Replace a Garbage Disposal

About This Guide

90 minutes. Under \$120. One switch-back.

A dead garbage disposal is one of the cleaner DIY jobs — one appliance, one mounting, one electrical connection, one or two plumbing connections. The whole thing unbolts, comes down, and a new one goes up in the same afternoon.

What catches first-timers: the mounting assembly (the three-piece snap ring that holds the disposal to the sink flange), the electrical knockout (one specific small slug of metal to knock out for wire entry), and the dishwasher hookup (two options, both silent failure modes if done wrong).

This book walks:

• ✓ Assessing your existing disposal (brand, horsepower, mounting
• ✓ style) before you buy.
• ✓ Choosing a replacement — 1/2 HP vs 3/4 HP vs 1 HP, continuous
• ✓ vs batch feed, noise level.
• ✓ Removing the old disposal (harder than installing — it's
• ✓ heavier than you think).
• ✓ Installing the mounting assembly at the sink flange.
• ✓ Hanging the new disposal on the mount.
• ✓ Wiring (120V, two wires plus ground, knockout plug removal).
• ✓ Plumbing — drain tailpiece and dishwasher drain connection.
• ✓ The dishwasher knockout plug (the single most common
• ✓ installation mistake).
• ✓ Testing — hot water, cold water, grind test, leak test.