How To Install a Garbage Disposal Safely

If this is your first time using a garbage disposal, know that the benefits are many. From easy food disposal to simple after-dinner cleanup, leftover waste can be removed in just an instant. Other pros can be found all around the house: food that would rot in outdoor trash cans (and attract outdoor creatures) is removed, and it's an easy way to use fewer garbage bags in total. If you're looking to lessen your trash output, this is one simple and easy way to do so. Not all foods can go down the kitchen sink and into the garbage disposal, though: we'll get to that later. First, we'll dive into the process of how to install a garbage disposal safely—and how to remove one that's no longer working.

There are a few tools you'll need to have before you get started, so make sure you have these on hand before you clear out your under-counter cabinets and get ready to work. You'll need:

• New Garbage Disposal
• New P-Trap Complete with J-Bend
• Flathead and Philip's Head Screwdriver(s)
• Hammer
• Allen Wrench/Hex Key
• Channellock 900 Size Pliers
• Non-Contact Voltage Tester
• Bucket for Beneath the P-Trap
• Plumber's Putty
• Plastic Putty Knife and Wood Scraper
• Electrical Wire Tester

If your kitchen sink already has a disposal installed, you'll need to remove it before going any further. Completely empty your cabinet under your sink and place a plastic tub or bucket under the pipes to catch any water. Take a look at your existing model—it'll be attached to the bottom of your drain and connected to your p-trap. If you don't have an existing one installed, these are steps you can skip.

1. Before you do anything, turn off the circuit breaker for the kitchen and unplug the power cord. If hardwired, remove the access cover at the bottom (with power off). Disconnect wire nuts and locking ring from green field or rolmex. Use the electrical tester to verify the power is disconnected. These are important steps to ensure that your garbage disposal is installed safely.
2. Remove the existing P-trap only first: use your channel lock pliers to grip the fitting and twist to the left until it releases. Place your bucket underneath as you detach to catch any stray water or drippings.
3. Disconnect the dishwasher hose if applicable. It may be connected to a separate dish wye fitting. If applicable, use your flathead screwdriver to remove the screws that hold this hose in place, and let the hose rest in the bucket to drain.
4. How to (un)install a garbage disposal safely: it's time to remove your old one. These are heavy, and you don't want them falling. Place one hand just beneath the old disposal, and use the other hand to twist it off the bracket to release. That way, you'll be ready to catch it right as it falls from the flange.
5. The mounting bracket will be the next piece to uninstall. There are two kinds: one secured with a plastic nut, and the other will use a spring clamp to release. Insert your hex key into the circular loops on the bracket and pull to the left until it spins down the side ramp. Abt's specialist installers say that it will likely stick during this process, so be ready to pull to the left hard.
6. Everything is removed apart from the power connection: either unplug the appliance cord or follow your home lines into the bottom of your old model and remove the cover plate that hides these connections. Disconnect the electric connection by removing wire nuts from hot and neutral and take the ground off the green screw.
7. Finally, we're going to remove the flange. Unscrew and remove. Clear away any old plumber's putty that was holding the system in place with a wood shim for best results: you're unlikely to scratch your sink's surface that way. Alternatively, use a plastic putty knife.

Once you've done all the work of unloading your old garbage disposal, it's time to charge ahead and attach the new one. It's going to be fairly similar but easier—you're already familiar with all of the parts and you have all of the tools, so reinstalling won't be difficult. You're almost doing the same process in reverse.

While installation can seem daunting, it's well worth the effort. Some modern models contain anti-jamming technology, and there's a wide variety available on the market, from batch feed versions to continuos feed variations. If you're looking for expert help when it comes to choosing your new model or even installing it, come to the experts at Abt. Give us a call at 800-860-3577 or head into the store for local installation. We'll deliver throughout the continental United States, too—for help choosing the right one for you, check out our garbage disposal buying guide or call us at 847-954-4140.

Check out some of the most common questions everyone asks, whether they're just learning how to install a garbage disposal for the first time or have done it before and are looking to brush up on their knowledge.

That depends on the power of your device, to a point. Most devices can handle foods like ice, cooked meats, fruit and vegetable scraps, fruit pits, corn cobs and even small bones. Things that should never go down that drain include grease and oil, non-food items, shells from clams or oysters, pastas, rice, and other starchy foods. That's because they can because a blockage. Other ones you should keep away from the drain include corn husks and coffee grounds.

Follow the instructions above, and make sure you only add food waste to the sink with the device installed. You'll likely install the dishwasher hose to the other sink's drain, too. In this case, make sure you don't remove the knock-out plug when installing. Otherwise, you'll find that water falls out this hole instead of going down the drain.

Back to our original point, the answer is likely a solid yes. Whether you live alone or cook for a massive family, you're likely to have occasional leftovers. Instead of sending them to the landfill or attracting neighborhood creatures, grind them up in your drain. They're a fast, easy and convenient way to remove food waste. Contact us for more details and with any questions at 847-954-4140.