A Silver Spring disposal that stops grinding is usually jammed, tripped or worn out, and a leak under the sink usually traces to the flange, the discharge pipe or the unit's own seals. A plumber can tell you whether it is a quick fix or time for a new unit. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Silver Spring.
Silver Spring kitchens
Silver Spring sits on the District line, with a dense downtown wrapped in older neighborhoods inside the Beltway. The median home here was built in 1964, so plenty of kitchens have been remodeled around drain lines that are much older than the cabinets. A new disposal bolted onto an old trap arm is a common setup, and the older pipe is often where the trouble sits.
The Silver Spring mailing area is also larger than the community itself and takes in places such as Wheaton and Four Corners. Water and sewer across this area come from WSSC Water.
What to do right now
- Switch the disposal off and unplug it or turn off its breaker. Never put a hand in the chamber.
- If it hums, use a hex key in the bottom socket to work the plate back and forth, then press the red reset button.
- If water is dripping, put a pan underneath and see whether it comes from the top flange, the side pipe or the bottom of the unit.
- If both basins are full, stop running water and skip the chemical drain opener.
- Check whether other drains in the house are slow. If they are, mention it when you call.
Symptoms and likely causes
| What you notice | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Steady hum, no grinding | Jammed plate or a motor starting to fail |
| No sound at all | Tripped reset, a switch problem or no power to the outlet |
| Drip from the top rim | Loose mount or old plumber's putty at the flange |
| Drip from the bottom | Internal seal failure, usually the end of the unit |
| Water rising in the other basin | Clog in the trap or branch drain past the disposal |
| Loud metal rattle | Something hard in the chamber or a loose part |
What affects the cost
- A reset or jam clearing versus a full replacement
- The unit you choose and how it is powered
- Older trap or drain pieces that need replacing to get a tight seal
- Connecting a dishwasher to the new unit
WSSC Water adds orthophosphate at its treatment plants to coat the inside of pipes, but that does nothing for food scraps and grease. Most kitchen clogs here are built by what goes down the sink.
Garbage Disposals questions in Silver Spring
Nothing at all happens when I flip the switch. What should I check?
Who do I call if sewage is coming from the public sewer?
Can the drain pipes in an older house handle a disposal?
Is it all right to rinse grease down with hot water while the disposal runs?
More plumbing services in Silver Spring
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