Humming but not spinning
A hum means the motor has power but the flywheel is stuck. Usually something is wedged under the blades. We free it, check the motor, and tell you if it will keep running or is on its way out.
Garbage Disposal Repair and Replacement
Garbage Disposal Installation & Repair in Chapel Hill, NC
Disposal humming, jammed, or leaking? We repair what is worth repairing and replace what is not, and we can add a disposal where your sink never had one. We serve Chapel Hill and Carrboro, and you get the price in writing before we start.
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Disposal Problems
Garbage disposal repair and replacement in Chapel Hill
Most garbage disposal repair calls in Chapel Hill fit one of these six. Tell us which one sounds like yours.
Jams and the reset button
Most units have a red reset button on the bottom. If it pops after a jam, pressing it once is fine. If it keeps tripping, the motor is overheating or worn. Do not keep pressing it. Call us and we will check the unit and the power.
Leaks from the flange, body, or dishwasher hose
A leak at the top flange is a failed seal or loose mount and is often fixable. A leak from the dishwasher connection is a hose or clamp. A leak from the body means the unit is done. We find the source before we recommend anything.
Replacing a builder unit
Builder-grade disposals in Southern Village and Meadowmont homes are reaching the age where they jam, run loud, and leak. A planned replacement beats finding the leak after the cabinet is soaked.
Adding a disposal where there was none
Some older Chapel Hill kitchens never had one. A new disposal needs a power connection and a switch, a drain that fits the unit, and a sink opening made for it. We check all three and tell you what it takes before we start.
Rental units and what tenants put down them
Bones, rice, potato peels, grease, and coffee grounds are the usual causes of a jam and a slow drain. In rentals we replace the unit, leave the tenant a short note on what not to put in, and tell the manager what we found.
Clear Answers
Repair or replace: how we decide
- 1
We look at the unit and the sink
We check how it is mounted, where it leaks, the wiring, and how the drain below it flows.
- 2
Repair what is worth repairing
A jam usually means repair. A leaking body means replace. A tripped reset or a dead unit depends on what we find, and we tell you before you decide.
- 3
Written price, then the work
You see the price before we start and approve it before anything happens. We run water through the finished job and check every connection for leaks.
Chapel Hill Kitchens
Disposals in Chapel Hill homes and rentals
Chapel Hill has a large share of rentals, from houses near the UNC campus area to apartments in Carrboro and North Chapel Hill. A disposal in a rental takes more abuse and gets less attention. If you manage rentals, we replace failing units, report what we found, and give you a written price before we start.
Some outlying Orange County homes are on septic rather than town sewer, and a disposal adds food solids to the system. Ask us if you are on septic before you add or replace one. Older homes near campus can also have old drain pipe behind the sink, so a disposal that seems to drain slowly may be a pipe problem. See sink repair in Chapel Hill for the drain side.
You can call or text (919) 679-1275, or book online. Our shop is at 3460 Apex Pkwy in Apex and we work Monday through Saturday, 7:00 to 18:00. For the town overview, see our Chapel Hill plumber page.
Chapel Hill neighborhoods we serve
- Southern Village
- Meadowmont
- Carrboro
- UNC Campus Area
- Eastgate
- Governors Club
- Fearrington
- North Chapel Hill
Commercial Service
Disposals for Franklin Street restaurants, salons, and offices
Business disposals run hard and cannot wait long for a fix. We repair and replace them for Chapel Hill businesses and small multifamily buildings near campus.
Restaurants and cafes
A disposal that fails during service is a problem. We repair or replace the unit and look at the line behind it, since kitchen drains are where grease builds up.
Offices and salons
Break room and service sinks with disposals, scheduled around your hours where we can.
Small multifamily
Replacing failing units across a building, with a written price and a report on what we found in each.
Helpful Details
Garbage disposal questions in Chapel Hill
How much does garbage disposal replacement cost in Chapel Hill?
It depends on the unit, whether we are replacing or adding one, the mount and wiring already there, and whether the sink drain needs work. We give you the price in writing before we start, and nothing is added without your okay.
My disposal hums but does not spin. Do I need a new one?
Not always. A hum means something is jammed under the blades. We free it and test the motor. If it runs and does not jam again, it is a repair. If the motor is worn or it jams again, we say so.
Is it safe to press the reset button?
Turn the switch off first, wait a few minutes for the motor to cool, then press the button once. Never put your hand in the unit. If it trips again, call us.
Can you add a disposal to a kitchen that does not have one?
Yes, if the sink has a disposal-style drain opening and there is a place for the power connection and switch. We tell you what it takes before we start. If you are on septic, ask us first.
Do you do garbage disposal wiring?
Yes. We check the power and switch side of the disposal and connect the new unit. A disposal that is dead even when you press reset is often a power problem, not a motor problem.
What should my tenants not put down the disposal?
Bones, grease, rice, pasta, potato peels, coffee grounds, and fibrous vegetables such as celery. Run cold water while it runs and for a few seconds after. We can leave a short note at the unit.
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