Garbage Disposal Not Working? We Fix and Replace Garbage Disposals
At Coastal Rooter, we provide garbage disposal repair and replacement in Chula Vista and San Diego. Whether your unit is jammed, leaking, or completely dead, our licensed plumbers diagnose the issue fast and give you one of two outcomes: it’s fixed, or it’s replaced. No wasted time. No guessing games.
Here’s the truth: a garbage disposal isn’t designed to last forever. Average lifespan? Around 8–12 years. Sometimes longer if it’s maintained properly, sometimes shorter if it’s been used as a trash can. So if your disposal isn’t working, you’re facing one of three things: a minor jam, a mechanical failure, or a full replacement. Let’s break it down.
Signs Your Garbage Disposal Needs Repair
If your garbage disposal isn’t working right, it will usually show symptoms before it dies completely. Here are the most common ones we see in homes across Chula Vista:
- Humming but not grinding: The motor runs, but blades don’t move. Likely a jam or failing flywheel.
- Leaks under the sink: Seals, gaskets, or cracks in the housing can cause under-sink water damage.
- Frequent resets: If you’re always pressing the reset button, the motor may be failing.
- Slow draining: Could be food buildup in the drain line or improper flushing.
- No power at all: Electrical issue or total motor burnout.
Each of these points to either a quick fix or a failing unit. A humming disposal with a jam? Easy repair. A cracked housing leaking water under your cabinets? That’s replacement territory.
When Repair Makes Sense
Not every broken disposal needs to be replaced. If your unit is fairly new and the issue is simple—like a jammed impeller, a stuck flywheel, or a tripped breaker—repair is a smart choice. Our team clears jams, tightens connections, and resets units safely.
We also handle electrical troubleshooting. Sometimes the disposal isn’t the problem—it’s the switch or wiring. We eliminate the guesswork and make sure the fix is permanent.
When Replacement Is the Better Option
If your garbage disposal is more than 10 years old, replacement often makes more sense than repair. Why? Because spending money to repair worn-out motors, cracked housings, or rusted chambers is just throwing good money after bad.
Replacement is also the smart move if:
- The unit leaks from multiple spots.
- Blades are dull and grinding efficiency is gone.
- The motor constantly trips the reset button.
- It clogs more than it grinds.
Installing a new disposal gives you a fresh start, better grinding power, and often a quieter system. We install both standard and high-powered disposals, depending on your kitchen’s needs.
How We Fix and Replace Garbage Disposals
Here’s how Coastal Rooter handles a garbage disposal service call in Chula Vista or San Diego:
- Diagnose the issue – We test power, look for jams, and inspect for leaks.
- Give you the options – We tell you straight: repair or replace. No upselling if repair makes sense.
- Do the work on the spot – Our trucks are stocked with tools and common disposal units, so we can repair or install immediately.
- Test and clean up – We run water, grind food, check for leaks, and leave your kitchen cleaner than we found it.
It’s fast, efficient, and designed to save you time.
Preventing Future Garbage Disposal Problems
A big part of our work is not just fixing the current problem—it’s helping you avoid the next one. Most garbage disposal failures come down to misuse. Homeowners put the wrong things down the drain, overload the system, or don’t flush enough water.
Here’s the quick list of what not to put in a garbage disposal:
- Grease, oil, and fat
- Coffee grounds
- Eggshells
- Pasta, rice, or starchy foods that expand
- Bones, fruit pits, or shells
- Stringy vegetables like celery or corn husks
Instead, run cold water when using the disposal, cut large scraps into smaller pieces, and keep it running a few extra seconds after the grinding stops. That’s how you get the full lifespan out of your unit.
Why Choose Coastal Rooter for Garbage Disposal Repair and Replacement
You can try the DIY route with YouTube videos. But here’s the problem: garbage disposals combine electricity, water, and sharp blades. Not a safe mix. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you can injure yourself or flood your kitchen.
Our plumbers bring experience, tools, and parts to every call. We don’t waste time. We don’t leave you guessing. We simply solve the problem. And because we’re local to Chula Vista and San Diego, we know the plumbing systems in these homes inside and out.
That means faster service, more accurate repairs, and installations that last.
Get the Help You Need from Coastal Rooter
If your garbage disposal isn’t working in Chula Vista or San Diego, stop fighting with it. Call Coastal Rooter. We’ll diagnose it, fix it if possible, or replace it on the spot if that’s the smarter move.
No stress. No mess. Just a working kitchen disposal that you can rely on.
Call Coastal Rooter today for garbage disposal repair and replacement you can trust.
