Garbage Disposal Question

mistriTsquirrel · ‎07-17-2010

My garbage disposal is leaking directly from the bottom, where the reset button is. (Yes, I'm sure. It leaks rapidly when I run the water, and there is no water on the sides of the disposal or elsewhere on the bottom.)

Is this something I can fix, or am I just out a garbage disposal? I realize most will say "replace," but I can't afford to replace it right now, so I'm looking for an alternative.

Thanks in advance!!

"Heartburn Can Cause Cancer" -- www.ecan.org

on the bay · ‎03-09-2010

Of course I don't really know if it can be repaired but I was surprised when we last tried to get ours repaired, that the repair man said they only tend to last about 10 years, and ours couldn't be fixed, so we got a new one.

I don't remember the exact cost but also surprised it was not that much.

And he also told us not to put anything down a disposal that we couldn't eat/chew~I never knew that either!

And so many foods not to put in a disposal that you can eat as well!~ (you can search for a whole list) but some not to are rice, pasta, potatoes and potato peels, stringy vegetables; wow again I'm learning too!

And ice and vinegar are good to clean the disposal and sharpen blades.

"If you walk the footsteps of a stranger, you'll learn things you never knew. Can you sing with all the voices of the mountains? can you paint with all the colors of the wind?"

Big Sister · ‎05-15-2010

You may want to visit your local hardware store and ask them if there is something you can put over the hole to stop the leak. I believe there are products that are made just for that type of problem.

BalletBabe · ‎03-05-2011

@mistriTsquirrel We had a leak several years ago. If you know exactly where the crack is, you can try to glue it. I don't remember the name of the glue , but it comes in a can and it really strong, it has a swab on the lid, but it held ours for about 8 years.

SilleeMee · ‎05-22-2016

@mistriTsquirrel,

First you need to make certain where the leak is located. Water make look like it's leaking from one place but is actually coming out of another. So in order to determine this fill the sink half full of water and put a few drops of food coloring in it. Look for leaks from the sink...look at area around where the disposal is attached to the sink. If the leak is not there then remove plug from sink and look for leaks from the dishwasher hose and drain pipe connections. Also look for leaks from bottom of disposal. If it's leaking from the bottom then your disposal needs replacing because it has an internal broken seal or seals and eventually the insides will all rust away. Trying to plug this leak will only make things worse, unfortunately. All you can do now is catch the dripping water and save your money for a new one.

I had mine leak from the bottom so I know this to be true. I replaced it with a new one and I did it myself! Here's a word of advice...don't buy another In-Sink-Erator! I'll bet this brand is the one you have leaking right now....right??

Hoovermom · ‎03-19-2010

@mistriTsquirrel wrote:
My garbage disposal is leaking directly from the bottom, where the reset button is. (Yes, I'm sure. It leaks rapidly when I run the water, and there is no water on the sides of the disposal or elsewhere on the bottom.)

Is this something I can fix, or am I just out a garbage disposal? I realize most will say "replace," but I can't afford to replace it right now, so I'm looking for an alternative.
Thanks in advance!!

@mistriTsquirrel In order to make sure it is coming
from the bottom I would grind up something in it. I did this with mine and the contents of the disposal splattered all on my cabinets. Yes, I did need a new disposal (purchased it at Costco.com) and hired my plumber to install vs. Sears coming out. Mine needed an electrical connection which DH could not do. Good luck.

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

@on the bay wrote:
Of course I don't really know if it can be repaired but I was surprised when we last tried to get ours repaired, that the repair man said they only tend to last about 10 years, and ours couldn't be fixed, so we got a new one.
I don't remember the exact cost but also surprised it was not that much.
And he also told us not to put anything down a disposal that we couldn't eat/chew~I never knew that either!
And so many foods not to put in a disposal that you can eat as well!~ (you can search for a whole list) but some not to are rice, pasta, potatoes and potato peels, stringy vegetables; wow again I'm learning too!
And ice and vinegar are good to clean the disposal and sharpen blades.

I have had a garbage disposal since we bought our first house in 1970.(not the same one) and I put everything down there. Potato peels , onion peels, carrots, All leftovers , chickeen and turkey bones - you name it I have probably ground it down the disposal. I've never broken one yet. My first one & second one were both working perfectly when the house was sold - they were both Kitchen Aide, now on my third one , a GE, and it is 6 years old.So far so good - knocking on wood.I do agree that vinegar and ice are the best to clean it. About once a year I put vinegar & baking soda to deodorize it.I also , about once a month, wash the flange that is in your drain - the black rubber thing- in the dishwasher to clean the underside of that - it gets gross under there.

chrystaltree · ‎05-10-2010

@mistriTsquirrel wrote:
My garbage disposal is leaking directly from the bottom, where the reset button is. (Yes, I'm sure. It leaks rapidly when I run the water, and there is no water on the sides of the disposal or elsewhere on the bottom.)

Is this something I can fix, or am I just out a garbage disposal? I realize most will say "replace," but I can't afford to replace it right now, so I'm looking for an alternative.

Thanks in advance!!

It takes a lot to kill a garbage disposal, it sounds like it's something that can be fixed. But, I'm no expert. Call one and find out.

IamMrsG · ‎08-29-2010

@mistriTsquirrel I have recommended this website before, but not particularly for garbage disposal repair. Anyway, check out appliancepartsprodotcom. It is a very large site, not the easiest to navigate, but worth the effort, I promise. It's one of the very few sites where I recommend creating an account to use. It's worth it.

We've had trouble with a clothes dryer and the information, concise and easy to follow installation videos and manufacturers' parts (delivered inside 24 hours, no less!) have saved us hundred$, no kidding.

Good luck!

Strive for respect instead of attention. It lasts longer.

mistriTsquirrel · ‎07-17-2010

@SilleeMee wrote:
@mistriTsquirrel,

First you need to make certain where the leak is located. Water make look like it's leaking from one place but is actually coming out of another. So in order to determine this fill the sink half full of water and put a few drops of food coloring in it. Look for leaks from the sink...look at area around where the disposal is attached to the sink. If the leak is not there then remove plug from sink and look for leaks from the dishwasher hose and drain pipe connections. Also look for leaks from bottom of disposal. If it's leaking from the bottom then your disposal needs replacing because it has an internal broken seal or seals and eventually the insides will all rust away. Trying to plug this leak will only make things worse, unfortunately. All you can do now is catch the dripping water and save your money for a new one.

I had mine leak from the bottom so I know this to be true. I replaced it with a new one and I did it myself! Here's a word of advice...don't buy another In-Sink-Erator! I'll bet this brand is the one you have leaking right now....right??

@SilleeMee

Yup.

It's not a slow leak...at all. I can see it dripping very quickly from this one area, and when I run my hands around and under the unit, it is dry.

I'm pretty sure there's no way to fix this, but thought I'd ask anyway. ::sigh::

"Heartburn Can Cause Cancer" -- www.ecan.org