Step 1: Remove Drain Attachments and Wiring from Garbage Disposal
The garbage disposal has several attachments (Fig. 1); including an electrical supply (either direct wired or plugged into an outlet), a drain from the dishwasher, a drain to the sink trap and the disposal is mounted to the bottom of the sink as part of the sink drain assembly.
Fig. 1. Garbage Disposal Connections
- If your disposal plugs into an outlet, simply unplug it. If it is direct wired, you may be able to leave the connection if the wires are long enough, but if you are replacing the disposal, the wires will have to be removed.
To be safe, turn the power off at the electrical panel. You may decide it is not necessary to turn the power off at the panel, as long as the switch to the disposal remains turned off. If you do not turn the power off at the panel, you should put tape over the disposal switch, so it does not get turned on by mistake. But whatever you do, do not leave bare wires underneath the sink!
There should be a panel on the disposal to remove to see the where the electric wires connect, then you can loosen the electrical wires with a screw driver. In my case, I simply unplugged the disposal from the outlet. - Next, disconnect the drain line from the dishwasher by loosening the hose clamps with a screw driver and sliding the hose off. Keep your bucket handy to catch any water in the line.
- Then, disconnect the hose clamp from the drain line to the trap the same way.
Step 2: Removal of Garbage Disposal from Sink
Now that all the connections have been removed from the disposal, the disposal itself can be removed from the sink. The disposal is usually mounted below the sink by a “Quick-lock” ring.
Fig.2 Close View of Disposal Mounting Assembly Showing Tension screws and Leverage Lugs.
- First, You should be able to loosen the disposal from the mounting assembly that holds it to the sink by using a screw driver for leverage at the points shown in Figure 2.
- Put the screw driver in one of the lugs and applying pressure in a counter-clockwise direction as if looking from the bottom up to the disposal. If the disposal does not turn, try tapping on the flanges with a hammer.
- Once it starts to turn, it should remove easily. Remove the disposal, but be careful, when it releases from the mounting assembly, it may feel heavier than you think.
Step 3: Remove the Disposal Mounting Assembly from the Sink
Fig 3. Garbage Disposal Drain and Mounting Assembly
The entire drain assembly should be removed so the seals can be inspected. There are five parts to the ring assembly (Fig. 3 and 4).
The top part of the assembly (inside the sink) is the ring around the drain (drain flange) that gives it a clean finished appearance and allows water to drain into the disposal. The rubber or heavy paper gasket helps prevent the drain from leaking. Leaking can also be prevented with plumber’s putty.
Fig. 4. Assembled Garbage Disposal Drain and Mount
The bottom part of the assembly (below the sink) includes the triangular shaped upper mounting ring, the lower mounting ring which has the three screws and a snap ring to hold the upper mounting ring to the lower mounting ring.
- First, loosen the tension on the three screws until there is enough room to see the snap ring. The snap ring sits in a groove at the lower end of the flange on the upper mounting ring. Use a small flat bladed screwdriver to dig the snap ring out of the groove.
- Once the snap ring is removed, the lower mounting ring will slide off.
- Now, you can pull out the drain flange and seal from the inside of the sink.
- Remove any old plumber’s putty.
- The Disposal is re-mounted or replaced by following these same steps in reverse order.
Before trying to re-assemble the mounting assembly under the sink, it might help to practice fitting the snap ring back onto place. It is a little tricky to do in an awkward position under the sink. By practicing a few times, it will be easier when the time comes.
If you do not have a quality rubber type gasket, make sure to put new plumber’s putty under the drain flange.
You can now return to how to remove a kitchen sink to move onto the next step, disconnecting the water supply.
Nice article. I replaced my garbage disposal 2 or 3 years ago and apparently I didn’t put plummer’s putty or tape somewhere, because it’s always leaked just a little bit… I keep a bin under it to catch it until it evaporates (that’s how little it is, but was enough to get paper towels to stay wet which caused a smell occasionally)…. but this weekend, maybe I’ll take it apart and see if I can fix that darn leak. Luckily mineral deposits have made it easy to see where I need to work on the leak… it’s just really tight and the disposal barely fit in the space.
Dawn – Good luck with fixing the leak. Take a good look at it when you disassemble it, especially where the leak is coming from. Was it tightened properly? Was the rubber gasket seated properly? Is there any noticeable damage to the gasket or where the leak is coming from? If you have any questions, feel free to ask. We’re not professional plumbers, but we’ll try our best to help.
I am trying to remove my badger disposer from the mounting ring when I turn with hex wrench the disposer moves.
Are you able to use a screwdriver in the leverage lugs (as in figure 2 in step 2 above in post)?
Thanks for the helpful instructions! Removing garbage disposal is not as difficult as I thought, but it requires knowledge and ability to do it properly. Greetings!!
