How to remove an old garbage disposal & replace it with a new one

Replacing your old garbage disposal might feel overwhelming, but don’t worry—you’ve got this! With the proper know-how and a bit of patience, you can handle it like a pro. This guide’s gonna take you through each step to make the installation as easy and safe as possible.

The tips in this article might not match your exact appliance model. We try our best to give useful advice for all sorts of DIY repair jobs, but different models and setups can mean changes in steps, error codes, parts—you name it. For spot-on guidance, it’s a good idea to check your appliance’s manual or hit us up if you’ve got questions.

Getting ready

Before you dive in, making sure you’re safe is key. To avoid any chance of getting zapped, you gotta completely disconnect the disposal from power. If your disposal just plugs into an outlet, go ahead and unplug it. If it’s hardwired:

1. Find your home’s breaker panel.
2. Flip off the circuit breaker that controls the garbage disposal.
3. Double-check with a voltage tester to make sure there’s no juice flowing to the unit.

Grab your gear

Having everything you need upfront saves a ton of hassle. Here’s your list:

• Allen wrench (hex key)
• Big screwdriver
• Tongue-and-groove pliers
• Voltage tester pen
• Buckets and some towels
• Adjustable wrench or pipe wrench
• Work gloves

Taking out the old disposal

First up, you’ll need to disconnect the wires from the old disposal.

1. Find the electrical cover plate under the unit.
2. Use your screwdriver to take off the cover plate.
3. Twist off the wire nuts that connect the disposal wires to your home’s wires.
4. Unhook the ground wire (usually green or bare) from the grounding screw.
5. Remove the strain relief fitting to release the electrical cable.
6. Gently pull the cable out of the disposal.

Detach the dishwasher hose

If you’ve got a dishwasher hooked up to your disposal, you’ll have to disconnect that hose.

1. Find the dishwasher hose attached to the side of the disposal.
2. Loosen the hose clamp with your screwdriver.
3. Carefully slide the hose off the disposal’s fitting.
4. Stick the hose end in a bucket or wrap it with a towel to catch any leftover water.

Remove the drain pipe

Now, you’ll need to take off the drain pipe linking the disposal to your sink’s plumbing.

1. Locate the drain pipe connected to the disposal’s outlet.
2. Put a bucket underneath to catch any spills.
3. Loosen the slip nuts on the pipe fittings using pliers or a wrench.
4. Gently remove the drain pipe and let the water drain out.

Taking the disposal off the sink

Now that the pipes are unhooked, it’s time to remove the disposal itself.

1. Stick a screwdriver or the special wrench (sometimes comes with the unit) into one of the lugs on the mounting ring.
2. Twist the ring counterclockwise to loosen it up.
3. Hold the disposal from underneath while you turn the ring so it doesn’t drop.
4. Once it’s loose, lower the disposal and put it aside.
5. Pro tip: Putting a sturdy box or some thick books under the disposal can help hold its weight while you’re working.

Getting the new disposal set up

If you’re using a dishwasher:

1. Find the dishwasher knockout plug on the side of the disposal.
2. Gently tap out the plug with a screwdriver and hammer.
3. Make sure to fish out the plug piece from inside the disposal.
4. If you don’t have a dishwasher, leave the plug where it is.

Hanging the new disposal

Time to attach the new unit to the sink.

1. Hoist the disposal up and line up the upper mounting ring with the mount on the sink drain.
2. Hold the disposal from below.
3. Spin the mounting ring clockwise to lock it into place until it’s snug.
4. Use the wrench or screwdriver to tighten the mounting screws evenly all around.
5. Make sure everything’s lined up right and the disposal is firmly attached.

Hooking up the drain pipe again

Now that the disposal’s in place, let’s reconnect the pipes.

1. Put the drain pipe back on the disposal’s outlet.
2. Line everything up and slide the slip nuts back on.
3. Tighten the slip nuts with your pliers or wrench—not too tight, though.
4. Check all the connections to make sure they’re snug and leak-free.

Reattaching the dishwasher hose

If you’ve got a dishwasher, now’s the time to hook that hose back up.

1. Slide the dishwasher hose onto the inlet on the disposal.
2. Tighten up the hose clamp with your screwdriver.
3. Make sure the hose is on there good and isn’t twisted or kinked.

Wiring up the disposal

It’s time to connect the new disposal to the power.

1. Run the electrical cable through the strain relief fitting on the disposal.
2. Tighten the fitting to hold the cable in place.
3. Connect the black (hot) wire from your house to the black wire on the disposal.
4. Connect the white (neutral) wire from your house to the white wire on the disposal.
5. Attach the ground wire to the green grounding screw on the disposal.
6. Twist on the wire nuts to secure all the connections.
7. Put the electrical cover plate back on.

Testing it out

Before you turn the power back on, you need to make sure nothing’s leaking.

1. Run some water into the sink and look underneath for any drips around the pipes and hoses.
2. If you spot any leaks, tighten up the connections as needed.
3. Plug the disposal back in or flip the circuit breaker back on.
4. Turn on the cold water tap.
5. Flip the switch to start the disposal.
6. Listen to make sure it’s running smoothly—no weird noises.
7. Try grinding up some small food scraps to make sure everything’s working right.

Wrapping up

And that’s it! You’ve swapped out your old garbage disposal for a shiny new one. Not only did you save some cash by DIY-ing it, but you’ve also picked up some handy skills along the way.

If you’re looking for more appliance repair tips or need top-notch replacement parts, swing by AppliancePartsPros.com. We’ve got your back with expert advice and authentic parts for whatever you need.

Stay in the loop with us on social media for up-to-date info and DIY how-tos:

Give us a follow on Facebook and Twitter. Got questions or need some extra help? Don’t be shy—reach out to us anytime. We’re here for you!