You should replace your garbage disposal if you see these 5 signs

• It clogs often (either the blades are getting dull or you need larger disposal)
• You have to press the RESET button often
• Food takes longer and longer to grind
• The unit is leaky
• The unit is making loud noises

1. It clogs often

If your garbage disposal is constantly clogging, it most likely means that the blades are getting dull or your garbage disposal is too small. Another reason your disposal might be clogging often is that it’s undersized for your needs. Garbage disposals are sized by their horsepower. The higher the horsepower, the more food it can break down in one sitting. So, if your garbage disposal is constantly clogging and you need to replace it and look into having a bigger model installed

2. You have to hit the reset button

Your reset button is the small red button on the bottom of the actual disposal unit. This button restores the electrical power after the disposal’s motor overloads and trips the circuit breaker.

So if you find yourself having to use the RESET more and more, it’s a sign that your garbage disposal motor is getting weaker and needs to be replaced.

3. Food starts to take longer to grind.

If the amount of food you’re sending down the disposal hasn’t changed but the time your disposal takes to grind down the food gets longer and longer, you probably need a new unit. This means that either the blades are getting dull or the motor is getting weak and can no longer handle the workload it was designed for.

4. The unit is leaky

If you’ve noticed persistent leaking at the bottom of your garbage disposal, it typically means that there are cracks on the inside of the unit. These cracks can occur over time from normal wear and tear and the only way to fix the problem is to completely replace the unit.

5. The unit is making loud noises

If your garbage disposal hums loudly but doesn’t actually turn on, it’s most likely due to a dead motor. The humming noise you hear indicates that the unit is receiving electrical power but the motor had died and can’t turn on to grind food particles. And, because repairing the disposal motor often costs the same as a new unit, we suggest you just replace the disposal for a new model.