new one properly.
- Clear diagnosis before any cutting or replacing
- Price explained before the work starts
- Tested with water running before we leave
- Booked by phone, no forms
or ring (365) 399-5986Real people answer. Bookings by phone only.
- Licensed & insured (details on request)
- Oakville & Halton
- Phone bookings only
What garbage disposal installation involves
A disposer mounts to the sink drain opening with a flange and mounting ring, then connects to the trap below. Installing one means removing the old basket strainer or the old unit, setting the new flange with putty or a gasket, hanging the disposer, and lining up the discharge with the trap. If a dishwasher drains through the sink, its hose connects to an inlet on the disposer, and the knockout plug inside that inlet must be removed first.
Power comes from either a plug-in cord to an receptacle under the sink or a hard-wired-in connection. Where there is no outlet or switch, an electrician is needed for that part. The plumber will tell you plainly if that applies.
Job sheet: Garbage Disposal Installation in Oakville
- Where we get in
- Under the kitchen sink at the strainer and the outlet
- On the van
- Mounting ring, disposal, trap kit, dishwasher knock-out tool, cord kit
- Before we pack up
- Run with water, check the dishwasher drain and trap
- How to book
- Phone only: (365) 399-5986
Why it happens in Oakville homes
Some Oakville kitchens have had a disposer for decades, and older units rust out at the bottom or seize. Others are adding one during a kitchen update. Either way, the drain run behind the sink matters. A long or nearly flat branch line can struggle with ground food waste, especially with hard water scale already narrowing it.
Halton's green bin program takes food scraps, which makes a disposer a nice extra, not a must, in Oakville. The plumber can tell you whether your line is a good candidate.
Signs you need this now
- Old disposal jammed or leaking
- Humming but not turning
- Adding a disposal to a sink
- Rust under the unit
- Sink drain smelling
What to check before you call
- Is there an outlet under the sink and a wall switch for it? Note what you find.
- Measure the space between the bottom of the sink and the trap or cabinet floor.
- For a jammed unit, flip it off and try the hex key socket on the bottom before assuming it is dead. Many units also have a red reset button.
- Water leaking from the body of the unit usually means it has corroded through and must be replaced.
The visit in five steps
- 1Remove the old unit and strainer
- 2Fit the mounting ring with putty
- 3Hang the disposal and connect the trap
- 4Knock out the dishwasher port and connect
- 5Run it and check for leaks
How the visit runs
The plumber checks the cabinet space, the power supply and the drain height. The old unit or strainer comes out, the new flange goes in, and the disposer is mounted and connected. Then it is run with water for several minutes and the dishwasher is cycled to drain, with every joint checked for drips. You get a few pointers on use, including which foods to keep out. Running cold water for a few seconds before and after grinding helps carry the waste down the line, and an occasional handful of ice cubes knocks loose film from the grinding chamber without any chemicals.
Related problems
Disposers and kitchen clogs go together. See kitchen drain cleaning if the sink is already slow. A new sink at the same time falls under kitchen sink installation. Our guide on smelly drains covers lingering disposer odours.
Straight answers to common calls
What should not go in a disposer?
Grease, fibrous peels like celery and corn husks, eggshells in quantity, coffee grounds, pasta and rice. These either clog the drain or dull the unit.
Can a disposer go in with a septic system?
Some models are made for it, but in most Oakville homes on municipal sewers this is not a concern. Ask if you are on septic in a rural area.
Why does my disposer hum but not spin?
Something is jamming the plate. Switch it off and turn the hex socket underneath to free it, then press the reset button.
Keep reading
- Kitchen Drain Cleaning in Oakville
The kitchen sink is the hardest-working drain in the house.
- Kitchen Sink Installation in Oakville
New counters, a new sink, or a swap from double bowl to one deep basin.
- Faucet Repair and Replacement in Oakville
Drip, drip, drip.
- Things That Should Never Go Down a Drain
A toilet line is meant to carry three things only: water, human waste, and toilet paper.
Ready when you are
One call books the visit. Tell us what you are seeing and we will tell you straight what it likely is.