Hum, click, silence or drip: what each symptom means
Start with the sound or the puddle. It narrows the cause faster than anything else.
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Humming, no spin | Jammed flywheel | Power off, then clear the jam |
| Silence and no hum | Tripped reset or no power | Check the reset, outlet and breaker |
| Grinding or rattling | Foreign object in the chamber | Power off, remove it with tongs |
| Water from the bottom | Cracked housing or seal | Replace the unit |
| Water at the top rim | Sink flange seal | Reseal the flange |
| Water at the drain pipe | Loose or worn connection | Tighten or replace the gasket |
| Slow drain with a running disposal | Clog beyond the disposal | Clear the drain line |
Leaking under the sink right now: before we arrive
Turn the disposal off at the wall switch and then at the breaker, because a unit that is wet at the bottom can short. Close the two shutoffs under the sink if the cabinet is filling. Empty the cabinet, put a bucket under the leak and keep power cords up off the floor.
Do not run the disposal again, and never put your hand in the chamber. Call our after-hours line and tell us where the water appears. We offer same-day visits when a slot is open and pick up overnight when the cabinet is flooding.
If the sink also backs up on the other side, the problem may be the drain below the disposal. Our Drain Cleaning page explains what we do for a kitchen line.
Bottom leak versus sink flange leak
Where the water comes from decides whether we repair or replace.
Leak from the bottom of the unit
A crack in the housing or a failed internal seal means the disposal is finished. Repair is rarely worth it.
Leak at the top flange
The putty or gasket under the sink flange has dried or shifted. We reset it and test, and the disposal stays.
Leak at the discharge pipe
The outlet gasket or the trap connection has worn or loosened. This is usually a small repair.
Leak at the dishwasher inlet
The dishwasher hose connection to the disposal has loosened. We tighten or replace the fitting.
Reset and hex-key unjam, with the power off
Many jams clear without a service call. Follow the order, because the power step is not optional.
- 1
Power off
Switch off the wall switch and the breaker, or unplug the unit if it has a cord.
- 2
Look, do not reach
Use a flashlight and long tongs to remove anything you can see. Keep your hands out of the chamber.
- 3
Turn the hex key
Fit the hex key in the socket at the center of the bottom of the disposal and work it back and forth to free the flywheel.
- 4
Press the reset
The red reset button on the bottom pops out after an overload. Press it in once the unit has had a moment to cool.
- 5
Test with water
Restore power, run cold water, then switch on. If it hums again or leaks, stop and call us.
Disposal humming, jammed or dripping?
Cut the power and call (562) 488-9614. We run 24/7 and carry unjam tools and replacement units.
When to replace instead of repair
A disposal with a leak from the body, a motor that trips again after a reset, or a flywheel that binds repeatedly is near the end. The cost of repeated visits can pass the cost of a new unit. We tell you which side your unit is on before we quote.
If you are ready to upgrade, ask about stronger motors and sound insulation. A model that is too small for a busy kitchen will jam sooner, so we match horsepower to how you cook.
What a disposal install covers
A full swap is more than hanging a new unit.
- Disconnect and remove the old disposal and its mounting ring.
- Check the sink flange, replace the seal and reuse the flange only if it is sound.
- Mount the new unit and connect the discharge, trap and dishwasher inlet.
- Confirm the electrical connection is safe, with the power off while we work.
- Run water and test for leaks at every joint before we leave.
If your plan includes a new sink or new fixtures, see Plumbing Installation for related work.
Kitchen drains in older Pico Rivera homes
The Census ACS 2024 median build year for Pico Rivera is 1957, and 86.2 percent of homes were built before 1980. Older kitchens often have older drain lines, so a disposal that clogs again soon after repair may need the line cleared as well. We look at both when you call.
Hard water can leave scale on parts, and the water quality report the city posted for 2023 shows hardness averaging 174.4 mg/L. If you are in Norwalk or nearby, read your own utility's annual water quality report.
What affects the cost of a disposal job
We name the price before anyone picks up a tool.
Standards and sources behind this page
Disposal repairs follow the manufacturer's installation and service instructions for your unit, which also set the electrical and safety steps.
Questions we hear most
Yes. Leaking and dead disposals get a call back at any hour. Switch the unit off at the wall and breaker, then call dispatch.
The flywheel is jammed. Turn the power off and use the hex key at the bottom center to free it, then press the reset. Never reach into the drain.
It is a small red button on the bottom of the unit. If it pops out, let the motor cool and press it in. If it pops again, the unit needs service.
It depends on the source. A leak at the sink flange or the pipe connection is usually repairable. A leak from the bottom of the housing means replacement.
Most swaps are a same-visit job when the unit is in stock and the connections are sound. We confirm the scope when we give you a clear price.
We advise against it. Chemicals can splash and leave unsafe liquid in the sink for the technician. Call us and see Hydro Jetting for the line-clearing options we use.
Get the disposal quiet and dry again
Day or night, get dispatch on the line and describe the sound or the leak. We will tell you repair or replace before we start.