Thanks for the tip about removing the snap ring from the drain assembly. I had unscrewed the parts, but had not noticed that ring piece was what was keeping everything from separating.
Glad the tip about the snap ring was helpful to you. Hope the re-assembly of the garbage disposal worked out for you.
I have 0.5 hp disposal that came with the house, it got damaged and i need to fix it, so I bought a 1.4 HP for the replacement. Is it reasonable to replace 0.5 HP with 1.4 HP (at my residential home)?
A 1.4 HP garbage disposal is pretty powerful. If you have a large family and the disposal gets used often, then “reasonable” doesn’t matter. If there’s just 2 of you in the house, then perhaps 1.4 HP is a little overkill, but again, it doesn’t matter if you wanted to spend more for the higher HP. The higher HP models are usually larger units – I assume it fits under your home sink?
Well, that seems to be easy enough, did not help me to return it back to original sink drain. I am looking to remove the disposal and back to the original sink drain. I looked under my sink and it looks complicated; it is hooked up to dishwasher witch I want to get rid of as well; I dislike both units, waste of money and uses of lot of water. I will just contact my nephew he will instruct me how to thanks for some info…..
I have a GE GFC320F disposal installed possibly as long as 2002 when the house was built. It does not have a new locking ring so I need to know how to disconnect prior to locking rings. I have unscrewed the coupling ring all pipes and unplugged. It just won’t release from the top drain ring. I can’t find anything that “pop” a release and nothing seems like it wants to unscrew from the top.
Jennifer – Look at this video and see if it is the same problem you are having with releasing it from the top drain ring.
https://youtu.be/Hqhmmo8DuhQ?t=18s
A guest dropped a spoon down the insinkerator. When the unit runs, there is a noise suggesting metal just tapping on the unit. How much dismantling will be required to extricate the spoon?
Wayne – Just to be clear, are you saying that you removed part of the spoon, but there is still a piece left in the disposal?
I have done all the steps above. Got the wet vac and a direct stream of water to remove anything. I re-installed and still just get a humming noise when powered on. The bottom wrench will not turn. InSinkErator says it’s jammed and not under warranty. Is there a way to actually dismantle the entire unit? If something is jamming it i want to get it out. Don’t really want to replace as ya just over 2 years old.
Alicia – Were you able to get the disposal running again or did it stay jammed?
Alicia contacted us later: It’s all good. I used the key and the reset button and away it went….
Someone put something down the disposal that was tough to chop up and a clear silicone o-ring came out! I’m not sure if this is something I should try to tackle on my own, or do I need to call a plumber?
Barbra – Not sure about the silicone o-ring. What brand of disposal do you have? If the o-ring is damaged, you may be able to simply buy a replacement for it.
Hi,
I am Debra. I followed the instructions for removal of the garbage disposal. It took me a few times to read the instructions but, I was able to get it done. But, I am not sure what to do with the wiring since I will not be installing another garbage disposal. Also, with the disposal off in the breaker box it controls the light switch over the sink. It was a great help.
Debra – Glad our directions helped. Since you will not be installing another garbage disposal, I assume you will be attaching directly to the drain pipes. With the wiring, are you referring to the outlet and switching wiring?
Hi! I removed my disposal and put a new sink in and now there is only a slight trickle of water coming from the hot water valve.
It’s the kitchen sink only and only the hot water.
I am a inpatient person as I need quick answers and I know I will probably have to wait a week before anyone reply’s a answer back to me and by then my garage disposal will be in million pieces. It’s starting to become a pain in the butt. My daughter decided she was going to clean her fish tank out and dump the little tiny rocks fell into the garage disposal. I’ve gotten quite a few of the rocks out and I just can’t get the rest of the rocks out.
So I took apart the garage disposal then I trying to figure out how to unattached the hoses from the disposal and the dishwasher and I have no clue how to take apart the hoses. Then I learned I am supposed to turn the power off at the main breaker. I have no idea where the shut off is at? Does anyone else know? After I get it apart I can try to get the Little Rock’s out and clean the garage disposal out really good. Can someone please help me this nightmare?
Sarah – Did you locate your circuit panel? It’s usually in the basement or garage. Each switch inside the panel is usually labeled.
I cannot get the dishwasher hose, which fell off, to stay on the connection to the garburator. The hose end does not fit well over garburator end, or is that end supposed to come off? I have Ecologic garburator.
Is the hose not staying on with the tightened clamp over it?
Wow the sounds smart garbage disposal not looks good but it has really specific ideas here about garbage disposals to clean and removing it. I would recommend to this guide to that every person who needs to buy garbage disposal but wants to know about the features of the machine.. really thanks for sharing great piece of article!