Garbage Disposal Services

Replace, Repair, or Install From Scratch

A garbage disposal is one of those appliances that works fine for a decade, then stops working in an inconvenient way: jammed, leaking, humming without grinding, or smoking. Most are repairable, some are not, and a few situations are best solved by upgrading to a better unit rather than throwing parts at an old one.

Doro Plumbing handles all garbage disposal work across the Hartford and southeast Wisconsin area, including replacement, jam clearing, leak repair, and new installations in homes that don’t currently have one.

Common Disposal Problems

Won’t turn on (no sound at all) – usually a tripped reset button on the bottom of the unit, a tripped breaker, or a failed switch. Sometimes the motor itself.

Hums but won’t grind – the impeller is jammed. We clear the jam, manually rotate the flywheel, and check whether anything broke during the jam.

Loud grinding or rattling – usually a foreign object (silverware, bottle cap, glass) caught in the chamber. Sometimes a worn or broken impeller arm.

Leaking from the top – sink flange seal has failed, requires removing the unit and resealing.

Leaking from the bottom – cracked grinding chamber. The unit is done, replacement is the only option.

Leaking from the side – dishwasher discharge connection or drain line connection. Usually an easy fix.

Slow drain even when not running – clog in the trap or drain line downstream of the disposal. Disposal is fine, drain needs cleaning.

Smells bad – food particles trapped under the splash guard. Cleaning rather than replacement.

Installation & Replacement

When repair doesn’t make sense, replacement is straightforward in most cases. We handle:

• Like-for-like replacement of an existing unit
• Upgrade to a higher horsepower or quieter unit (1/2 HP, 3/4 HP, 1 HP options)
• First-time install in a kitchen that doesn’t currently have one (requires switch, outlet, and dishwasher tie-in)
• Septic-safe disposals for homes on septic systems (different bacteria-friendly design)

For most Hartford-area homes, a 3/4 HP continuous-feed disposal is the sweet spot: quiet enough, powerful enough to handle bones and fibrous waste, and a solid value over its lifespan. We typically install InSinkErator or Waste King, both with solid warranties and parts availability.

A Few Practical Notes

Septic systems – if you’re on septic (common in rural areas around Hartford and outlying communities), use a septic-rated disposal and run it sparingly. Conventional disposals overload septic systems with solids that the tank can’t process fast enough.

What not to put in any disposal – grease, fibrous materials (celery, corn husks, onion skins), starchy foods (potato peels, pasta), bones (small chicken bones are okay, beef bones are not), eggshells (the membrane wraps around the impeller).

What’s fine – small food scraps, soft fruit and vegetable trim, coffee grounds in moderation. Always run cold water before, during, and 15 seconds after using the disposal.

Older homes without disposals – we can usually add one if there’s an outlet under the sink and switch wiring is feasible. For homes on septic, we might recommend against it depending on the system condition.

Doro Plumbing · (262) 229-5632 · Hartford, WI