Garbage Disposal Repair & Replacement – Tigard, OR
Most of Tigard's residential neighborhoods were built between the 1970s and the 1990s — a housing era where garbage disposals were standard, but the units installed in that period are now 30 to 50 years old. A disposal from 1985 that's still technically running is past the end of its designed service life. Whether yours just failed, is making sounds it shouldn't, or you're not sure if it needs a repair or a full swap, we work throughout Tigard and will give you a straight answer on which path makes sense.
What's Wrong With It — and What It Means
Hums but Doesn't Grind
The motor has power but the flywheel is jammed. Debris stuck in the grinding chamber. Usually fixable in the same visit without replacing the unit.
Won't Turn On
No sound at all — check the reset button on the bottom of the unit first. It trips when the motor overheats. Quick fix if that's the issue.
Leaking from the Bottom
Internal seals have failed. Replacing is the only permanent fix — patching internal seals isn't practical on most units.
1970s–80s Unit Still Running
An original unit from this era is 40-50 years old. If it's grinding noisily, running slowly, or leaking — don't repair it. At that age, a new unit is overdue.
When to Replace vs. Repair — The Honest Version
We don't push replacement when a repair is the right call. A jam fix on a 5-year-old unit makes sense. A leak repair attempt on a 20-year-old unit that's also grinding noisily and tripping the reset does not. The age of the unit matters as much as what's wrong with it. We'll tell you where your disposal falls before we recommend anything.
What We Install
- InSinkErator — the most reliable disposal brand, backed by a national service network
- ½ HP for light use or smaller households
- ¾ HP for standard kitchen use — the right choice for most Tigard homes
- 1 HP for heavy daily use or households that cook frequently
- SoundSeal quiet technology available for open kitchen layouts
- Most replacements completed in 30–60 minutes
Frequently Asked Questions
My disposal is from the original construction in the 1980s. Is it worth repairing?
Almost certainly not. A 40-year-old disposal is well past its service life. Even if the repair itself is cheap, you're extending the life of a unit that will fail again soon — and when it does fail, it may do so by leaking under the sink. A new unit is the right answer at that age, whatever the specific problem is.
Water leaks under my sink when I run the disposal. Is that the disposal or the drain?
Depends on where the water is coming from. A leak at the sink flange (where the disposal connects to the drain hole in the sink) is often fixable by reseating the flange. A leak at the drain pipe fitting on the side of the unit is a plumbing connection that can be tightened or reseated. A leak from the bottom of the disposal unit itself means internal seals are gone and the unit needs replacement.
Do you serve all of Tigard?
Yes — Metzger, Bull Mountain, Summerfield, downtown Tigard, and all surrounding residential areas throughout the city.
Garbage Disposal Problem in Tigard?
Call us. We'll tell you whether repair or replacement makes sense — and handle it in the same visit.