Garbage Disposal Repair in Reston, VA

Most Reston disposal failures are a jam, a tripped reset, a leaking seal or a clog in the drain right behind the unit. A few safe checks can narrow it down before a plumber arrives. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Reston.

Garbage disposal unit under a kitchen sink being installed, garbage disposals in Reston, VA

Reston was planned from 1964 onward, and most of its housing comes from the 1970s through the 1990s, with a median build year around 1983. Many kitchens have been remodeled once, but the drain arms in the wall are often original. Water comes from Fairfax Water, which reports total hardness of roughly 70 to 185 mg/L at its Potomac plant, and the sewer is Fairfax County's. In attached condos and townhouses, a kitchen drain can tie into lines shared with neighbors, so a quick diagnosis matters there.

What to do now

Switch the disposal off and unplug it or trip its breaker.
Shine a flashlight into the chamber and lift out anything hard, such as a bottle cap or fruit pit, with tongs, never fingers.
Press the reset button on the bottom of the housing.
If the unit was humming, work the hex socket on the underside back and forth until the plate turns freely.
Restore power, run cold water and try it once. If it trips or hums again, stop.
If water is dripping, set a pan under it and hold off on the dishwasher.

Call now to be connected with a local plumber in Reston.

(202) 915-7612

Symptoms and likely causes

Symptom	Likely cause
Humming, no rotation	Jammed turntable or seized bearings
Silent at the switch	Tripped reset, breaker or failed switch
Leak at the sink rim	Loose mounting ring or dried flange seal
Leak at the side	Loose dishwasher or discharge connection
Leak from the base	Internal seal failure, usually needs replacement
Sink fills from the other bowl	Clog in the trap or shared drain line
Several drains slow at once	Blockage in the main line, not the disposal

What drives the cost

Freeing a jam versus mounting a replacement
Horsepower and build quality of the new unit
Extra drain work if the trap or branch line is clogged or corroded
Hardwired connections compared with a plug-in unit
Whether the job adds or moves a fixture, which in Fairfax County calls for a permit; like-for-like swaps in the same spot are exempt

If several fixtures back up together, mention it on the call. Fairfax County's 24-hour sewer line, 703-323-1211, checks the public main, while the private lateral is the owner's responsibility.

Garbage Disposals questions in Reston

Can I reach in by hand to clear a jam?

No. Even with the switch off, the grinding parts can cut, and a unit can restart if power is still connected. Use tongs and the hex key on the bottom instead.

How can I tell if the clog is past the disposal and in the main line?

If only the kitchen sink is slow, the problem is near the disposal. If toilets, tubs and the sink all back up, the blockage is in the main line, and Fairfax County's line, 703-323-1211, can confirm whether the public main is clear.

Why does the sink smell even after the disposal runs?

Food can stick under the splash guard and in the trap. Run cold water for a while after grinding, clean the rubber baffle and have the trap cleared if the smell lingers.

Which kitchen scraps are hardest on a disposal?

Fibrous peels, eggshells in quantity, coffee grounds, pasta and rice. They either wrap the plate or swell into a paste that settles in the drain.