Let’s be honest, no one enjoys taking out the garbage lest dealing with a garbage disposal leaking. It could be your garbage disposal is leaking from the top or your garbage disposal leaking from the bottom or it could be your garbage disposal is leaking water.
It does not matter what the issue is, in this article we have outlined some of the most common causes of garbage disposal leaking and added a little extra on how to fix a leaking garbage disposal.
7 Reasons Why Your Garbage Disposal is Leaking
Your gaskets are worn out
This is the most common reason why your garbage disposal is leaking. The gasket is as a seal that fills the space between multiple surfaces. The aim of a gasket is to prevent leakages into or from the joint surfaces whilst being compressed. When the garbage disposal is leaking, it might be because the gasket that’s been between the rubber seal and the flange is worn out. To check, simply run your hand by the gasket and if there is any water, it is time to swap it out!
Gaskets can get worn out by overuse over the years. As time passes by, they tend to get weak and will drip water. Also, if you do not use your disposer often, your gasket could dry up and leak. Another reason your gasket could be leaking is because it was applied improperly between the surfaces.
How to fix garbage disposal leaking due to worn out gaskets:
- First begin by purchasing a new gasket from the store close to you. If you can, get the exact type of gasket you were using before to ensure the swap happens without any issues.
- Remove the rain and detach the plug from the garbage disposal unit
- Remove the drain hose connecting the disposer and the dishwasher
- Rotate the sides of the mounting nut clockwise to unlock the disposer. This will allow you to locate the faulty gasket within the machine.
- Remove the faulty gasket and fix the new one there. If you were able to get an exact match, you should not have any issues whatsoever and it should pop on the lid comfortably. It is important that your gasket is sitting in a flat position.
- Take the garbage disposal to its original position on the sink and test the gasket seal properly before you reinstall the disposer.
- Ensure all the grooves are tight and attach the drains and insert the plug back to the garbage disposal unit
Your Sink Flange is Leaky
The sink flange can be described as the collar that surrounds the drain. It is made of metal or it could be made of plastic but coated in metal. The flange helps your drain avoid getting backed up with dirt. If you notice your garbage disposal leaking water from this spot, then you have a leaky flange.
How to fix garbage disposal leaking due leaky sink flange:
- Dismantle the garbage disposal unit by removing the screws that connect the drain pipe to the disposal unit. Remove the screws securing the metal clamp that connects the dishwater hose to the disposal then remove the dishwater hose and tubing from the unit.
- Detach the mounting ring that connects the disposal to the mounting component and remove the garbage disposal.
- Use a wrench to take out the bolts in the mounting assembly and remove the unit when you are done.
- Raise the flange and remove the existing putty at the top of the sink flange and clean with cloth.
- Take a handful of putty and form a rope that fits the length of the flange.
- Place the molded putty around the flange and take the flange to the sink drain and fix it in
- Affix the bolts and screws to the mounting ring, assembly and don’t forget to ensure they are tightened.
- Finally, reinstall the drainpipe, dishwater hose and disposal unit.
Shaky Drain Lines
Because your disposal unit can also leak from its drain line, it is important to locate the spot where the appliance meets the line. You should notice a thicker line which is for sewer disposal and the thin line is the dishwater disposal line. If you notice any water on either of these lines, take a screwdriver and tighten the screws that are used to hold the machine to the dishwater.
It is also important to secure the screws on the thin line as well and replace your gaskets with brand new ones. During this inspection, keep an eye out for wearing out of these parts as constant use can cause them to develop cracks that can cause leakages.
You have loose pipes or seals
Let’s face it, you probably have multiple pipes here so locating the erring pipes might be a little difficult. Going through the pipes and seals under your sink will be helpful here. This is the location where the disposal pipes could have taken a hit causing the pipes to shift from their original position.
When this happens, the bolts and screws holding the machine together will become loose and dripping would happen at the location. Once you’ve identified the defective seals/pipes, you can choose to change the pipes or apply putty at the leaky spots.
Faulty Dishwater Connection
Your garbage disposal machine could be leaking because of a faulty connection between the dishwater and the drainpipe. It could also be that the hose taking food waste into the garbage unit could be cracked or loosed. You can fix this by changing the hose or applying putty around the leaky area.
Cracked body
You’ve changed your gasket or your flange and the discharge is still continuing? The next step is to check the body of your unit for any cracks. If you are able to spot any cracks, you might need to change your whole unit. Such cracks might be difficult to fix and a complete replacement might be your best option.
