Why Your Garbage Disposal Leaks

Are you having issues with your garbage disposal leaking? If so, there are several locations where the leak could be occurring. Here are just a few examples of some of the potential problems that could be causing these leaks, and what the professionals will need to do to perform effective garbage disposal repair in St. Peters, MO.

Garbage disposal is leaking at the top

In this case, the most likely issue is that you have a leak at the sink flange. Garbage disposals are connected to the sink with this flange and with some plumber’s putty to help hold it in place. Over time, this seal can start to corrode, which can result in it loosening and cause holes to form in the area that cause the leaks you’re seeing. These leaks can also develop if you hit the garbage disposal hard enough to loosen the seal. This most commonly occurs when you’re working on another issue underneath the sink.

To resolve the issue, the flange will have to be resealed with plumber’s putty. This involves taking off the garbage disposal, cleaning out the old putty and putting in new putty. Some types of garbage disposals, however, do not use putty, and only have a flange that gets tightened and then compressed with screws. That part may need to be replaced for you to get a good seal going again. But if you don’t know what you’re doing, this could be a difficult project, as it requires removing and replacing some drain pipes. Therefore, it’s important that you contact a professional to get this job done.

Leaks along the sides

When you see leaks occurring along the sides, the most likely culprit is the drain lines. There are two connections on the side of the garbage disposal, with a smaller hose in which the dishwasher drains, and a larger pipe that comes out farther down where the disposal drains into the sewer.

To resolve the issue, the connections will need to be resealed or tightened. There’ll be a metal clamp that connects the dishwasher to the disposal, which you can tighten with a screwdriver to see if that stops the leak. The main line is also connected with screws and will have a rubber gasket inside. If tightening the screws doesn’t work, the issue could be with the rubber gasket, meaning it would need to be replaced by an expert.

Leaks from the bottom

The most common cause of leaks that occur at the bottom of a garbage disposal is a busted seal inside the disposal unit. There are internal seals that can wear down over time with use, and unfortunately the only really reliable fix in such a circumstance is to replace the entire garbage disposal. The good news is that the equipment isn’t expensive, and can last you for up to a decade. You can take apart the garbage disposal to fix the seal, but the amount of time that would take makes it not worth it. You’re better off hiring a professional to come in and replace the entire unit, rather than trying to have them fix a disposal that may only have a couple more years of life in it anyway.

For more information, or to schedule garbage disposal repair in St. Peters, MO, contact Crews Appliance Repair today.

Categorised in: Garbage Disposal Repair

This post was written by Writer