While a garbage disposal is a much-needed gadget in the house, it does come with a few inconveniencing issues. One problem is often leaking and although it may start as a single drop of water, if you don’t attend to it, then it starts flooding the under sink.
This usually is frustrating because now you will have to clean the under sink area every time you wash the utensils.
Luckily you don’t always have to call the plumber to solve the issue for you. You can fix the problem yourself.
Why Does My Garbage Disposal Leak?
Before we go deep into the parts of the disposal that you expect to leak, you need to know why it leaks.
Broken seal
One of the reasons why it could leak is that you have a broken seal. This will show when it starts to leak from the bottom of the disposer. The easiest method to fix this issue is in taking it apart and replacing the seal with a new seal.
The drain lines
Sometimes, the leakage is on the side of the body; this is mostly because the drains are loose. The modern disposer allows you to connect the dishwasher to the garbage disposal. It gets rid of the waste from the dishwasher to grind any food particles.
Sometimes, you will find that the connecting drain line is loose. When this happens, it begins to leak, and you can fix it by tightening the connection.
The sink flange
This is the part that connects the disposal to the sink drain. This connection may loosen over time, and if it does, then leaking is inevitable. It’s further the most popular reason for the leakages. It’s easy to fix it as you mostly need to use the plumber’s putty.
Is it old?
If the disposer has served you for more than eight years, it may begin to leak in most parts. That is often an indication that it’s on its way out too. You will further know that it’s old if you can see the wet spot on different parts of the disposer.
Sometimes, it leaks because you knocked it while keeping other items under the sink. If it’s not in place, it will get water leaking. The only thing you need is the plumber’s putty to fix the problem.
So How Do You Identify the Leaks?
Without identifying the leaks, you won’t correct it as you would wish to. Here’s how to find the leakage.
As usually, your safety is paramount so before you start troubleshooting the problem, unplug the disposal. This will keep it off power.
Make sure the area under the sink is dry, and the garbage disposal is dry. Once they are dry then you can give it a few minutes without using it to go and see where the leak is.
Before you go looking for the leakage, you should know the anatomy of the garbage disposal. To summarize it for you, go down, and under the sink then you will notice that the disposal unit is connected to the under sink using the sink flange.
Begin by putting some water in the sink, then go down to check as it goes on flowing into the garbage disposal.
Check the underside of the sink. If you notice there’s some water flowing, there’s a leakage. It should show you that the sink flange is the one leaking. It’s highly likely that the plumber’s putty has started deteriorating.
Sometimes the draining goes on dry past the sink flange. If that happens, check the other parts. The two drainage lines on the side connect to the dishwasher and the waste line.
Check the two drainage lines to see if there’s some water coming out of the connection joints. Often, it’s because the hose has started to deteriorate. Sometimes though the lines aren’t tightly secured.
Often it means that the rubber gasket that will connect drain lines to the disposer is fading. Lastly, sometimes the water may leak from the body of the disposer body. This often means that the body has cracks and therefore you should discard it as it has gotten faulty.
A good indication of the leaks is the moisture. You can take a look at the whole disposal and if you notice the leakages, turn off the breakers to start attending to it.
Garbage Disposal Leaking from Bottom
It’s one of the most common of the leak types, but it often means that the garbage disposal body is the one leaking. When this happens, you will most likely need to buy a new disposal. The seals on the sides of the wall and the seal on the inner part of the disposer has worn out.
The seal on the inside protects the motor, and when it starts to break down, even the motor will not perform its task smoothly. The disposer will last for at least seven years, but after that, it begins to fail slowly.
The easiest way to fix the problem is in buying a new garbage disposal. However, if you were not ready to make the purchase, you can take the disposer apart and fix the seal. Remember though that this is a temporary fix.
Insinkerator Badger 1 leaking from bottom
Although we advise that when the disposer is leaking from the side, you should buy a new one, you can temporarily replace the seal.
To work on this: turn off the power completely. Moreover, go on to find the electrical connection at the bottom of the badger 1. Loosen the connection by unscrewing them.
There will be the metal clip which holds the dishwasher to the disposer; we need you to loosen the metal clip. This will remove the drain line connection. Next, unscrew the waste drain line too. You will find it on the faceplate and once you unscrew it, pull it out.
Finish by unscrewing the badger from the top mount too and then loosen off the screws that are on the sides. Now this means that the disposer has no power connection.
Locate the plastic at the bottom of the badger and pull it our as you set it aside. Next go inside the disposer, and you will see the seal. It’s thick and circular. Get a hold of it and remove it from the disposal. Now you can buy a new similar seal.
