How to replace garbage disposal flywheel seal

HOW TO REPLACE GARBAGE DISPOSAL FLYWHEEL SEAL INSTALL

You should be able to get eight to 15 years of use out ofВ aВ new garbage disposal.

HOW TO REPLACE GARBAGE DISPOSAL FLYWHEEL SEAL INSTALL

Hiring a pro to replace the unit will run you $400 on average, including labor and parts, or you can install a garbage disposal yourself and save anywhere from $90 to $200 in labor costs. RELATED: The Best Garbage Disposals, According toВ Happy Homeowners

In an old garbage disposal, one compromised internal seal is often accompanied by others, so your best bet is to install a new one. These vulnerabilities can cause water from the sink to seep into the shell of the disposal and leak out of the base of the unit.

Leaks from the bottom of the garbage disposal (often from the reset button) commonly indicate that at least one seal on the interior shell of the unit that protects the motor has deteriorated, or that the shell itself has cracked. If the bottom of the unit is leaking, replace the disposal. Replace the gasket and re-tighten the drain pipe screws. If the leak is on the side where the disposal meets the waste drain pipe, loosen the screws that secure the drain pipe to the disposal and inspect the rubber gasket inside the pipe-it may well be worn out. In that case, tighten the screws in the metal clamp with a screwdriver. If you spy a leak on the side of the disposal where the dishwasher hose meets the disposalвЂ™s dishwasher inlet, the problem could be that the metal clamp connecting them is loose. Two drain lines extend from the sides of a garbage disposal: a narrower dishwasher hose that connects the dishwasher drain pipe to your disposalвЂ™s dishwasher inlet, and the main drain pipe that connects your disposal to the sewer through an outlet in the wall. If youВ see that itвЂ™sВ the side of theВ garbage disposal leaking, tighten drain line connections and replace worn gaskets. Re-install the mounting assembly and mounting ring (taking care to securely tightenВ the mounting bolts on the mounting assembly), then re-attach the garbage disposal, drain pipe, and dishwasher hose in the reverse order you detached them. Wrap the rope of putty around the top of the flange like a collar, then insert the flange into the sink drain opening until snug. Now grab a palmful of plumberвЂ™s putty (available at hardware stores, home centers, and online) and roll it into an eighth-inch to quarter-inch-wide вЂњropeвЂќ with a length roughly equal to the circumference of the flange. Use a plastic putty knife to scrape off the old plumberвЂ™s putty around the top of the flange, then wipe off any putty residue with a damp rag. Lift the sink flange from the top of the sink. Loosen the bolts in the mounting assembly with a wrench, then pull down the mounting assembly and set it near the disposal. Loosen the screws in the mounting ring that connects the disposal to the metal mounting assembly beneath the sink, then pull down the disposal and carefully set it on a clean, dry surface. Start by loosening the screws securing the main drain pipe to the disposal, then loosen the screws in the metal clamp securing the dishwasher hose to the disposal and detach the drain pipe and dishwasher hose from theВ disposal. To reseal the leaky flange, you must first detach the garbage disposal. Leaks near the top of the unit are more likely to show themselves while the sink is plugged, while side and bottom leaks are more noticeable while the sink is unplugged.

If a leak isnвЂ™t immediately apparent, remove the sink stopper and pour a few more cups of dyed water down the sink drain, then check for leaks again. Inspect each of these locations while gliding a light-colored rag over the unit the dyed water will readily show on the rag and reveal the location of the leak.

the side, where the dishwasher hose or main drain pipe connects to the disposal.

the top, where the disposal meets the sink drain.

Using a flashlight, examine the unit for escaping colored water, which is likely to come from one of three places: In any handy container, mix a few drops of food coloring into a few cups of water, and pour the dyed water onto the sink stopper to help you locate the leak. Then insert a watertight sink stopper into your sink drain and wipe the unit dry with a clean cloth. Prior to testing the garbage disposal for leaks, unplug it at the wall outlet and turn off the power from the breaker box to prevent electrical shock.

How to replace garbage disposal flywheel seal