Garbage Disposal Replacement
Garbage disposal replacement in Kitchener-Waterloo usually runs about $875 plus HST: a quality new unit, under two hours of work, and your old one hauled away.
New Dundee, Wilmot Township, Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph, Milton, Halton Hills, Acton, Rockwood and Georgetown
What it costs
Replacing an existing garbage disposal is a short, tidy job. The unit is most of the cost.
A quality disposal costs $500 to $700. The cheapest ones jam more, are louder and wear out sooner, and the best installation cannot overcome bad components. Swapping one for another usually takes less than two hours and very few new fittings, because the drain, the power and the sink opening are already there.
| What’s in the price | Typical |
|---|---|
| New quality disposal unit | $650 |
| Labour, usually under 2 hours | $225 |
| Total, existing disposal replaced | About $875 |
Plus HST. Units run $500 to $700 depending on the one you pick, so the total moves with it.
Before you call
Most “dead” disposals are just jammed or have tripped their reset. This takes five minutes and costs nothing.
Never put your hand in a disposal, even with the power off. Use tongs or pliers to lift anything out.
That usually means a seized motor or a failed seal. Call 548-255-2662.
Why it happens
We match the fix to the cause, so you don’t pay for a new unit when a reset would do, or keep resetting one that’s finished.
What’s going on: something hard is wedged between the spinning plate and the grinding ring, or the motor bearings have seized.
How we know: we try to turn the plate by hand from below. If it frees up, it was a jam. If it won’t budge, the motor is done.
What we do: clear the jam, or replace the unit.
What’s going on: the built-in overload has tripped, the breaker is off, or the switch or plug has failed.
How we know: we check the reset button, the breaker and whether power reaches the outlet.
What we do: reset it, or tell you plainly if it needs an electrician rather than a plumber.
What’s going on: the seal where the disposal meets the sink has dried out or the mount has loosened.
How we know: we fill the sink and watch the flange with a dry paper towel.
What we do: reseal and retighten the mount. Often no new unit needed.
What’s going on: the drain elbow gasket or the dishwasher hose connection has worked loose or worn out.
How we know: we run the sink, then the dishwasher, and see which one drips.
What we do: replace the gasket or clamp and reconnect it properly.
What’s going on: the seals inside the unit have failed and water is getting past them into the motor housing.
How we know: water drips from the base or the reset button, not from a connection.
What we do: replace the disposal. Inside seals can’t be repaired.
What’s going on: ground food, grease or rice has built up in the trap or the drain line past the disposal.
How we know: we open the trap, and run a camera down the line if it goes further.
What we do: clear the drain. The disposal is often fine. See drain cleaning.
How it works
A disposal has no blades. Think of a salad spinner with a cheese grater for a wall: the spinning plate flings food outward against a rough ring that grinds it fine enough to wash away.
The science in one line: an induction motor drives a turntable with free-swinging impellers; centrifugal force presses waste against a stationary shredder ring, and a thermal overload protector trips when a locked rotor draws too much current.
Repair or replace?
| Usually a fix | Usually time to replace |
|---|---|
| Jammed, frees up with the hex key | Hums and won’t turn, even freed by hand |
| Tripped reset button | Water dripping from the bottom of the unit |
| Leak at the sink seal or a side connection | Rusted body or a loud grinding noise |
| Slow drain past the disposal | Resetting it every week |
A lot of homes around New Dundee and Wilmot Township are on septic. A disposal sends more food solids into the tank, which can mean pumping it more often. Talk to us before adding or upgrading one, and we’ll tell you honestly whether it makes sense for your system.
About $875 for a straight swap, in writing.
Usually under two hours.
Run and tested with water, dishwasher too.
We take it away with us.
Locally owned since 2018
Questions we get asked
About $875 plus HST to replace an existing disposal: around $650 for a quality unit and $225 for the labour. Quality units run $500 to $700, so the total moves with the one you choose. The price is in writing before we start.
Usually less than two hours when it’s replacing an existing unit. The drain, power and sink opening are already there, so it needs very few new fittings.
Often it’s just jammed. Turn off the power, then use the hex key in the bottom of the unit to work the plate back and forth, and press the reset button. If it still hums after that, the motor has likely seized and it’s time to replace it.
On the bottom of the unit, under the sink. It’s a small red or black button. If it won’t stay in, let the motor cool for a few minutes and try again.
Where it drips tells you why. At the top, the seal to the sink has failed and can often be redone. At the side, it’s the drain or dishwasher connection. From the bottom, the seals inside the unit have gone, and the disposal needs replacing.
Jams, a tripped reset and leaks at the connections are usually fixes. A seized motor, a leak from the bottom, a rusted body or a unit you reset every week are signs it’s done. We’ll tell you which it is before you pay for anything. Most disposals last 8 to 15 years.
You can, and we’ll install it. A customer-supplied unit doesn’t carry our warranty, though, because the best installation cannot overcome bad components. When we supply the unit, we guarantee our work for a year.
Grease and oil, bones, fruit pits, eggshells in large amounts, coffee grounds, pasta and rice, and stringy food like celery or corn husks. Glass, metal and anything that isn’t food don’t belong in it at all. Run cold water before, during and after.
The dishwasher drain hose usually connects to the side of the disposal. On a brand-new unit, a small plug inside that inlet has to be knocked out first, or the dishwasher won’t drain. We take care of that and run the dishwasher to check it.
It can be, but it adds food solids to the tank, which can mean pumping it more often. If your home is on septic, talk to us first and we’ll give you an honest answer for your system.
A disposal needs power under the sink, usually a switched outlet. If there isn’t one, that’s electrical work, and you’ll need to have an electrician add it before we install. We’ll tell you before we book.
Yes. If the sink drain, trap or faucet needs work, we can do it on the same visit and price it before we start.
Garbage Disposal Replacement
A straight swap is about $875, done in under two hours. Call 548-255-2662.
CALL US! 548-255-2662
