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Garbage Disposal Leaking from Bottom: Here’s How to Repair

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When you notice water under your kitchen sink, there's a good chance that your garbage disposal is leaking. There's a number of issues that can cause a leak. It could be an improper seal on the flange, a drain issue, or simply the unit itself. But if your garbage disposal is leaking from the bottom, your options are limited.  

Plumbing problems are never fun, and a garbage disposal leaking can be beyond annoying. But before you call a plumbing professional out for repairs, let's do some quick checks to see if your unit is fixable, and to help you determine your best course of action.


Garbage Disposal Leaking

There are three common areas where a garbage disposal will leak: The bottom, top, or side. Where the leak orginates is a good indication of the seriousness of the problem. Many times the required repairs aren't with the garbage disposal unit itself, but rather the surrounding plumbing.

Garbage disposal installed under a kitchen sink

Garbage Disposal Leaking from Bottom

If you suspect that your garbage disposal is leaking from the bottom, the odds are good that you'll need to purchase a new unit. But before jumping to any conclusions, double check that the leak is actually coming from the bottom of the garbage disposal.

Water travels, so it's possible that your disposal is actually leaking from the flange or dishwasher / drain plumbing, and is only dripping from the bottom. Use a paper towel to dry off your garbage disposal and then watch closely to see where the water is leaking.

Garbage Disposal Leaking from Bottom Holes

Whether your garbage disposal is leaking from the reset button, screws or holes on the bottom, the issue is the same. You have a serious problem that, most likely requires a new garbage disposal.

The most common cause is a damaged internal seal within the unit. Garbage disposals use internal seals to protect the motor and/or prevent the appliance from leaking. Over time, these seals wear out and are no longer able to perform their intended purpose.

Another possible cause, is a crack in the protective shell case that surrounds the garbage disposal. But regardless, whether your unit is leaking because of the case or an internal seal, you'll need to purchase a new disposal.

InSinkErator Garbage Disposal with Cord, Badger 5XP, 3/4 HP Continuous Feed

InSinkErator Badger 5xp

The InSinkErator Badger 5xp is a 3/4-horsepower garbage disposal. It's a customer favorite because of it's low price and "easy swap" installation design.  

How to Repair

When this is your problem, your options are pretty limited. Keep in mind that water and electricity don't mix, so you'll want to get this repaired as soon as possible.

Your only real solution is to purchase a new garbage disposal. You can expect a new disposal to last between 8 to 15 years, depending on the amount of use and the quality of the appliance.

 

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Garbage disposals such as the Insinkerator Badger 5 aren't too expensive, and are designed to be an easy replacement and work with your existing plumbing. You'll likely spend around $400 between parts and labor if you hire a plumbing professional to install it for you.

Many homeowners prefer to do the installation themselves to save money. If you do choose to go this route, you'll want to purchase a garbage disposal that comes with an electrical cord, unless you want to hardwire the unit to your electrical panel.

InSinkErator Badger 5XP Garbage Disposal with Power Cord, Standard Series 3/4 HP Continuous Feed Food Waste Disposer, Badger 5XP W/C
Waste King 3/4 HP Garbage Disposal with Power Cord, Food Waste Disposer for Kitchen Sink, L-3200
Moen Host Series 3/4 HP Continuous Feed Garbage Disposal with Sound Reduction for Kitchen Sink, Power Cord Included, GXS75C
Kitchen Aid (84211643) KCDB250G 1/2 HP Continuous Feed Garbage Disposal
InSinkErator Badger 5XP
Waste King L-3200
Moen GXS75C
KitchenAid KCDB250G
Motor Size
3/4 HP
3/4 HP
3/4 HP
1/2 HP
RPM
1725
2700
2700
1725
Power Cord Included
Warranty
4-years
8-years
5-years
1-year
InSinkErator Badger 5XP Garbage Disposal with Power Cord, Standard Series 3/4 HP Continuous Feed Food Waste Disposer, Badger 5XP W/C
InSinkErator Badger 5XP
Motor Size
3/4 HP
RPM
1725
Power Cord Included
Warranty
4-years
Waste King 3/4 HP Garbage Disposal with Power Cord, Food Waste Disposer for Kitchen Sink, L-3200
Waste King L-3200
Motor Size
3/4 HP
RPM
2700
Power Cord Included
Warranty
8-years
Moen Host Series 3/4 HP Continuous Feed Garbage Disposal with Sound Reduction for Kitchen Sink, Power Cord Included, GXS75C
Moen GXS75C
Motor Size
3/4 HP
RPM
2700
Power Cord Included
Warranty
5-years
Kitchen Aid (84211643) KCDB250G 1/2 HP Continuous Feed Garbage Disposal
KitchenAid KCDB250G
Motor Size
1/2 HP
RPM
1725
Power Cord Included
Warranty
1-year

Repairman with wrench tightening the flange on a garbage disposal

Garbage Disposal Leaking from Top

If your garbage disposal is leaking from the top, the problem may not be your disposal at all! It could be caused by the sink flange which connects to the mounting ring of your disposal unit.

