Garbage disposal repair restores a unit that jams, hums, leaks, or won't run by clearing the flywheel, resetting or rewiring the motor, or replacing worn parts.
A disposal that hums but won't turn is usually a five-minute fix. One that leaks from the body usually isn't. We sort out which is which, clear jams safely, and replace units past saving — sized for how hard your kitchen actually runs. Rentals and busy family kitchens chew through cheap disposals; we'll put in one that lasts.
Disposals here take a beating from two directions. Hard water leaves scale on the grind ring and seals, and the sheer turnover of rentals and vacation homes means units get fed things they shouldn't — fibrous scraps, grease, the occasional bottle cap. A jam or a tripped reset is cheap to fix. A leaking housing or a seized motor on an eight-year-old builder-grade unit usually isn't worth chasing, and we'll tell you when replacement is the smarter spend.
Disposals fail in predictable ways — a jammed flywheel, a tripped reset, a leaking seal, or a motor that only hums. We diagnose the real cause instead of guessing, clear jams safely, and fix or replace the components that are actually failing.
Many kitchens come with a disposal already installed, but if yours is beyond repair or you're upgrading, we install the right horsepower for your household and connect it properly to the drain and dishwasher line so it runs quietly and lasts.
We'll show you what not to put down the unit, how to flush it, and how to keep the connected drain clear — so small habits prevent the next jam and the smells that come with it.
| Repair | Replace | |
|---|---|---|
| Unit age | Under ~5 years | 8+ years |
| Symptom | Jam, hum, tripped reset | Leaking housing, seized motor |
| Cost | Lower | Mid |
| Smart when | Good unit, simple fault | Builder-grade unit, repeat failures |
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Repair / unjam | $90–$200 |
| Replace (1/2–3/4 HP) | $185–$450 |
| Replace (1 HP and up) | $350–$650 |
Ballpark Orlando-area ranges — your exact price depends on the job, and we give a firm, free quote before any work starts.
Our local plumbers are ready 24/7 for problems large and small. Call (407) 555-0123 for fast service and a free, no-obligation quote.
We handle the rest of the house too — water heater repair, fixing a leaky faucet, tankless water heaters — for homeowners in Oviedo and Deltona and across the metro. Not sure what's going on? Start with Express Plumbing Orlando and we'll point you the right way.
A hum with no spin almost always means the flywheel is jammed. Cut the power; the fix is usually freeing it with the hex wrench in the bottom slot, then hitting reset. If it still won't turn, the motor may be done.
It's the small red (sometimes black) button on the bottom of the unit under the sink. If the disposal went dead with no hum, pressing that reset after the motor cools fixes it more often than people expect.
Jams, a tripped reset, or a stuck flywheel are cheap fixes worth doing. A unit that leaks from the body, won't reset, or is over eight years old is usually better replaced — repairs stop being worth it on a worn motor.
Where it leaks tells the story: the top usually means the sink flange seal, the side a loose dishwasher or drain connection, and the bottom a failed internal seal — which means the unit is at the end of its life.
Grease, fibrous things like celery and corn husks, coffee grounds, eggshells, pasta, rice, and bones. In Orlando's hard water especially, grease plus scale builds a clog the disposal can't grind its way out of.
A 1/2 HP unit is fine for light use, 3/4 HP for an average family kitchen, and 1 HP for heavy use or a busy rental. Bigger motors jam less and last longer — worth it if your kitchen runs hard.
Food trapped in the chamber and on the splash guard. Grinding ice and citrus peels helps, but cleaning the baffle is better. A persistent smell can also mean food is stuck in the trap below.
A repair or unjam usually runs $90–$200; a 1/2–3/4 HP replacement $185–$450; and a 1 HP-plus unit $350–$650 installed. We'll tell you honestly which way is the better value.
It can contribute — a clog downstream of the disposal, or food packed into the trap, backs water into both basins. We clear the line and check the disposal so it doesn't just happen again next week.
Our team is available around the clock to better assist you — call now for fast, friendly help.
We cover all of the Orlando, FL area. Here are just a few of the communities we serve every day.