Garbage Disposal in Apex, NC

A garbage disposal that hums but doesn't spin has a jammed flywheel. Something is stuck between the impellers and the shredder ring, and the motor is trying to turn but can't. The good news: this is usually fixable without replacing the unit. The bad news: if you leave it humming, the motor will overheat and burn out, turning a $150 repair into a $350+ replacement.

Here's what to do before you call anyone. First, turn the disposal off. Then look under the unit for a small hex socket (usually 1/4 inch) on the bottom center. Insert an Allen wrench and turn it back and forth to manually rotate the flywheel and free whatever is jammed. If that works, press the red reset button on the bottom of the unit, run cold water, and flip it on. About half the time, that clears the jam.

If the Allen wrench trick doesn't work, or if the disposal won't turn on at all (no hum, no sound), the problem is different and you'll want a plumber to take a look.

Disposal Problems and What They Mean

The humming-but-not-spinning jam is the most common call we get, but disposals fail in other ways too.

Disposal leaks from the bottom. This means the internal seal has failed. On units older than 8 years, replacement makes more sense than seal repair. The labor cost is similar, and a new unit comes with a fresh warranty.

Disposal drains slowly or backs up into the other sink. The issue is usually downstream, not the disposal itself. The drain line or P-trap is partially clogged with grease and food buildup. Our techs clear the line and check whether the disposal's discharge is contributing to the problem.

Disposal makes grinding metal-on-metal sounds. The impellers are loose or the shredder ring is damaged. This is a replacement situation. Running a disposal in this condition chews up the internal components and can send metal fragments into your drain line.

Disposal trips the reset button repeatedly. The motor is overheating, which means it's either failing, jammed frequently, or undersized for how you're using it. A 1/3 HP disposal (common in builder-grade installs) struggles with anything beyond soft food waste.

Disposal smells terrible even after cleaning. Bacteria builds up in the splash guard and under the impellers. We can deep clean it, but if the rubber splash guard is deteriorating, replacing it eliminates the problem.

When Repair Makes Sense vs. Replacement

Disposals aren't expensive appliances, which changes the repair-vs-replace math. A basic unit runs $150-$250 installed. A quality 3/4 HP model with better grinding, noise insulation, and a longer warranty runs $300-$450 installed.

Repair makes sense when the unit is under 6 years old, the problem is a jam or a simple electrical issue (reset button, switch), and the motor still runs strong.

Replacement makes sense when the unit is over 8 years old, it's leaking from the body, making metal sounds, or you're calling about it more than once a year. Also worth replacing if you have a builder-grade 1/3 HP unit and want something that actually handles daily kitchen use.

The Triangle Replacement Timeline

Most homes in this area have garbage disposals, and they typically last 8-12 years. If your home in Apex or Cary was built during the 2000s housing boom, your original disposal is now pushing 20 years or already past its lifespan. We see a steady stream of disposal replacements from homes in that era. The builder-grade units from that period were entry-level to begin with, and two decades of daily use takes its toll.

What Happens During a Service Call

When you schedule a disposal service with Element Service Group, you get a free plumbing inspection with your visit, an $89 value. Our tech looks at the disposal, the drain connections, the supply lines under your sink, and the sink condition. If it's a jam, we clear it and test the unit. If it's a replacement, we give you options and pricing on the spot. We carry common disposal models on our trucks for same-day replacement.

We connect the new unit to your existing drain and dishwasher line (if applicable), test for leaks, and clean up. Most disposal replacements take about an hour.

A Few Things Your Disposal Can't Handle

Even a good disposal has limits. Bones, fruit pits, corn husks, celery, and potato peels cause the most jams we see. Grease is the worst offender for drain problems downstream of the disposal. It goes down liquid and solidifies in the pipes. Run cold water for 15-20 seconds after each use, and toss fibrous or starchy scraps in the trash instead.

Element Service Group is veteran-owned with over 700 five-star reviews from Triangle homeowners. Same-day service for disposal repair or replacement, upfront pricing, and no surprises on the invoice.