No one likes washing the dishes after an evening of cooking. But discovering a leak underneath your garbage disposal can downright ruin your night. A leaking garbage disposal is common, but that doesn’t make it any less unpleasant to deal with. Below are five common reasons why your garbage disposal is leaking and how to restore it back to working condition.
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Why Is My Garbage Disposal Leaking From the Bottom?
Your garbage disposal is one of the best tools you can use to clean up a weeknight dinner fast. However, garbage disposals are not immune to leaks. Garbage disposals can leak due to several factors like broken seals and old connections—and fortunately, these causes are easy to spot.
How To Locate and Fix a Garbage Disposal Leak
Locating a garbage disposal leak is fairly straightforward. All you’ll need is a flashlight to check the pipes, drain lines, and seams underneath your sink. Below are the five most common issues that cause garbage disposal leaks.
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Broken Seal
Do you see any water leaking from your gasket? It’s probably time to replace it. Your garbage disposal is sealed into place by a rubber gasket. Over time, this gasket will wear and tear and eventually will need to be replaced by a professional.
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Cracks
Cracks can develop on your garbage disposal due to regular use or heavy impact on the unit. If you spot cracks in your garbage disposal, then the best solution is to get your unit repaired or replaced.
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Dishwasher Hose
Garbage disposal drains are usually connected to an existing drain line, like your dishwasher hose. This drain line could leak due to average wear and tear, but it’s also possible that debris is clogged in the garbage disposal drain.
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Sink Flange
More often than not, your garbage disposal will leak due to a bad seal or sink flange. Any room between connections should be tightened. If all connections are securely fastened, then too much garbage might be sitting in your garbage disposal’s main drain line.
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Reset Button
You can usually find a reset button on your garbage disposal flange. This button is used to stop the garbage disposal if it starts to shudder or if something gets stuck. Water can start leaking out of the reset button area if too much debris has been lodged under it.
Will a Clogged Garbage Disposal Leak?
Clogged garbage disposals block water flow from flowing freely through the lines. Overloading your garbage disposal with items like eggshells, coffee grounds, and chicken bones can either clog or damage your unit. Since water won’t be able to run efficiently through the lines, a leak can spring at any point.
Idaho Appliance Water Leak Restoration Services
If your garbage disposal is leaking and you need professional help, Cleanup & Total Restoration is your best solution. Our certified technicians can handle appliance leaks regardless of how minor the issue is. From garbage disposals to dishwashers, the CTR team will handle your water leak emergencies seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
Let us help restore your peace of mind—give our team a call or contact us online.
