Garbage Disposal Installation & Repair in Fredericksburg, VA
A disposal that hums, leaks or sits silent leaves you with a sink full of dirty water. Robert B. Payne repairs, replaces and installs garbage disposals across Fredericksburg, Stafford and Spotsylvania, and we give you the price before we start.
- Repair, replacement and new installs
- Licensed for plumbing in Virginia
- Upfront pricing
- Written guarantees
See all of our plumbing services. New faucet or sink to go with it? See sink and faucet service.
Common Disposal Problems
Turn off the wall switch and unplug the unit or switch off its breaker before you look inside. Use tongs or pliers to pull out anything stuck, never your fingers.
It hums but won’t spin
Something is jamming the plates, often a fruit pit, bone or utensil. With the power off, many disposals have a hex socket in the center of the bottom. Turning it back and forth with the matching wrench can free the jam. Then press the reset button and try it again. If it still hums, stop running it, because the motor can burn out.
It won’t turn on at all
- Press the red reset button on the bottom of the unit
- Check the breaker in your electrical panel
- Make sure the unit is plugged in, if it has a cord
- If it trips the breaker or reset again, leave it off and call us
Leaks and Smells
| Where the water shows up | Likely cause | Usual fix |
|---|---|---|
| Top, where the unit meets the sink | Loose mounting or failed plumber’s putty at the sink flange | Reseat and reseal the flange |
| Side hose connection | Loose clamp on the dishwasher hose | Tighten or replace the clamp or hose |
| Side drain pipe | Worn gasket on the discharge pipe | Replace the gasket and tighten the connection |
| Bottom of the unit | Cracked or corroded housing | Replace the disposal |
Bad smells usually come from food stuck under the splash guard or caked on the grinding chamber. Run cold water after each use and grind a few ice cubes now and then. If the smell comes back fast or the sink drains slowly, there may be a clog further down the line. See drain cleaning.
Repair or Replace?
Usually worth repairing
- A jam that clears with the hex wrench
- A leak at the flange, hose or drain connection
- A tripped reset button or a wiring issue
Usually time to replace
- Water leaking from the body of the unit
- A motor that hums or trips even after the jam is cleared
- Rust inside the grinding chamber
We’ll tell you which one makes sense and give you prices for both.
Garbage Disposal Installation
Check the setup
We look at the space under your sink, the drain layout, the power supply and any dishwasher connection so the new unit fits and drains the right way.
Remove the old unit
If you’re replacing a disposal, we disconnect the power and plumbing and take the old one out.
Mount and connect
We seal the sink flange, mount the unit, connect the drain and the dishwasher hose and hook up power.
Test for leaks
We run water and the disposal, then check every connection before we leave.
Adding a disposal to a sink that never had one can mean adding an outlet or switch under the sink. We’ll go over what your kitchen needs before we start. If your home is on a septic system, check with your septic professional first, since a disposal sends more solids to the tank.
What Not to Put Down a Disposal
- Grease, oil and fat, even when it’s hot and runny
- Fibrous foods like celery, corn husks and onion skins
- Starchy foods like potato peels, pasta and rice, which turn to paste
- Coffee grounds and eggshells, which settle in the pipes
- Bones, fruit pits and shells
“Stafford County spends over $1.5 million annually to remove FOG from the sewer system.” FOG means fats, oils and grease.
Source: Stafford County UtilitiesGrease cools and hardens in your pipes and in the public sewer. Pour it into a can, let it set and throw it in the trash.
Disposal Service Near You
Recent Five-Star Reviews
I've used Robert B Payne for over 10 years. They have always provided excellent, prompt and professional service.
The technician worked and was knowledgeable. He was efficient and professional. I was pleased with his work. He approached me with solutions. I would recommend him to anyone.
Nathan, our tech was thorough and explained everything in detail. He was prompt and exceeded our expectations. We will be having the work done by your company once the parts come in. Pls contact us once they do and please send home to do the work 😊
Five-star reviews from our Google Business Profile.
Garbage Disposal FAQs
Should I run hot or cold water with my disposal?
Cold. Cold water keeps any fat in the food solid so it can be chopped up and carried away. Hot water melts it, and it hardens again further down the pipe.
Why does my disposal keep tripping its reset button?
The reset button pops when the motor overheats. That can happen from a partial jam, from grinding too much at once or from a motor that’s wearing out. If it trips again after you clear the chamber and feed it smaller amounts, call us to check it.
Can you add a disposal to a kitchen that doesn’t have one?
In most kitchens, yes. It needs room under the sink, a suitable drain setup and a power source. If there’s no outlet or switch under the sink, that has to be added first. We’ll check all of it before you decide.
Can I have a garbage disposal if my home is on a septic system?
Ask your septic professional first. A disposal sends more food solids into the tank, which can mean pumping it more often. They can tell you whether your system can handle it.
Why does Stafford County ask residents to keep grease out of the sink?
Grease builds up in the public sewer, and the County spends over $1.5 million a year removing it. The same page notes that grease build-up inside a building’s own plumbing “can require expensive repairs.”
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Garbage Disposal Service in Fredericksburg
Call Robert B. Payne to fix a jammed or leaking disposal or put in a new one, with the price before we start.
