Leak at the sink flange or drain pipe
Not every disposal leak means a new unit. Drips at the mount, the drain outlet or the dishwasher hose are connection repairs.
Serving 49 Chicago-area suburbs
Garbage Disposal Installation & Repair in Chicago & the Suburbs
Jammed, humming, leaking or dead garbage disposals repaired or replaced by licensed plumbers in Chicagoland.
- Serving the Chicago suburbs, from Naperville to Evanston
- Installed level, sealed and tested before we leave
- Clear price for the install before the visit
Garbage disposal problems we fix in Chicagoland
When the disposal hums, drips or won't turn on, it doesn't always need replacing. Our Chicagoland plumbers check the jam, the reset, the seals and the wiring first, and swap the unit only when that's the honest answer.
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.
Dishwasher hose without a high loop or air gap
Backflow from the sink into the dishwasher is avoidable. The drain hose gets a high loop under the counter or an air gap on the deck, depending on local requirements.
Disposal too small for the household
Entry-level disposals are fine for light use. Heavier cooking calls for a stronger motor and a stainless grinding chamber.
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.
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.
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.
Home on a septic system
Ground food adds solids to a septic tank. Your septic pro is the right person to say whether a disposal fits your system and how often it should be pumped.
What the install includes
- Repair leaks at connectionsSink flange reseated, drain gasket and dishwasher inlet resealed.
- Remove the old unitThe worn unit removed, the mount cleaned and the cabinet dried.
- Size the new disposalA unit sized for how much food goes down the sink.
- Drain connectionThe drain rebuilt to the disposal outlet height.
- Dishwasher hookupThe dishwasher drain tied in and protected from backflow.
- Power connectionThe disposal connected to its switch or outlet; new wiring flagged if needed.
- Test and clean upWe run water, grind a test load and check every joint.
Options to choose from
Continuous feedRuns from a wall switch while you feed food in; the most common type.
Batch feedA lid-activated unit that grinds one load at a time and keeps hands out.
Plug-in or hardwiredTwo ways to power a disposal; the existing setup usually decides.
Septic-rated modelsModels built for septic systems, for owners whose septic service approves a disposal.
HorsepowerMore horsepower means more grinding power for bigger households and more cooking.
Garbage Disposal Installation & Repair across Chicagoland
The same job looks different in a 1920s bungalow, a 1970s split-level and a new subdivision. Here is what we plan for in different parts of the region.
Condo and townhome towns
Condo disposal on a shared drain
Shared drain lines mean a clog can affect other units. We install and repair disposals in condos with the association's rules in mind.
Lisle, Mount Prospect, Woodridge, Palatine, Lombard, Carol Stream
Garbage Disposal Installation & Repair: before and after
Before
AfterGlen Ellyn kitchen, 1990s two-story colonial: garbage disposal installation & repair
This one is a 1990s two-story colonial in Glen Ellyn. The kitchen as it was: solid-surface integrated sink. The main complaint was 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. Work included drain connection, power connection, plus test and clean up.
Garbage Disposal Installation & Repair in Glen Ellyn →
Before
AfterCarol Stream kitchen, two-story colonial from the 1990s: garbage disposal installation & repair
The site: a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Carol Stream. Before: white double sink. The reason for the call: a disposal that had stopped grinding. Finished kitchen: a new garbage disposal installed under the sink with a clean dishwasher connection. Work included repair leaks at connections, dishwasher hookup, plus power connection.
Garbage Disposal Installation & Repair in Carol Stream →
Before
AfterA West Chicago 1990s two-story colonial: before and after
This one is a 1990s two-story colonial in West Chicago. Before: white cast-iron double 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 repair leaks at connections, size the new disposal, plus drain connection.
Garbage Disposal Installation & Repair in West Chicago →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 estimateAn itemized quote listing the unit, parts and labor.
- Repair or installWe fix the problem or install the new unit and connect it, usually in one visit.
Install questions
Can a leaking disposal be repaired?
Depends where it leaks. Connections are repairable; a leaking housing isn't.
What does disposal installation or repair cost?
We price it after we see the setup, in writing.
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.
Can I have a disposal on a septic system?
It adds solids to the tank. Ask your septic professional; if they agree, we can install a septic-rated unit.
Can you install a disposal I bought?
Yes, as long as it suits the sink and power setup.
Which towns do you serve?
Chicago and 49 suburbs, from Naperville and Aurora to Evanston, Schaumburg and Orland Park. Pick your town below for local details and ZIP codes.
Garbage Disposal Installation & Repair near you
Pick your town for local details, ZIP codes and nearby projects.
