Hums but doesn't grind
The motor has power but the flywheel is jammed — a fork, a bottle cap, or compacted food. We free it safely, check the reset, and test under load. Quick fix, most of the time.
Garbage disposal repair & replacement
Humming, jammed, or dead? We'll sort it.
A dead disposal turns your kitchen sink into a swamp. We diagnose disposals on the spot across Austin and Marble Falls — repair when it's worth it, replace when it isn't, and tell you straight which one it is.
Diagnosis first
What your disposal is trying to tell you
Disposals fail in a handful of predictable ways. Here's what the symptoms mean — and what we do about each.
Completely dead — no sound
Tripped reset, failed switch, wiring issue, or a burned-out motor. We trace the electrical path from the switch to the unit and find where the power stops.
Leaking from the unit
Leaks from the top usually mean a failed sink flange seal (fixable). Leaks from the body or bottom mean the housing is cracked — that's a replacement, no exceptions.
Keep it alive
What not to put down your disposal
The usual killers
Grease and cooking oil, coffee grounds by the potful, fibrous vegetables (celery, artichokes, corn husks), starchy foods (pasta, rice, potato peels), bones, fruit pits, and anything that isn't food. Run cold water before, during, and after grinding — it keeps grease moving instead of settling in your pipes.
When replacement wins
Units over 10 years old, chronic jammers, leakers, and bargain-bin models with weak motors. A quality 3/4 HP replacement with stainless internals runs quieter, jams less, and typically lasts a decade. We'll price both repair and replacement so you can decide with real numbers.
If the disposal works but the sink won't drain, you likely need drain cleaning instead. For the rest of your kitchen plumbing, browse all our plumbing services.
Same-week appointments
Get your kitchen sink back.
On-the-spot diagnosis, upfront pricing, and disposals we'd put in our own kitchens.
FAQ
Disposal questions, answered
My disposal just hums when I flip the switch. Is it dead?
Not necessarily — a hum usually means the motor is getting power but the flywheel is jammed. There's a reset button on the bottom of the unit and an Allen-wrench slot to manually free the flywheel. If that doesn't clear it, call us before you stick anything down the drain. If the motor itself has burned out, replacement is the answer.
Should I repair or replace my garbage disposal?
If the unit is less than 8 years old and the problem is a jam or a minor electrical issue, repair often makes sense. If it's leaking from the body, the motor is shot, or it's a low-end unit that's been struggling for years, replacement costs little more than a repair visit and buys you a decade of quiet reliability.
What should never go down a garbage disposal?
Grease and oil (they solidify in your pipes), coffee grounds in quantity, fibrous foods like celery and artichokes, starchy foods like pasta and potato peels that turn to paste, bones, and anything non-food. Disposals handle small food scraps — they're not trash compactors.
How long does a disposal replacement take?
Usually under an hour and a half, including wiring, mounting, connecting the dishwasher drain, and testing. If your old unit's wiring or the sink flange is in rough shape, we'll address that too — it's part of doing the job right.
My disposal works but the sink still drains slowly. Why?
The clog is downstream of the disposal, in the drain line itself — the disposal is just the messenger. That's a drain cleaning issue, not a disposal issue. We'll clear the line and verify flow rather than selling you a disposal you don't need.
Ready when you are.
Austin: (512) 233-6590 · Marble Falls: (830) 460-3565