Bad smell from the disposal
A sour smell is usually trapped food residue. If it persists, we look at the trap, the drain line and the dishwasher connection.
Serving Des Plaines & nearby Mount Prospect, Park Ridge
Garbage Disposal Installation & Repair in Des Plaines, IL
Jammed, humming, leaking or dead garbage disposals repaired or replaced by licensed plumbers in Des Plaines.
- Installers working in Des Plaines ZIP 60016, 60018
- Hookups by licensed trades where the code calls for it
- Old unit hauled away on request
Garbage disposal problems we fix in Des Plaines
We repair and install garbage disposals in Des Plaines kitchens. That means clearing jams, tracing leaks, sizing a new unit to how you cook, and connecting it to the sink, the dishwasher and the power under the cabinet.
Sink not draining with the disposal off
Water standing in the disposal side usually means food has packed into the unit or the trap below. We clear the clog and check the drain line.
Disposal leaking from the bottom
If the drip comes from the body of the disposal, the seals inside are worn through. Replacement is the fix.
Dishwasher hose without a high loop or air gap
A dishwasher drain hose that runs low can let sink water flow back into the machine. We route it with a high loop or an air gap, as local code calls for.
Disposal hums but won't grind
A hum with no spinning means the motor has power but the plate is stuck. Usually something hard is wedged in; we free it from below and test it.
Disposal too small for the household
Small, low-horsepower units bog down with busy-family loads. A larger motor grinds faster and jams less.
Grinding slowly or making loud noises
A disposal that takes forever to clear food has dull or worn components. Older units in that state are usually replaced.
Disposal won't turn on at all
Silence when you flip the switch often means the overload tripped. Pressing the reset button on the bottom of the unit may bring it back; if not, we check the switch, outlet and wiring.
What we hook up and check
- Diagnose the problemWe check for jams, the reset, power, leaks and drain clogs before suggesting a new unit.
- Clear jamsPower off, the flywheel freed from below and the object removed.
- Remove the old unitThe worn unit removed, the mount cleaned and the cabinet dried.
- Drain connectionDischarge elbow, trap and tailpieces set so the sink drains freely.
- Dishwasher hookupKnockout plug removed, hose connected, high loop or air gap set as code requires.
- Power connectionCord kit for a switched outlet or a hardwired connection, depending on the setup.
- Test and clean upFull test with the sink and dishwasher draining, then cleanup.
What to pick before the install
HorsepowerSmaller motors for light use; larger ones grind faster and jam less in busy kitchens.
Batch feedA lid-activated unit that grinds one load at a time and keeps hands out.
Plug-in or hardwiredA cord kit into a switched outlet, or a direct connection in a junction box.
Septic-rated modelsSome units are designed for septic homes; use them only if your septic pro agrees.
Sound insulationInsulated housings make the disposal noticeably quieter.
What the work looks like in Des Plaines homes
Before
Installed
DetailA Des Plaines two-story colonial from the 1990s: before and after
The site: a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Des Plaines. Before: solid-surface integrated sink. The main complaint was a disposal that had stopped grinding. After: a new garbage disposal installed under the sink with a clean dishwasher connection. On site this meant diagnose the problem, clear jams, plus power connection.
Before
AfterA Mount Prospect 1990s two-story colonial: before and after
A 1990s two-story colonial in Mount Prospect, a typical kitchen for Mount Prospect. What we started with: white cast-iron double sink. What bothered the owners most: an old disposal that hummed, jammed and leaked into the cabinet. Finished kitchen: a new garbage disposal installed under the sink with a clean dishwasher connection. The job covered remove the old unit, dishwasher hookup, plus power connection.
Garbage Disposal Installation & Repair in Mount Prospect →
Before
AfterA Des Plaines two-story colonial from the 1990s: before and after
What changed: the same sink draining clear after the kitchen line was cleaned with a drain cable.
Kitchen Drain Cleaning in Des Plaines →
Before
AfterKitchen Remodeling in a 1950s ranch, Des Plaines
Finished: cabinets in light butter yellow with satin brass pulls, creamy quartzite-look quartz counters, a green zellige-look tile backsplash, warm oak luxury vinyl plank flooring and a flush drum fixture and under-cabinet lights.
Kitchen Remodeling in Des Plaines →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a postwar Cape Cod in Des Plaines
The same doors sprayed in pale sage, new polished nickel pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Des Plaines →How the install goes
- Tell us what it's doingHumming, silent, leaking or slow: the symptom points to the fix.
- Diagnose on siteWe check the jam, reset, power and connections first.
- Written estimateYou get the repair or replacement price in writing before work starts.
- Repair or installThe disposal goes in, the drain and dishwasher are connected and everything is tested.
Garbage Disposal Installation & Repair questions from Des Plaines homeowners
Why is my disposal humming but not working?
It's jammed. Turn it off; freeing the flywheel from below and removing the object usually fixes it.
Repair or replace my disposal?
If it's fairly new and the problem is a jam or a fitting, repair. If it's old and failing, replace.
How long does it take to install a new garbage disposal?
Swapping a disposal is often a short visit. Adding one where there was none can take a few hours.
Where is the reset button?
Most units have a red reset on the underside. If pressing it doesn't help, check the breaker or call us.
Do I need a plumber to install a garbage disposal?
We have a licensed plumber install every disposal, so the drain, trap and dishwasher connections are done properly.
Des Plaines building permit for disposal repair or replacement: where do I apply?
Permits go through Community and Economic Development Department - Building Division, phone 847-391-5380. When your scope needs one, we prepare the application and schedule the inspections.
Does Des Plaines require a licensed plumber for disposal repair or replacement?
Plumbers need a State of Illinois license; no City fees. Our plumbing connections are made by licensed plumbers.
Des Plaines water: how does it affect disposal repair or replacement?
Des Plaines's water source: Lake Michigan water purchased from the City of Chicago and the Northwest Water Commission (which is supplied by Evanston). We plan fittings and filters around it.
Des Plaines contractor registration: do kitchen contractors need it?
Contractors must register with the City (via the online portal); registrations expire Dec 31. We take care of that before work starts.
Do I need a permit for disposal repair or replacement in Des Plaines?
It depends on the scope. Des Plaines's rule in short: A building permit is required for any residential kitchen remodel; non-structural work uses the Kitchen/Bath Non-Structural permit ($150 fee, rough and final inspections). We handle the permit when one is needed with Community and Economic Development Department - Building Division.
Do you work in my part of Des Plaines?
Yes. Our crews work across Des Plaines — ZIP 60016, 60018 — and nearby Mount Prospect, Park Ridge, Elk Grove Village.
Working in Des Plaines
- A lot of Des Plaines kitchens date from the 1960s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Des Plaines homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- We know how Community and Economic Development Department - Building Division handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60016ZIP 60018
Garbage Disposal Installation & Repair nearby
Other kitchen services in Des Plaines
Kitchen Drain CleaningSlow or backed-up kitchen sinks cleared, grease and all.
Kitchen Sink Installation & ReplacementNew sinks, undermount and farmhouse styles.
Kitchen Sink Leak & Drain RepairLeaking traps, strainers and drain pipes under the sink, fixed.
Kitchen RemodelingFull kitchen remodels, from layout to last cabinet pull.
Kitchen Cabinet PaintingFactory-smooth painted cabinets without replacing them.