Garbage disposal installation in San Antonio, TX
New disposals mount in under an hour. The part people skip is the drain below it, which has to fall the right way or the sink will gurgle and back up.
Signs you need this
- Current unit leaks underneath, hums or keeps tripping
- Putting a disposal on a sink that has never had one
- Upgrading horsepower for a busy kitchen
- Dishwasher drain needs to be tied in
Why it happens
Disposals fail from the inside out. Once the housing rusts through or the seals go, water drips into the cabinet and onto the motor, and there is no fixing that. A new unit sits lower or higher than the old one, so the trap and tailpiece often have to be rebuilt to keep the drain sloping downhill.
What we check first
- Existing outlet under the sink and whether it is switched
- Height of the drain stub in the wall
- Dishwasher knockout and drain hose routing
- Sink flange and mounting ring condition
Your options
Like-for-like replacement
Same size unit on the same mount, quick and clean.
Upgrade to a larger unit
More horsepower and better grinding for families who cook a lot. Trap reworked to fit.
New install
For a sink with no disposal yet, as long as there is power in the cabinet.
Before we get there
- Make sure there is an outlet or switch under the sink
- Clear the cabinet
- Have the new unit on hand if you bought one
What affects the price
Swapping a unit on the same mount is quick. A first-time install, a dishwasher tie-in or rebuilding the trap to fit a different height takes longer. We do not do electrical work, so if there is no outlet, plan for an electrician first.
Grease and starchy food are the top cause of kitchen line clogs we clear on the south side. A good disposal helps, but it is not a trash can. Keep grease, rice and potato peels out of it.
Garbage disposal installation questions
Do I need an outlet under the sink?
Yes. If there is not one, an electrician needs to add it before we install. We do not do electrical work.
Which disposal should I get?
For most homes, a half or three quarter horsepower unit with a stainless grind chamber is plenty.
Can you install one with a septic system?
Yes, but septic owners should use a septic-rated model and use it lightly.
Do disposals work with double sinks?
Yes. The other bowl drains through a shared trap, and we set the plumbing so both sides drain well.