Once you buy it, come and replace it in the same position it was. Finish off by reinstalling the disposer. You can then plug it in to check if you got rid of the leak.
Insinkerator Badger 1 leaking
Like other garbage disposals, it will leak in different parts. To work on it, you should know which part of the badger is leaking first. Thus, you can use an effortless technique below.
Use your hands to identify the leak. Move your hands around the disposal and if you reach a moist part, chances that that’s the leaking part. Check around the waste line area, and if it’s connected to the dishwasher, check the line as well.
Once you identify that the side is leaking, for example, disconnect the line from the disposer. The disconnection is easy as you loosen the screw on the metal ring and then pull the fasteners off.
To fix the problem, wrap the leaking drain line with the plumber’s tape. That’s just enough so you can reattach it to the disposal. Go on to test for the leak’s ones more.
Garbage Disposal Leaking from The Top
There are instances when the disposer leaks from the top. This is the easiest to fix and most times you don’t need a new one repair it. It will mean that it’s leaking from the sink flange which is the connection between the sink and the disposer.
The seal it has at the top will destroy or even loosen after serving you for a few years. You will find it in the sink drain, but it’s attached there using the plumber’s putty. I like that this makes it easy for you as you can stop the leakage using the plumber’s putty.
Here‘s the process of fixing it
First method
In the first option, you don’t need to remove the disposal altogether. Just loosen the bolts to make a gap between the sink and the disposer. Now go on to force the putty to fit between the pipes and flange.
Finish off by retightening those bolts the same way they were initially. That will keep the putty in place and consider that the procedure may or may not work. If it doesn’t work, go for method two below.
Method 2
Ensure the garbage disposal is off the power.
Loosen the bolts to loosen the disposer from under the sink. Remove the top flange through the sink and use the wrench to finish off the disconnections.
Now get rid of the old putty then place the new putty. Follow through by resealing the sink flange in place too. Finish off by reinstalling the disposer and testing it. It should work now.
The gasket leaking
Sometimes the top of the disposer leaks because of the leaking gasket (top rim where you can mount the flange).
Why does the gasket leak?
- Like any other leak above, the gasket may leak because its old now.
- Sometimes it may be because you don’t use it so it dries up.
- If you re-attach the disposer, you could have the same issue where you didn’t seal it properly.
- Sometimes you don’t lock it in all sides, and thus the leaks are formed.
The good thing is that you can easily replace it.
Disconnect the drain then unplug the cord that goes to your garbage disposal. You should also disconnect the dishwasher drain line and the waste line.
Now go on to unlock the garbage disposal as you have previously done. You should twist it counterclockwise after you get a hold of the mounting nuts and that will loosen it. Set it aside so that you can see the disposer.
In this case, you will need to replace the gasket. So, you can remove the old one and replace it with a new one. Remember to let it pop on to the lips. Also, keep it flat and then you can install the garbage disposal in place again.
This time though make sure the three mounting bolts are nicely secured. Go on to reconnect all the drain line and keep it ready to work again.
Garbage Disposal Leaking Sides
This leakage is often from the drain lines. The modern disposers, unlike the ancient ones, today have a connection to the dishwasher, and this could very easily cause the leakage. You could also find the drain being from the waste line.
You should know where the leak is. You will notice a narrow line, and that’s the one connecting to the dishwasher while the larger one connects it to the sewer line.
If the waste drain line is the cause of the leak, you should check to find out if maybe the clamp is loose. If it’s loose, you will need to tighten it to place. Also, confirm that the gasket in here is still in good condition. If it’s deteriorating you should replace it.
Sometimes though the line may be wearing out, if this is the case, you can purchase a new drain line to attach.
The same applies to the dishwasher. If your hose clamp is loose, tighten it. Check for any cracks as well and if you notice cracks, buy a new hose and install.
Finally
Since you will have dedicated your time for the repair you should confirm that you reattached everything right. Run the water to verify that the disposer isn’t leaking anymore. This will allow you to correct some of the spots that you didn’t seal.
Preventing Future Leaks
The only way to keep your disposer lasting long is by preventing leakages clogs and jams. You can do that by using it for the right reasons.
Grind only the soft foods, never hard ones.
Run enough water before, during, and after grinding the food waste.
Lastly, check the disposer frequently to spot any problems it may have earlier on. You can inspect it once in a week or two.
With the short guide, I hope you can handle some of the minor leaks the disposal develops. Thus, only call the plumber when the need arises.