Garbage Disposal Installation Guide for Homeowners

A garbage disposal is a real convenience. If you don’t have one in your home yet, installation is easy enough to do yourself. This guide briefly summarizes the installation process, so you can have your own garbage disposal in no time.

Before getting started, a brief word of caution. Installing a garbage disposal involves attaching a fixture to your existing plumbing system. Improper installation can be dangerous or result in damage to your kitchen plumbing. Read the manufacturer’s instructions before installing a garbage disposal, and if at any point in the process you feel uncomfortable or don’t know how to proceed, stop and call a professional to finish the installation.

Once you are ready to begin, follow these steps:

1. Turn off the power at the breaker. This will prevent the disposal from turning on spontaneously before installation is complete. Also turn off the water to prevent flooding.
2. Disconnect the drain beneath the sink, and remove the strainer from the bottom of the sink by loosening the flange and pushing it up through the drain hole.
3. Remove all the putty from around the sink opening using a screwdriver and a rag. Loosen and remove the snap ring from the disposal mounting assembly.
4. Apply plumber’s putty to the sink opening, then put the fiber gasket and backup ring on the sink flange. Put the mounting ring in place so it rest against the backup ring.
5. With all those pieces in place, install the snap ring by sliding it up until it snaps into the groove.
6. Turn the disposal unit on its side and push the plug into the unit with a screwdriver. Then turn it upright and retrieve the plug from inside the unit. Connect the dishwasher line where the plug was.
7. Remove the access cover from the bottom of the disposal unit and wire it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Note: Make sure the power is off at the breaker before completing this step!
8. Mount the disposal system under the sink using the provided hardware.

Your garbage disposal system should now be completely installed and fully operational. If it is not working properly, call a professional right away to fix the installation.

This information is from Larry and Sons, Inc., a plumbing and HVAC contractor based out of Hagerstown MD. Visit their blog for more great plumbing guides!  Please contact Mr. HVAC if you would like to be a guest writer.