Wall switch or wiring problems
Disposals need a switched power source. Where wiring has to be added or changed, we explain who does it and whether a permit is involved.
Serving Skokie & nearby Evanston, Park Ridge
Garbage Disposal Installation & Repair in Skokie, IL
Jammed, humming, leaking or dead garbage disposals repaired or replaced by licensed plumbers in Skokie.
- Serving Skokie ZIP 60076, 60077, 60203
- Installed level, sealed and tested before we leave
- Clear price for the install before the visit
Garbage disposal problems we fix in Skokie
We repair and install garbage disposals in Skokie 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.
Adding a disposal where there was none
Installing a disposal in a sink that never had one is common. The plumbing is straightforward; the power under the sink is the part to plan.
Bad smell from the disposal
Odor from the sink often comes from food stuck under the splash guard or in the trap. Cleaning helps; a constant smell can mean a drain problem.
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.
Home on a septic system
On septic, a disposal adds load to the tank. We recommend asking your septic service before installing one, and we can install a unit designed for septic use if they agree.
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
If you hear the motor but nothing turns, the grinding plate is jammed. Running it like that can burn out the motor, so switch it off and call us.
Sink not draining with the disposal off
If the bowl over the disposal won't drain, the blockage is in the disposal outlet, the trap or the pipe behind the wall. We find it and clear it.
Included with the install
- Diagnose the problemA look at the disposal, its wiring and the drain to see what actually failed.
- Clear jamsWe free a stuck grinding plate and take out what caused it.
- Repair leaks at connectionsLeaks at the mount, outlet or dishwasher hose fixed without a new unit.
- Remove the old unitThe worn unit removed, the mount cleaned and the cabinet dried.
- Mount and sealDisposal hung on a new mounting assembly and sealed to the sink.
- Dishwasher hookupKnockout plug removed, hose connected, high loop or air gap set as code requires.
- Power connectionThe disposal connected to its switch or outlet; new wiring flagged if needed.
Options to choose from
HorsepowerSmaller motors for light use; larger ones grind faster and jam less in busy kitchens.
Septic-rated modelsModels built for septic systems, for owners whose septic service approves a disposal.
Plug-in or hardwiredA cord kit into a switched outlet, or a direct connection in a junction box.
Stainless grinding partsCorrosion-resistant grinding parts for longer service life.
Continuous feedRuns from a wall switch while you feed food in; the most common type.
Before and after: kitchens near Skokie
Before
Installed
DetailSkokie kitchen, 1990s two-story colonial: garbage disposal installation & repair
This one is a 1990s two-story colonial in Skokie. The kitchen as it was: white cast-iron double sink. What bothered the owners most: an old disposal that hummed, jammed and leaked into the cabinet. After: a new garbage disposal installed under the sink with a clean dishwasher connection. Work included repair leaks at connections, remove the old unit, plus dishwasher hookup.
Before
AfterAn Evanston prewar brick bungalow: before and after
This one is a prewar brick bungalow in Evanston. What we started with: white porcelain double-drainboard sink. The main complaint was an old disposal that hummed, jammed and leaked into the cabinet. After: a new garbage disposal installed under the sink with a clean dishwasher connection. Work included diagnose the problem, clear jams, plus repair leaks at connections.
Garbage Disposal Installation & Repair in Evanston →
Before
AfterA Skokie 1990s two-story colonial: before and after
The same sink draining clear after the kitchen line was cleaned with a drain cable.
Kitchen Drain Cleaning in Skokie →
Before
AfterKitchen Remodeling in a 1950s ranch, Skokie
What changed: cabinets in light butter yellow with polished nickel pulls, black honed granite counters, a gray beveled subway tile backsplash, light oak hardwood flooring and two glass pendants and recessed lights.
Kitchen Remodeling in Skokie →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a postwar bi-level in Skokie
What changed: the same doors sprayed in powder blue, new satin brass pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Skokie →From the old unit to the new one
- Tell us what it's doingDescribe the noise or the leak, and send a photo under the sink if you can.
- Diagnose on siteA licensed plumber finds out whether it's a repair or a replacement.
- Written estimateYou get the repair or replacement price in writing before work starts.
- Repair or installWe fix the problem or install the new unit and connect it, usually in one visit.
Garbage Disposal Installation & Repair questions from Skokie homeowners
Can a leaking disposal be repaired?
Depends where it leaks. Connections are repairable; a leaking housing isn't.
What shouldn't go down a disposal?
Grease, bones, fruit pits, coffee grounds in quantity, fibrous peels and anything non-food. They jam the unit or clog the drain.
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.
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.
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.
Skokie building permit for disposal repair or replacement: where do I apply?
Permits go through Community Development Department - Building & Inspection Services Division (www.skokiepermits.com), phone (847) 933-8223. When your scope needs one, we prepare the application and schedule the inspections.
Skokie contractor registration: do kitchen contractors need it?
Many contractors must be registered and insured with the Village each year; permits are not issued unless all listed contractors are registered and insured. We take care of that before work starts.
Is Skokie water hard, and does it matter for disposal repair or replacement?
Skokie's water source: Treated Lake Michigan water purchased from the City of Evanston. We plan fittings and filters around it.
Do I need a permit for disposal repair or replacement in Skokie?
It depends on the scope. Skokie's rule in short: Electrical work and plumbing or electrical system changes need a permit. We handle the permit when one is needed with Community Development Department - Building & Inspection Services Division.
Do you work in my part of Skokie?
Yes. Our crews work across Skokie — ZIP 60076, 60077, 60203 — and nearby Evanston, Park Ridge, Glenview.
Working in Skokie
- A lot of Skokie kitchens date from the 1950s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Skokie homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- We know how Community Development Department - Building & Inspection Services Division handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60076ZIP 60077ZIP 60203
Garbage Disposal Installation & Repair nearby
Other kitchen services in Skokie
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.