Water and drain service
Garbage disposal installation and repair in NYC
A disposal that hums, leaks, jams or is simply dead. We repair what is repairable, replace what is not, and install new units correctly in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and Manhattan kitchens.
Disposal problems we fix
Residential disposals are legal in NYC; commercial kitchens are a different story (see below).
Humming but not spinning
A jam. Cleared with the hex wrench and reset, and we check what jammed it.
Dead, no sound
Tripped reset button, tripped breaker, failed switch or a burned-out motor.
Leaking from the bottom
The seal has failed; the unit is replaced. Leaks from the top flange or the drain connection are repairable.
Slow or backing up
The drain line, not the disposal. Cleared and the trap checked; a dishwasher connection often needs attention too.
New installation
Unit sized to the household, mounted, wired to a switched outlet or hardwired by a licensed electrician, drain and dishwasher connected, tested.
Replacement
Like-for-like swaps in under an hour, including the newer quiet models.
Disposals in NYC: what is allowed
Residential garbage disposals have been legal in New York City since 1997 and are common in newer buildings. Co-ops and condos sometimes prohibit them in house rules because of older drain lines, so check before installing. Commercial food service establishments may not use garbage disposals under NYC DEP rules; restaurant kitchens use a grease interceptor and solids strainers instead.
In an older building with cast iron drain lines, a disposal adds ground food to a line that is already narrowed by decades of buildup. We will tell you if your branch line can handle it, and if a jetting first makes sense.
Keep it working
- Run cold water before, during and 15 seconds after
- No grease, bones, fibrous vegetables, coffee grounds or rice
- Grind ice cubes occasionally to clean the chamber
- Never put your hand in; use tongs
- Reset button is on the bottom of the unit
- If it hums, turn it off and call
Garbage disposal installation and repair by borough
Same-day and scheduled service in every neighborhood we serve.
Brooklyn
ZIP codes 11201–11256
- Williamsburg
- Greenpoint
- DUMBO
- Brooklyn Heights
- Cobble Hill
- Carroll Gardens
- Red Hook
- Park Slope
Queens
ZIP codes 11004–11697
- Astoria
- Long Island City
- Sunnyside
- Woodside
- Jackson Heights
- Elmhurst
- Corona
- Flushing
Staten Island
ZIP codes 10301–10314
- St. George
- Tompkinsville
- Stapleton
- New Brighton
- West Brighton
- Port Richmond
- Westerleigh
- Clifton
Manhattan
ZIP codes 10001–10282
- Financial District
- Battery Park City
- Tribeca
- SoHo
- Chinatown
- Lower East Side
- East Village
- Greenwich Village
Questions
Are garbage disposals legal in NYC?
Yes, in residences, since 1997. Some co-ops and condos prohibit them in their house rules. Commercial food establishments may not use them.
Can a garbage disposal be repaired?
Jams, tripped resets, switch problems and top-side leaks are repairable. A leak from the bottom of the unit means the internal seal has failed and the unit is replaced.
How long does disposal installation take?
About an hour for a replacement. A first-time installation that needs an outlet and switch takes longer and involves a licensed electrician for the wiring.
Why does my sink back up when I use the disposal?
The drain line is partly blocked. The disposal is pushing ground food into a line that needs clearing, and we check the dishwasher connection at the same time.
Related: Drain cleaning · Faucet repair · Kitchen remodel plumbing