Garbage Disposal Repair in McKinney, TX
SmartWay repairs garbage disposals in McKinney and 13 nearby cities from our shop on N McDonald St. The service call is $65.
Service call $65, ask about fee-waiver terms. Open 7 days, 7am to 7pm.
A garbage disposal is a motor under the sink that spins a flywheel with two swinging impellers. The impellers throw food against a grind ring and the water carries it into the drain. When something hard lodges between the flywheel and the ring, the motor hums but cannot turn, and the overload trips to protect it. When nothing happens at all, the cause is the reset button, the breaker, the wall switch or the wiring. Water under the sink comes from the sink flange, the drain connections or the unit's own housing.
Common garbage disposal problems
It hums at the switch but will not spin
The flywheel is jammed, usually by a bone, pit, bottle cap or piece of silverware. Freeing it with a hex wrench at the bottom of the unit and removing the object fixes most of these. If it still hums once the flywheel turns freely, the motor has failed.
Nothing happens at all when I turn it on
Check the red reset button on the bottom of the unit and the breaker. If the unit plugs into an outlet under the sink, make sure the plug is seated. If those are fine, the cause is a failed wall switch (or the stopper switch on a batch-feed unit), a loose wire in the electrical box on the disposal, or a burned-out motor.
There is water in the cabinet under the sink
A leak at the top is the sink flange or its mounting gasket loosening. A leak at the side is the dishwasher hose or drain pipe connection. Water from the bottom of the unit means the internal seals have failed, and that unit needs replacing.
It keeps shutting off and I have to press reset
The motor overload trips when the motor runs hot, most often from a partial jam. The technician checks whether the flywheel turns freely and measures the motor's amp draw.
The sink drains slowly or backs up
Food has packed into the trap past the disposal, or the grind parts are worn and leaving pieces too large to flush. The technician checks whether the clog is in the unit or in the drain beyond it.
It makes a loud grinding or rattling noise
A hard object is loose in the grind chamber, an impeller is broken, or the mounting ring has loosened and the unit is shaking against the sink. Turn it off at the switch and leave it off until it is checked.
Symptoms and likely causes
- Bad smell from the drain: food rotting in the grind chamber or the trap
- Water backs up into the other sink bowl when it runs: clog in the shared drain line past the disposal
- Hums, then the breaker trips: seized or shorted motor
- Dishwasher will not drain after a new disposal: knockout plug left in the disposal's dishwasher inlet
How the repair goes
- The technician finds the cause first: power, a jam, the motor, or a leaking connection.
- Before any work starts, the technician tells you the price, whether the fix is freeing a jam, a new switch or a new unit.
- The garbage-disposal service call is $65. Ask about fee-waiver terms when you book.
Before the visit
- Leave the disposal switched off and keep your hands out of the drain opening.
- The technician works lying under the sink, so take out the cleaning supplies and trash can to leave room to reach the bottom of the unit.
- Do not pour chemical drain cleaner into the sink before the visit.
- If you can see the label on the bottom of the unit, note the brand and model number.
Disposal types we repair
We repair continuous-feed disposals, which run while the wall switch is on, and batch-feed disposals, which run only with the stopper in place. If you know the brand and horsepower, give them when you book; both are on the label under the unit.
Where we do garbage disposal repair
Garbage Disposal Repair is available in all 14 cities we serve from our McKinney shop: McKinney, Frisco, Prosper, Plano, Allen, Celina, Anna, Melissa, Lucas, Murphy, Richardson, Garland, Sachse and Princeton.
Common questions
How much does it cost to fix a garbage disposal?
The service call is $65. The repair price depends on what failed, and you get the price before work starts. Ask about service-call fee-waiver terms when you book.
Can someone come out today?
Same-day appointments are often available. Leave the disposal switched off until the technician gets there. Book online or call (469) 607-4241 any day between 7am and 7pm.
Can I unjam my garbage disposal myself?
Yes, if the power is off. Turn it off at the switch and the breaker, then work the socket on the bottom of the unit back and forth with a 1/4 inch hex wrench, the size most disposals take. Pull the object out with tongs, never your hand. Let the motor cool for 10 minutes, press the reset button, then restore power.
Is it worth repairing my garbage disposal or should I get a new one?
Repair it if the problem is a jam, the switch, the wiring or a loose connection. Replace it if water is coming from the body of the unit or the motor has burned out. On most home disposals the motor and internal seals are not sold as separate parts, so a new unit is the fix.
How is the knockout plug removed on a new disposal?
With the power off and the dishwasher hose disconnected, a screwdriver is set against the plug inside the dishwasher inlet and tapped with a hammer until the plug breaks free. The loose piece drops into the grind chamber and has to be pulled out before the disposal runs. Then the hose goes back on the inlet and gets clamped.
Why does my disposal keep tripping the reset button?
The motor is overheating, usually from a partial jam or too much food at once. Run cold water, feed food in slowly, and wait 10 minutes before pressing reset. If it trips with an empty chamber, the motor is failing and the unit needs replacing.
From customers
“Online booking was super simple. I was able to get an appointment for that afternoon.”
“Prompt, reasonable prices. Fixes stuff and doesn't try to sell you a new one!”
Book a garbage disposal repair
Open 7 days, 7am to 7pm. Same-day appointments are often available.