Disposal Not Working? Humming? Leaking Under the Sink?
Disposal repairs for all major brands across Denver Metro, seven days a week. Honest repair-or-replace advice on every call.
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Garbage Disposal Repair
A garbage disposal that hums, leaks under the sink or won’t turn on at all brings the kitchen sink to a halt. Wilson & Myers handles garbage disposal repair across Denver Metro for all major brands, on both plug-in and hardwired units. Jams, leaks, dead switches and worn motors are everyday calls for us. Our insured technicians test the full path from the wall switch to the motor before recommending any part, and we tell you honestly when a new unit makes more sense than fixing the old one.
Every repair is backed by a 100-day labor warranty, and we take service calls seven days a week.
Common Garbage Disposal Problems We Fix
Try These First
1. Reset Button
The reset button is a small red or black button on the bottom of the disposal unit under the sink. When the motor overloads from a jam or extended run time, an internal breaker trips and the unit goes completely silent.
Press the reset button firmly until you feel it click. If it immediately pops back out, the motor is still overloaded: wait 15 minutes and try again. A disposal that resets and runs normally needs no further service.
2. Allen Wrench Jam Release
If the disposal hums but the grinding plate won’t turn, the flywheel is jammed. With the power switched off, insert a quarter-inch Allen wrench into the hex socket on the bottom center of the unit and work it back and forth to free the jam.
Once the flywheel moves freely, press the reset button and restore power. Clear any debris from inside the disposal with tongs before running it. If the unit still hums after freeing the flywheel, the motor is failing and needs professional service.
Garbage Disposal Not Working
When the disposal is completely silent with no hum and the reset button doesn’t help, the problem is almost always electrical. A tripped circuit breaker, a failed wall switch, or a faulty electrical connection at the unit stops power from reaching the motor entirely. A failed wall switch is the second most common cause: its contacts burn out over time and stop sending power even when the breaker is fine. If the dishwasher has stopped draining too, remember that most dishwashers drain through the disposal, so a jammed or clogged disposal can stop both.
Disposal unit service
Garbage Disposal Humming But Not Working
When the motor receives power but the flywheel is jammed and can’t turn, you’ll hear a continuous hum with no grinding plate movement. The Allen wrench method in Try These First above resolves most of these calls. If the flywheel turns freely but the unit still hums, a failed motor winding or seized bearing is the mechanical cause.
A hum that continues after the flywheel is cleared confirms the motor needs testing. On a unit older than 10 years, a humming motor almost always means motor replacement or full unit replacement is the more economical path.
Garbage Disposal Won't Turn On
After confirming power at the outlet and pressing reset, a complete failure to respond points to a failed motor, a burned-out switch, or a wiring fault at the disposal’s electrical connection under the sink. On hardwired units, a loose wire connection that worked loose over time from vibration is a frequent cause that’s easy to miss. We test the full electrical path from switch to motor on every dead-disposal call before recommending any part. A bad wall switch is confirmed when the breaker is on but the outlet or wiring under the sink gets no power with the switch in either position.
Garbage Disposal Leaking From Bottom
A leak from the very bottom of the unit means the internal seal between the motor housing and the grinding chamber has failed. This seal is internal to the motor housing and not serviceable as a standalone part. On disposals under 5 years old, motor housing replacement makes sense. On older units, full disposal replacement is often more practical.
We give you a clear comparison before recommending either path. A bottom leak is distinct from a top or side leak and always needs a proper diagnosis before any work begins. For full disposal replacement and installation, see our garbage disposal installation page.
Garbage Disposal Leaking From Top
Water coming through the sink flange means the metal ring where the disposal mounts to the sink drain opening has a worn putty seal or loose mounting bolts. This allows water from the sink to leak down the outside of the disposal housing. A top leak is a straightforward repair: reseal the flange with plumber’s putty and re-tighten the mounting assembly.
A leak from the side of the unit points to the dishwasher drain connection or the discharge drain fitting. A disposal leaking from several points at once usually means the unit is at end of life.
Garbage Disposal Clogged
When the grinding chamber processes waste but water won’t drain through the discharge pipe, the clog is typically in the P-trap or drain line below the disposal rather than inside the unit itself. Remove the discharge pipe and check for packed food waste at the outlet before calling for service. Slow drainage rather than a full blockage means a partial clog is developing in the drain line. Persistent clogs after clearing the discharge line need professional drain service.
Garbage Disposal Jammed
A hard object like a bone fragment, fruit pit, or silverware that fell in stops the grinding plate mid-cycle and trips the overload protector. Use the Allen wrench hex method to free the plate, then use tongs to remove the object before running the unit again. Never put your hand inside a garbage disposal. A disposal that jams repeatedly despite proper use points to a worn impeller or shredder ring that no longer processes food waste efficiently and needs inspection.
Garbage Disposal Reset Button Not Working
When the button keeps popping back out, the motor is still overloaded and needs more time to cool. Wait 15 minutes before attempting another reset. If the button still won’t stay in after cooling time, the internal thermal protector has failed or the motor has failed completely.
A reset button that won’t hold after multiple attempts is almost always a motor or electrical fault requiring a service call. Either way, the issue is beyond a simple overload.
