Replacing a Garbage Disposal in Silver Lake: What I Actually See Under the Sink

A lot of the houses up here were built in the 1920s through the 50s. The kitchens have been redone two or three times since then, and every remodel left something behind under the sink. I open the cabinet and find a mix of old chrome traps, newer plastic pieces, and sometimes a disposal that's older than the last owner.

Humming but not spinning

If it hums, the motor is getting power but the plate is stuck. Usually it's a fruit pit, a bottle cap, or a chunk of bone. I free it with the hex key from the bottom, hit the reset button, and test it. That's a repair, not a replacement, and it costs $99 plus the $75 trip.

If it hums again a week later, or the motor smells hot, that unit is done. I'll tell you that straight instead of coming back three times.

Leaking from the bottom

This one doesn't get fixed. When water drips from the bottom of the disposal, the seal inside has failed and the housing is rusting from the inside out. You can't patch it. You replace it.

Why I usually put in a Badger 500

The photo at the top is a Badger 500 I installed in Silver Lake. For a normal kitchen with two or three people, it's enough motor, it fits in tight cabinets, and parts are easy to get. If you cook a lot or have a big family, I'll talk to you about something stronger. I don't push the most expensive model when it doesn't make sense for the kitchen.

Replacement is $249 for the work plus the $75 trip, and you pay for the disposal itself. If the old drain line is cracked or doesn't line up with the new unit, new piping is $99 extra. I tell you that before I start, not after.

A couple of things before I come

Take a photo of the label on your current disposal and the space under the sink, and text it to me. Half the time I can tell you over the phone whether it's a repair or a replacement. Clear out the cabinet if you can. That's it.

I work all over the east side: Silver Lake, Echo Park, Los Feliz, Atwater Village. Call or text (213) 293-0752.

— Igor