Furthermore it also becomes a safety hazards for your home.
Just think of that waste food that leaks back to your kitchen. They can bring in harmful bacteria and germs to your family.
At the same time, you also invited unwanted guests such as pests into your house.
In the event your garbage disposer unit leaks, there are simple ways to solve the problem. You can try to rectify it yourself without calling the plumber first to save cost.
In this article, we are going to list down the various locations that the leakage might occur. Then we will come up with the solutions for you to implement.
But firstly, you have to conduct a simple experiment to determine where your leak is coming from.
Identify Leaking Location
- Clear the area below your kitchen sink if needed for easy inspection.
- Put a pail underneath to collect the leaking water.
- With your disposer unit turn off, insert the sink stopper.
- Turn on the faucet and fill the sink with a quarter of full water.
- Leave it for a while, then look below and check for any leakage.
- If you see water dripping here, it means you have a leak at the sink flange area.
- Next, remove the stopper.
- Turn on the faucet again to let water flows down the sink drain.
- After a few seconds, turn on your disposal.
- Examine carefully for any leaking water around your garbage disposal.
- Start looking from the top to the bottom.
Once you identify the location of the leakage, refer to “Table of Contents” below. Go to the appropriate solution and take action.
Garbage Disposal Leaking from Top - Sink Flange
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The leakage could be due to the following:
- The mounting assembly is loosened or not tightened properly.
- The plumber’s putty that forms the seal between the sink flange and sink drain has worn out.
- In some cases, rubber gasket is used instead of plumber’s putty. The rubber gasket might have worn out.
Solution:
- Firstly, make sure power to your disposal is turn off. Unplug the power cord.
- Check the 3 mounting bolts under your sink. Is it loosening?
- If yes, try tightening them and proceed to check for any leaking water.
- Has the leak been rectified? If no, then the problem could lie with the plumber’s putty.
- Use both hand to hold your disposer unit. Then turn it in a counter-clockwise direction.
- You should able to loosen it and remove it from the mounting assembly.
- Unscrew the 3 mounting bolts.
- Take the flange out of the sink drain.
- Carefully remove old plumber’s putty under the flange rim.
- Lay a new layer of plumbers putty between flange and sink.
- Remove any excess putty coming out from the flange edge.
- Tighten back the 3 mounting bolts.
- Install the garbage disposal.
- Again, check for any water leakage.
Note: If you are using rubber gasket instead of plumber's putty, check its condition for any wear and tear. Replace it with a new one if needed. You should be able to get one at your local hardware store.
Garbage Disposal Leaking from Side - Dishwasher Connection
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The reason for the leak could be as follows:
- The hose’s clamp is loosened or not properly tightens.
- The hose cracks.
Solution:
- Inspect the dishwater hose clamp tension.
- Is it loose? If so, tighten it with a screwdriver.
- Check the hose for any crack or cut.
- If there are crack or cut, unscrew the hose.
- Depending on the length of your hose, you could just cut off the affected area.
- If not, then you will have to install a new hose.
- Attached back the dishwasher hose to disposer.
- Test for any leakage again.
Garbage Disposal Leaking from Side - Discharge Drain Pipe Connection
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Why it leaks may be due to the following:
- The discharge tube flange is not properly tightened.
- The gasket might have worn out.
Solution:
- Inspect the bolts or screws that fasten the discharge tube.
- Is it tight? If not, tightened it.
- Test for any water leakage.
- If there is still leakage, then the problem might be with the gasket.
- Unfasten the bolts or screws and pull out the discharge tube.
- Check the condition of the gasket.
- If there is a need, put in a brand new gasket.
- Mount back the discharge tube.
- Test for any water leak again.
Garbage Disposal Leaking from Bottom – Reset Button / Cracks on Body
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The reason for leaking may be as follows:
- Internal sealant have failed or worn out
- Internal wall may have corroded or cracked
Solution:
If you found out the leakage is from the bottom or reset button or a crack spot on the body, there is nothing much you can do.
Due to wear and tear over a long period, the internal seals might have worn out. In such cases, water could have leak into the motor housing which is an electrical hazard.
If your unit is under warranty, it’s best to send it for repair. Otherwise, it’s time for you to get a new garbage disposal.
Fixing a garbage disposal leak is not a tough job for you. It’s just that you have to know how to spot the leakage and what action to take after that.
In the event you need to replace your existing unit, check out our garbage disposal product reviews.
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