If the disposal hums but does not spin, or water is dripping from the unit, turn the wall switch off. Then unplug the disposal or switch off its breaker, stop the dishwasher, and shut off the supply stops under the sink if a line is leaking. Never put a hand into the chamber, even with the power off. Our 24/7 emergency line is open if water is pooling in the cabinet or the sink is full and not draining.
Garbage disposal repair in Simsbury, CT covers jams, motor failures, leaks at the flange and the housing, and clogs in the drain beyond the unit. It also covers installing a new unit and reconnecting the dishwasher drain. Same-day appointments are available when the schedule allows, with priority for leaks and full sinks.
A disposal is a small appliance with a hard life. Knowing what failed tells you whether to repair it or replace it.
Sink full and not draining: what to do right now
Before anything else
A kitchen sink that fills and sits is a clog or a jammed disposal. Stop adding water.
- Turn off the disposal switch and unplug the unit or cut its breaker.
- Stop the dishwasher, since it drains through the disposal.
- Bail out standing water with a cup so you can see what is happening.
- Close the supply stops under the sink if a hose or line is leaking.
- Call the 24/7 line if water is reaching the cabinet floor.
Hex key reset for a humming disposal
A hum with no spin usually means something is wedged against the flywheel. With the power off, you can free it from underneath.
Find the hex socket
Look at the center of the underside of the unit for a small hex socket, often a quarter inch.
Work the wrench
Insert the hex key and turn it back and forth until it moves freely all the way round.
Clear from above
Use tongs or pliers to lift out whatever was stuck. Never use your hand.
Press reset
Press the red reset button on the bottom, restore power and run cold water as you try it.
Finding a leak: flange, housing or hose
Where the water shows up tells us what failed.
| Where it leaks | Likely cause | Repair |
|---|---|---|
| Under the sink flange | Loose mount or dried putty | Reseat the flange with new sealant |
| From the housing or body | Cracked or corroded shell | Replace the unit |
| At the dishwasher hose | Loose clamp or split hose | Replace the hose or clamp |
| At the drain elbow | Bad gasket or loose fitting | Replace the gasket or tighten |
| Only while running | Worn seal inside | Replace the unit |
Sink backed up tonight?
Our 24/7 emergency line is open, with same-day visits when available.
When the clog is past the disposal
A disposal chops food into pieces, but it does not carry them away. Grease, starch and grounds settle in the trap and the line beyond it and harden into a plug. If the sink backs up when the disposal runs, or the laundry sink bubbles, the clog is further down. We remove the trap and run a cable past it, which is a drain cleaning job.
A kitchen line that keeps clogging every few weeks may be damaged or partly collapsed, which a camera shows. If the main line is the cause, every drain in the house is slow at once. See the notes on sewer line cleaning if that is your pattern.
Septic homes and the disposal
Simsbury's own sewer page says not all properties are connected to public sewer. Septic systems are serviced by private companies, with oversight from the Farmington Valley Health District, and Water Pollution Control can tell you whether an address is in the sewer service area. If you are on septic, the EPA says a disposal changes how often the tank needs pumping, because food waste builds up as scum and sludge and can push solids to the drainfield.
The EPA suggests inspecting a septic tank every 1 to 3 years and pumping every 3 to 5, depending on household size, water use and whether a disposal is used. If you have one, tell your septic service so the schedule fits. The EPA does not recommend septic tank additives, and it lists cooking grease and coffee grounds among things you should not flush.
Grease, oil and what not to grind
The Metropolitan District explains that cooking oil and fat poured down a sink can clog home pipes and the sewer. Its advice applies anywhere.
- Do not rinse grease down the drain with hot water and soap, because it cools and hardens farther along the pipe.
- Pour cooled oil and fat into a sealed container and put small amounts in the trash.
- Wipe greasy pans with a paper towel before washing.
- Keep bones, fruit pits, corn husks and potato peels out of the unit. The motor cannot shred them and they pack into the trap.
- Coffee grounds and eggshells collect in the trap over time, so use them sparingly.
Repair or replace the disposal
Repair
- A jam freed with the hex key
- A loose flange or hose clamp
- A bad gasket at the elbow
- A unit that is relatively new
Replace
- The housing leaks
- The motor hums with no spin after reset
- Rust shows on the shell
- You want a quieter, stronger model
Installing a unit you already bought
Bring the disposal or tell us the model. We mount it on the sink flange, connect the discharge to the trap, plug it into the existing outlet or cord kit and reconnect the dishwasher drain through the knockout plug. If the knockout is not removed, the dishwasher will not drain, so we check this before leaving.
If your kitchen has no outlet under the sink, an electrician has to add it. For new sinks or kitchen remodels where lines move, see plumbing installation. We also serve nearby Windsor homes with the same service.
What shapes the cost of a disposal job
We do not publish prices because a hex-key reset and a full replacement are different jobs. You get a clear price before work starts.
Sudden leaks from a supply line or hose are often covered by homeowners insurance, while damage from a slow leak or neglect often is not. Sewer or drain backup usually needs a separate endorsement.
Honest limits
We do not wire new outlets or switches, and we do not repair cabinet or countertop damage. A disposal cannot fix a poorly pitched drain. If the dishwasher or sink is leaking from a faucet above, see faucet repair.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The 24/7 line takes calls for leaking units, full sinks and cabinet flooding at any hour. Same-day appointments are available when the schedule allows for jams that are contained.
Something is wedged against the flywheel. With power off, turn the hex socket underneath back and forth, lift out the object with tongs and press the reset button.
No. Use tongs or pliers, and cut power at the plug or breaker first. A switch alone is not enough.
Yes. We install the unit, connect the drain and reconnect the dishwasher hose. Tell us if there is no outlet under the sink so an electrician can add one.
It can work, but the EPA says a disposal changes how often a tank must be pumped. Tell your septic service you have one, and keep grease and coffee grounds out.
Simsbury's Water Pollution Control office can say whether an address is in the sewer service area. Septic systems are covered by the Farmington Valley Health District.
The dishwasher inlet on the disposal has a plastic knockout plug that must be removed. If it was left in, the water has nowhere to go.