An Edgewater disposal that hums, won't start or leaks usually has a jam, a tripped reset, a worn seal or a tired motor. In Edgewater's older homes, a plumber will also check whether the kitchen drain behind it is part of the problem. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Edgewater.
Edgewater at a glance
Edgewater is a small, fully urban city nicknamed The Edge, bordered by Denver, Lakewood and Wheat Ridge just west of Sloan's Lake. Its housing is old: Census survey figures give a median build year of 1958, with about 79% of homes built before 1980. Kitchen drains in houses that age have had more than sixty years to collect grease and food residue, so a disposal that grinds fine but drains slowly is often fighting the pipe behind it.
Sewer service comes from Edgewater Sewer, run by the City, and East Jefferson County Sanitation District handles work in its own area; the city also lists Wheat Ridge Sanitation District. Water is bought from Denver Water and distributed by the City. Homeowners can pull their own plumbing permit only if they certify they'll do the work themselves and the property isn't for sale or rent; otherwise a plumber handles it, and work must meet the International Plumbing Code.
What to do now
- Switch off power. Turn off the wall switch, then unplug the unit or turn off its breaker.
- Check for an object. Look inside with a flashlight and pull out anything stuck with tongs.
- Turn the flywheel. Use the hex wrench in the bottom socket and work it back and forth.
- Press reset. Let the motor cool, then push the button on the underside.
- Look for leaks. Run cold water and check the top, side and bottom of the unit.
- Call if it won't cooperate. Persistent humming, leaks from the housing or a tripping breaker need a plumber.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Hum, no spin | Jam or worn bearings |
| Silence | Reset, breaker, switch or motor |
| Leak at the sink | Old flange putty |
| Leak at the side | Loose drain or dishwasher fitting |
| Leak from the base | Internal seal failure |
| Grinds fine, drains slowly | Buildup in an older kitchen line |
Cost factors
- Repairing the unit or replacing it
- The replacement's motor size and build
- Old drain parts that crumble when disturbed
- Electrical work for a hardwired unit
- Cleaning or inspecting an older kitchen branch
In a house this age, it often makes sense to have the line checked whenever the disposal is replaced, so the new unit isn't draining into a pipe that's already half closed.
Garbage Disposals questions in Edgewater
Can the drain pipes in an older house handle a disposal?
Will I need a permit to swap out a garbage disposal?
Who handles a backup that's coming from the public sewer main?
Is it safe to reach into the disposal to pull out a jammed object?
More plumbing services in Edgewater
Garbage Disposals nearby
Helpful guides
Sources
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