Humming, but nothing spins
A disposal that hums and does not turn is jammed. We clear the blades, test the motor, and find out why it locked up. Most of the time that is a repair, not a new unit.
Residential and Commercial Disposal Service
Garbage Disposal Installation & Repair in Durham, NC
Garbage disposal jammed, leaking, or no longer worth keeping? We repair, replace, and install disposals in Durham homes and businesses. We tell you whether it is a repair or a replacement, and you get the price before we start.
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Disposal Problems
Garbage disposal repair and replacement in Durham
Six situations cover most of our disposal calls in Durham. Match yours and you will know what to expect.
Water under the sink from the unit itself
If water drips from the bottom or sides of the body, a seal inside has failed and the disposal has to be replaced. Water at the top flange or the drain connection is a different leak, and we find which one you have before recommending anything.
Jammed with a spoon, a bone, or a fruit pit
A jam is the most fixable disposal problem there is. We free it and check the blades and the housing for damage. If the unit is sound, you keep it.
Tripped reset, dead unit, or wiring trouble
When the reset keeps tripping or the unit has no power, the cause may be the motor, the switch, or the wiring. Older Durham homes sometimes have a disposal wired in a way that no longer fits the unit. We check the electrical side and tell you what is wrong.
Replacing a builder-grade or worn-out unit
Durham has everything from older neighborhoods to newer townhomes, and plenty of them have an old or entry-level disposal on its last legs. We pull it out, check the mounting and drain connections, and fit a new one that matches your sink.
Adding a disposal, or a disposal plus a slow kitchen drain
A first-time disposal needs power, a switch, and a sink drain that fits. If the kitchen drain is also slow, especially in an older home with aging drain pipe, the line may be the real problem. We check it as part of the job.
Clear Answers
Repair or replace: the straight answer
- 1
We diagnose before we quote
We look at the unit, the mount, the wiring, and the drain. Where the water or the failure is coming from decides the rest.
- 2
Repair a jam, replace a leaking body
A jam usually means repair. A leak from the body means replace. Electrical or reset problems depend on what we find, and we explain it before you commit to anything.
- 3
Price first, then a leak test
You see the price before we start and approve it before work begins. When we finish, we run water and check every connection before we leave.
Durham Kitchens
Disposals in Durham homes
Durham's housing runs from older neighborhoods like Forest Hills, Hope Valley, and North Durham, to newer development in Southpoint and Woodcroft, and the disposals follow the age of the house. In an older home, the disposal is often only part of the story: the kitchen drain may be cast iron or galvanized pipe, and a new disposal that stirs up a scaled-over line can expose a drain that was already marginal. We look at the pipe under the sink before we promise anything. Our drain cleaning page covers what we do about the line.
Durham also has outlying addresses beyond the city sewer, where homes are on septic. A disposal and a septic system do not mix well, because the ground food adds solids to the tank. If you are on septic, tell us up front and we will talk through whether a disposal is worth adding, or whether replacing a failed one makes sense. Town sewer homes do not have this concern.
We work Monday through Saturday, 7:00 to 18:00, from our shop at 3460 Apex Pkwy in Apex. Call, text, or book online and we will tell you when we can be there. For the rest of your plumbing, see our Durham plumber page.
Durham neighborhoods we serve
- Southpoint
- Hope Valley
- Forest Hills
- Downtown Durham
- Brightleaf
- North Durham
- SW Durham
- Woodcroft
Commercial Service
Commercial disposal service in Durham
We service disposals for Durham businesses as well as homes. Breakdowns in a working kitchen cost money, so we plan the visit around your hours where we can.
Office break rooms
Shared sinks take a lot of use and little care. We repair or replace the disposal and check the drain, and we can work around your schedule.
Small restaurants and cafes
A disposal that quits in the middle of a shift is urgent. We repair or replace the unit and look at the kitchen drain behind it, where grease collects.
Property managers
Tenant units, repeat calls, and aging disposals add up. We replace failing units, tell you what we found, and keep the work consistent across your properties.
Helpful Details
Garbage disposal questions in Durham
What does it cost to replace a garbage disposal in Durham?
That depends on the unit, whether the mounting and wiring can be reused, whether the sink drain needs work, and how easy the cabinet is to work in. We give you the price before we start, you approve it, and nothing is added without your okay.
Can I have a garbage disposal if my Durham home is on septic?
It is possible, but a disposal adds solids to the tank and can mean more frequent pumping. Check with whoever services your tank, and tell us before an install. If you have a disposal already, we can repair or replace it.
Do you handle disposal wiring?
Yes. We check the switch and the power connection to the unit when a disposal is dead or keeps tripping, and we wire the unit when we install it. If the problem turns out to be something beyond that, we say so.
What size disposal is right for my kitchen?
Horsepower runs from about one-third to one. A larger motor handles tough scraps better and runs smoother. A bigger unit also takes more under-sink room, and we check the fit before we order or install anything.
How long does a garbage disposal last?
Typically 8 to 15 years. A leak from the body ends the life of any unit, no matter its age, because the internal seal cannot be repaired.
Can you reuse my old mounting assembly and drain connection?
If the mount matches the new unit and is in good shape, we can. In older Durham homes, the mount and the drain fittings are often worn, so we check them and usually replace what is tired. We tell you which applies before we start.
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