In College Park, a disposal that hums, leaks or stops dead can often be freed or resealed, but a unit leaking from its body usually needs replacing. A plumber can also clear the trap and kitchen line if the drain is the real problem. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in College Park.
Disposals in a university town
College Park mixes early 20th-century neighborhoods such as Calvert Hills and Old Town with newer apartments and mixed-use buildings near the University of Maryland. The city's median home was built in 1979, so many houses have kitchens that were remodeled once or twice around older drain lines. Shared houses with a lot of cooks tend to be hard on disposals, with rice, pasta and peels going down in volume.
Wastewater from College Park goes to WSSC Water, whose Emergency Services Center takes sewer emergencies at 301-206-4002. A backup in your own pipes is a plumber's job.
What to do now
- Switch the disposal off and cut power at the plug or breaker.
- Look into the chamber with a flashlight and pull out anything visible with tongs, never your hand.
- Use a hex wrench in the socket under the unit to rock the plate free if it is stuck.
- Press the reset button on the bottom of the housing.
- If water is leaking, put a bowl under the drip and note exactly where it starts: the sink opening, the side pipe or the bottom.
- Don't pour drain chemicals into a standing disposal; they can harm the seals and splash back during repair.
Symptoms and what usually causes them
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Hums, no grinding | Jammed plate or a seized motor |
| Silent, no hum | Tripped overload, breaker or failed switch |
| Drip at the sink opening | Loose mounting ring or worn plumber's putty |
| Drip from the base | Internal seal failure, usually the end of the unit |
| Sink fills while the unit runs | Clogged trap or kitchen branch line |
| Dishwasher water in the sink | Clogged disposal outlet or a knockout plug left in |
What sets the price
A jam or reset is the smallest job. A replacement depends on the unit you choose and whether the trap, flange or dishwasher connection needs new parts. If the kitchen line itself is packed, clearing it adds time. In Prince George's County, plumbing permits come from WSSC Water, and the county says replacing an existing fixture generally doesn't need one, so a simple swap rarely adds paperwork.
Garbage Disposals questions in College Park
Which foods are hardest on a disposal?
The disposal spins fine, so why is the sink still slow to drain?
Do old drain pipes make kitchen clogs more likely?
Is it safe to pour chemical drain opener into a disposal?
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