Garbage Disposal Smells
Persistent odor from the sink almost always comes from food waste that builds up on the underside of the splash guard, on the grinding plate, and on the interior walls of the grinding chamber. Clean the disposal by grinding ice cubes to clear debris, followed by citrus peels for odor. Smells that persist after cleaning point to a degraded splash guard that traps food beneath it: splash guard replacement is a simple fix. If the smell is sulfurous or sewage-like rather than food-related, the source is the drain line, not the disposal itself.
Garbage Disposal Making Noise
Metal grinding or rattling during operation almost always means a hard object is caught between the grinding plate and the shredder ring. Turn off power immediately and inspect the chamber with a flashlight before using tongs to remove any debris. A loud banging sound points to a loose mounting assembly that allows the disposal to vibrate against the sink or cabinet. A high-pitched grinding sound from the motor itself indicates motor bearing wear: this worsens over time and leads to complete motor failure.
Need Garbage Disposal Repair?
Contact us or submit a request, we will find a solution. Wilson & Myers handles garbage disposal repair near me calls that Denver Metro Area homeowners depend on when the kitchen sink stops draining. Accurate diagnostics, OEM parts, insured technicians, and fast response. Whether you need garbage disposal repair services, sink garbage disposal not working diagnosis, garbage disposal replacement service, or a garbage disposal repair Denver call, we are equipped for the job. For installation and replacement, see our garbage disposal installation page. Book online or call a pro any time.
Garbage Disposal Repair FAQ
For most failures — jams, leaks, switch faults, humming — yes, repair is straightforward and economical. For garbage disposal leaking from bottom on units older than 8-10 years, or for a completely failed motor, full replacement is often more practical. We give you a clear comparison on every call. For replacement, see our garbage disposal installation page.
Garbage disposal humming but not working means the motor has power but the flywheel is jammed. Try the Allen wrench method on the hex socket at the bottom of the unit first. If the flywheel moves freely but it still hums, the motor needs professional testing. Book online to schedule a diagnosis.
Garbage disposal leaking from bottom means the internal seal between the motor housing and grinding chamber has failed. This is not a patchable repair: it means motor housing replacement or full unit replacement. We give you an honest recommendation based on the unit’s age and condition.
Wilson & Myers specializes in appliance repair including garbage disposal repair and installation. For disposal-specific problems, an appliance technician is the right call. For drain line clogs beyond the disposal, a plumber may be needed. We will tell you clearly on the call if the issue is in the drain line rather than the disposal itself.
Yes. For new installation or full replacement, see our garbage disposal installation page. We handle both garbage disposal repair and installation in Denver Metro Area.
Yes. For residential trash compactor problems, see our trash compactor repair page.
Fixing Every Make and Mode
Wilson & Myers provides garbage disposal repair services and installation across all major brands in Denver Metro Area.
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InSinkErator Garbage Disposal Repair
The most common disposal brand in Denver Metro Area homes. Covers Badger, Evolution, and Compact series. Most common: flywheel jams on Badger models and motor failure on older Evolution units. InSinkErator OEM parts sourced.
Waste King Garbage Disposal Repair
Permanent magnet motor models. Most common: grinding plate wear and splash guard degradation on older units. Parts ordered by model number for garbage disposal repair service.
Moen Garbage Disposal Repair
GX and EX series with sound reduction technology. Most common: electrical connection faults and motor failures on high-cycle units. Moen OEM parts matched to your model.
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Whirlpool Garbage Disposal Repair
Freestanding and built-in models. Most common: switch failure and flywheel jams. Parts widely available for fast turnaround on garbage disposal repair near me calls.
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GE Garbage Disposal Repair
GE and GE Profile under-sink disposals. Most common: motor failure and electrical connection faults on older units. OEM parts sourced for Denver Metro Area service.
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Frigidaire Garbage Disposal Repair
Reliable repairs for budget-friendly and mid-range units
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KitchenAid Garbage Disposal Repair
Built-in under-sink models in Denver Metro Area luxury kitchens. Most common: mounting assembly loosening and motor wear. Diagnosis on the first visit.
Reviews
Emily Schaefer
Amazing service 10/10 would recommend!!!!! The team were very professional and removed and hauled away my dishwasher with ease.
Michael StreeterFast prompt service, fixed out dryer very quickly. Friendly and reasonable prices. Would work him again anytime.
Olivia Brown
Ryan was great with my dryer repair. He complete the task in less than 1 hr and was great with responding quickly! Thank you.
Isabella RiccaThey responded very quickly to my call and arrived timely (appreciated the text that they were on the way & when they arrived). They were very nice and explained everything that they found wrong with my dryer and walked me through the process of how they would repair the issues prior to repairing it. Would recommend!
AvaTechnician arrived on time and was courteous and professional in their explanation. I felt comfortable with their recommendations. Appreciate the level of service from this small company
Isabella KlaimyHad our washing machine break mid-cycle on a Sunday. Within a few minutes of reaching out to them, the team at Wilson and Myers had contacted me with available times including that very evening, no additional fees for a weekend. The tech that arrived was really friendly and professional and got the job done quickly and below the amount I had prepared myself to pay. Will definitely use again if needed!
