Trusted Garbage Disposal Repair & Installation in Matteson, IL
When your garbage disposal fails, it can throw off your whole evening, especially with the Chicago winter chill setting in and a sink full of scraps. Whether it’s stuck, leaking underneath, refuses to start, or sounds like rocks spinning inside, our crew usually gets it fixed the same day.
Give us a ring at 708-734-5822 and we’ll size up the situation honestly — is a repair the best choice, or is replacement more practical? Age, symptoms, and repair costs factor in here. For example, a disposal older than ten years with a burnt motor usually means swapping it out makes better sense. If it’s a simple jam causing the trouble, we’ll clear it fast and get you back to normal. We’ll always be upfront with pricing before any work begins.
If your drain is sluggish or full of buildup beneath the sink, we offer professional drain cleaning to clear those blockages. Planning a fresh look in your kitchen? Our kitchen remodeling and faucet & fixture installation teams can coordinate the disposal work to fit your upgrade.
Our Garbage Disposal Services in Matteson
Garbage Disposal Repairs
We tackle the typical garbage disposal headaches: grinding plate jams (motor hums but blades don’t move — try the hex wrench on bottom first, but if that fails or jams come back, give us a call); reset buttons that won’t hold; leaks around the sink flange due to worn seals or loose mounting; leaks at the outlet or dishwasher line; torn splash guards; and disposals that run but don't grind well because of worn parts.
Before recommending replacements, we diagnose what’s wrong. Many fixes aren’t expensive. If repair is the best route, we’ll get it done. But when your unit’s age or damage suggests a new disposal is smarter financially, we’ll explain your options clearly and provide price comparisons. We service InSinkErator, Waste King (Moen), GE, KitchenAid, and others.
Garbage Disposal Replacement
When your disposal is over a decade old, leaking from the body, or has a fried motor, replacing it is the way to go. We take out the old unit, inspect the sink’s drain opening and the mounting hardware, swap out corroded parts, and install your new disposal. We connect the dishwasher drain if you have one, ensure electrical connections are solid, and fully test everything before we leave.
Picking the right horsepower matters: 1/2 HP fits most homes just fine. 3/4 HP is better for busy kitchens, reducing jams and pushing through tougher scraps. The 1 HP units suit large families or heavy use, and often run quieter since they’re not working as hard. Sound dampening options are popular in open layouts. We’ll cover all these details during your service visit.
New Garbage Disposal Installations
Adding a disposal to a sink that doesn’t have one yet requires more than just swapping parts. We’ll modify the drain hole to fit the mounting ring, coordinate any electrical needs like outlets or switches (usually electrician work), connect the dishwasher drain if needed, and make sure the discharge line fits correctly. Our plumbers handle the plumbing side and let you know upfront if any electrical upgrades are necessary.
Clearing Disposal-Related Drain Clogs
If your kitchen sink drains slow or backs up when the disposal runs, the problem might be downstream — clogged P-traps or drain pipes from grease and food buildup. We snake those drains to remove blockages and inspect the dishwasher connection while we’re at it. Sometimes the disposal and drain together cause issues, so we fix both if needed.
Warning Signs Your Garbage Disposal Needs Attention
- Motor hums but blades won’t spin (jammed)
- No sound or movement when switched on
- Unusual grinding, screeching, or rattling noises
- Leaks coming from the bottom housing
- Water leaking at the sink flange or drain outlet
- Slow draining or backup in the kitchen sink
- Reset button trips repeatedly
- Lingering odors that don’t go away after cleaning
- Unit is older than 10 years
Items to Keep Out of Your Garbage Disposal
- Grease, oil, and fats — they solidify and cause clogs down the line
- Stringy or fibrous foods — like celery stalks, corn husks, onion skins, or artichokes
- Bulk starchy foods — pasta, rice, and potato peels swell and clog pipes
- Bones and fruit pits — these can dull or break grinding parts
- Eggshells — their membrane can wrap around the motor shaft
- Coffee grounds in large amounts — buildup forms paste that clogs drains
- Always run cold water before, during, and for 15 seconds after using your disposal
The cost depends on whether you need a repair, replacement, or new install; the brand and power of the unit; if electrical work is required; and any draining issues that need fixing. Repairs typically run $75–$200. Replacements labor usually falls between $150–$350. Disposal models vary widely in price. All estimates here are ballpark figures. Give us a call at 708-734-5822 for a clear, no-surprise quote.
Garbage Disposal FAQs
Usually, that humming means the motor is powered but the grinding plate is stuck. First, turn off the switch. Then find the hex socket at the bottom center of the unit and use an Allen wrench to manually turn the plate back and forth to free it. Never use your hands inside the unit; use tongs to remove any stuck debris. If this doesn’t solve the problem or it keeps happening, call us at 708-734-5822.
If your disposal is relatively new (under 5 or 6 years) and the issue is something fixable like a jam or a faulty switch, repairing is usually the better option. But if it’s more than 10 years old, has a burned-out motor, or leaks from the housing, replacing it often saves money and hassle. We’ll lay out your options with costs so you can decide what works best.
Most disposals run anywhere from 8 to 15 years, depending on brand, frequency of use, and what you feed them. Units that endure a lot of fibrous or starchy food waste, or experience frequent jams, tend to wear out sooner. InSinkErator and Waste King are the most common brands here and offer dependable models across price points.
Yes, we can add a disposal to most kitchen sinks that don’t already have one. This requires modifying the sink drain to fit the mounting flange and installing an electrical outlet or switch nearby, which usually means an electrician’s help. We handle all the plumbing and coordinate the electrical requirements, providing a full quote upfront. Many homeowners in Matteson choose this during kitchen renovations (kitchen remodeling).