Licensed Plumbers
Licensed Plumbers | Garbage Disposal Repair | Plumbing
When your sink starts rumbling, grinding, or refusing to drain, you need fast help you can trust. HEP’s courteous, licensed plumbers arrive on-time, protect your home with shoe covers and drop cloths, and get right to the root of the problem—whether it’s a jammed impeller, a worn-out motor, or a hidden plumbing clog. We carry factory-approved parts on every truck, so most garbage disposal repair jobs are finished during the first visit, restoring your kitchen to quiet, clean convenience without the mess or the wait.
Behind every service call is our 100% Satisfaction Guarantee and decades of hands-on experience serving Tennessee homeowners. From up-front pricing to respectful cleanup, we make sure you feel confident inviting us back for any future plumbing need. Choose HEP and discover how simple, reliable, and stress-free professional care for your garbage disposal can be.
FAQs
How can I tell whether my garbage disposal needs repair or a complete replacement?
Persistent humming without grinding, repeated tripped resets, water leaks from the bottom housing, foul odors that won’t wash away, and units older than 8–12 years usually signal a failing motor or corroded grind chamber. A licensed plumber can test amperage draw, inspect seals, and measure motor RPM to confirm if a targeted repair (seal, flange, or switch) will restore performance or if a new disposal is the safer, more cost-effective choice.
What usually causes a garbage disposal to jam or stop spinning?
The most common culprits are fibrous foods (celery, corn husks), starchy items that swell (rice, pasta, potato peels), grease that solidifies, hard debris (bones, fruit pits), or foreign objects like utensils. Over time, these materials wedge between the flywheel and shredder ring, locking the impeller plate. Worn bearings or a stripped flywheel hex can also stall the motor.
Can I fix a clogged or jammed disposal myself, or should I always call a plumber?
You can safely attempt three basic steps: (1) switch off the breaker, (2) press the red reset button on the bottom, and (3) use the manufacturer’s hex key in the under-unit socket to manually turn and free the flywheel while flushing with cold water. If the reset repeatedly trips, the hex key won’t turn, you spot leaks, or you hear metal grinding, stop and call a licensed plumber. Continuing DIY efforts can cause motor burnout or serious injury.
Which foods are safe for my disposal, and what should I never put down it?
Disposals are designed for soft, non-fibrous scraps: small fruit or vegetable pieces, cooked meats, and citrus rinds in moderation. Never insert grease, oil, coffee grounds, eggshell membranes, pasta, rice, potato peels, corn husks, bones, seafood shells, or non-food items. Always run a strong cold-water stream before, during, and 15 seconds after grinding to carry particles through the drain line.
How long does a professional garbage disposal repair or replacement take?
Most routine repairs—clearing jams, replacing a splash guard, tightening leaks at the sink flange—take 30–60 minutes. Swapping out a failed motor or installing a new unit typically runs 60–90 minutes, including electrical hook-up, leak testing, and dishwasher drain connection. Larger jobs, such as rewiring a faulty wall switch or replacing corroded drain pipes, can extend the visit to two hours.
Do plumbers handle the electrical side of disposal work, and are they licensed for it?
Yes. In most states, licensed plumbers are permitted to wire or rewire a garbage disposal because it is considered an “appliance within the plumbing system.” Our technicians carry dual plumbing/electrical endorsements, allowing them to replace cords, hard-wire units, install dedicated switches, and test GFCI outlets safely. For code-specific requirements—like adding a new 15-amp circuit—we coordinate with or recommend a licensed electrician.