The flange is the visible part that surrounds the drain hole in the center of your sink. Most flanges are sealed with a clay-like sealant called plumber's putty to prevent leakage. Although, not as common, there are some disposals that use screws to tighten the flange in place.

Over time, the plumber's putty can break down, (or the screws may loosen) and the sink flange is no longer able to make a water tight seal. This can also happen when other plumbing repairs are being done under the sink, as the garbage disposal may be hit or dislodged enough to compromise the seal. 

Plumbing repairs can also be the cause of a disposal unit leaking from the side, as homeowners sometimes forget to disconnect the dishwasher's drain plumbing that connects to the garbage disposal before pulling their dishwasher out for repair.

 

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What to Do When Your Garbage Disposal Leaks from the Sink Flange

Although fixing this problem isn't difficult in theory, it can be a big job, especially if you're not comfortable working with plumbing. In order to make the repairs, you'll need to remove the garbage disposal and re-seal the sink flange with plumber's putty.

We know, it sounds easy, but hiring  a plumbing  professional is the choice many homeowners choose. However, if you're an avid DIY'er and want to save a couple of dollars, here's what you'll need to do:  

  • Loosen the screw that connects the main drain pipe to the disposal; then loosen the metal clamp that secures the dishwasher hose to the disposal.
  • Remove the drain pipe and dishwasher hose from the garbage disposal.
  • Loosen the mounting ring screws (connects the disposal to the mounting assembly under the sink). Now, carefully remove the disposal and place it on a dry surface.
  • Loosen the bolts on the mounting assembly and remove it. Then lift and remove the sink flange from the sink. You may need to use a putty knife to pry it up.
  • Using a putty knife, scrape off the old plumber's putty from the flange and tidy up the area with a damp cloth.
  • Roll a "snake" of plumber's putty between your hands. It should be between an 1/8th to a 1/4 of an inch wide and long enough to line the sink flange. Wrap the putty snake around the top of the flange and place the flange into the drain opening. Gently push until its snug.
  • Follow the instructions above, in the reverse order, to install the mounting assembly and mounting ring. Then, install the garbage disposal, dishwasher hose, and drain pipe.

Repairman tightening clamps on garbage disposal drains

Garbage Disposal Leaking from Side

If your garbage disposal is leaking from the side, the problem is typically either the dishwasher drain or the main drain line. In most cases, this is a relatively easy repair that you can do yourself without calling a plumbing professional.

There are two drain lines that connect to the garbage disposal: A dishwasher drain, and a main drain line. The smaller drain connects the dishwasher drain pipe to the garbage disposal's dishwasher inlet; and the larger drain runs through the wall and connects the appliance to the sewer.

Not all disposal units utilize the dishwasher drain, so if you do not have a dishwasher, you won't need to worry about this problem and you can simply focus on the main drain line.

What to Do When Your Garbage Disposal Leaks from the Side

If you have a screwdriver on hand, you can most likely repair the leak yourself without calling a plumbing professional.

Since the small hose connects to the dishwasher drain, the leak is most likely because the metal clamp isn't secure and water is travelling down the side of the unit. Take your screwdriver and tighen the screw on the clamp. This should secure the hose and will usually stop the leak.

If your dishwasher drain is still leaking, the problem may be a warped or cracked hose fitting. In which case you'll need to replace the hose. Although this isn't difficult, you can always call a plumbing professional or handyman to make the repair.

You may be able to stop the leak on the main drain line hose by tighening the screws on the metal plate that connects the hose to the unit. But if that doesn't work it could be a gasket. 

Behind the metal plate of the drain hose is a rubber gasket. Remove the screws on the metal plate to detach the drain hose, then replace the rubber gasket with a new one. This should repair your leak.

 

Consult with a Local Plumber

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Last update on 2024-03-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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