Licensed & insuredAvg. response 45 minutes★★★★★4.9 from 300+ local jobs
A garbage disposal that stops working is more than an inconvenience. You can't rinse food waste, the sink backs up, and the smell sets in fast. Santa Cruz Plumbing Pros repairs disposals in kitchens across Downtown, the Westside, Capitola, Watsonville, and the surrounding area. We show up in about 45 minutes, diagnose what's wrong on the spot, and usually fix it before we leave.
Most disposal problems come down to a few things: something got jammed in the chamber, the motor burned out, or a leak is forming at the connection. We turn it off, clear any obstruction by hand or with a snake tool, check the seal and the mounting, and run water to test it. If the motor is dead or the housing is cracked, we talk through whether a repair or replacement makes sense for your situation. We don't start work until you approve the plan.
Santa Cruz homes, especially the older ones in established neighborhoods, sometimes have disposals that are eight or ten years old. Hard water from our wells and mineral buildup can speed up wear on the bearings and seals. We handle all of that and can help you understand when a repair gets you another year or two and when a new unit is the better call.
When to call us
Disposal makes a grinding or rattling noise but won't spin
Water pools under the sink when you run the disposal
Disposal hums but the blades don't turn (motor jam)
Foul smell coming from the disposal or drain
Disposal trips the breaker when you turn it on
Food waste backs up into the sink or other drains
Garbage disposal repair jobs we handle in Santa Cruz
Clear jams and obstructions from the disposal chamber
Inspect the motor, seals, and mounting bolts
Test the disposal and check for leaks at all connections
Remove and reinstall the unit if needed for repair or replacement
Recommend repair versus replacement based on age and damage
Not sure which one you need? Call and describe what's going on. We'll confirm the scope and give you a free, no-obligation quote before any work starts.
Common questions
Can you fix a disposal that won't turn on?
Yes, if it's a jam, motor reset issue, or electrical problem we can usually diagnose and repair it the same day. If the motor itself has burned out or the housing is cracked, we'll walk you through repair versus replacement options before we start any work.
How do you know if a disposal needs to be replaced?
A disposal that's more than 12 years old, has a cracked chamber, or a dead motor is usually worth replacing. If it's five or six years old with a bad seal, a repair often makes sense. We can tell you which direction makes sense for your unit once we look at it.
What if there's water leaking from under the disposal?
A leak usually means the seal at the sink flange has failed or the mounting bolts have loosened. We tighten or reseal it, and if that doesn't hold, we remove and reinstall the unit with a fresh seal. Most leaks are fixed in one visit.
Do I need to do anything before you arrive?
Turn off the disposal and don't run water down that sink. If something is stuck in it, don't try to fish it out with your hands. That's what we're here for.