stupid home owner question re: disposals and plumbers

howleyshell · January 2012

If our disposal is out do I call plumbers to get prices on them or do I go out, buy my own disposal and then just call a plumber to install it?

Along those lines - anyone have someone they love for this kinda thing?

And.... WHY the hellllllll is everything in my house going out a once?

The house I once loved has turned into a money pit.

WineCat · January 2012

I would probably hire Andrealynn or her DH to put it in. She says it isn't hard to do but I'm not sure I could do it. I know they've done it.

howleyshell · January 2012

WineCat:
I would probably hire Andrealynn or her DH to put it in. She says it isn't hard to do but I'm not sure I could do it. I know they've done it.

See? This makes me think I could install it myself.

I'm married to an engineer who's afraid of home repair. I do everything around the house. I've installed a toilet... a disposal can't be too much harder, right?

DH's thoughts: If you screw it up it's gonna be messy and very expensive.

Hmmm.....

RoxBride · January 2012

You can so do it....buy one, like 3/4 hp, and read the directions thru, take a picture of your current set up before you start. So easy...

todds_wife · January 2012

I wouldn't mess with a disposal install - but that is just me. I am with your DH on this. My biggest thing with the disposal is its location - it is just tougher than a toilet to get to, and you have to hold stuff above you instead of work on stuff down below you. Maybe watch some YouTube demos to see what you think.

As for having a pro do it, you can do either - go buy it yourself and tell them you already have one to install when you call the plumber, or they can furnish one - option 1 is probably going to be cheaper since Home Depot's massive buying power does make materials cheaper than smaller suppliers.

Bell or Benjamin Franklin for the work, unless you happen to be in the North burbs - then call Bel-Air and talk to my fam.

howleyshell · January 2012

RoxBride:
You can so do it....buy one, like 3/4 hp, and read the directions thru, take a picture of your current set up before you start. So easy...

Oh Rox of wisdom.....

You've done this?

More details and encouragement please?!?!?!

Where does one go shopping for a disposal? (off to google Appliance Factory Outlet since they have supplied everything else for us these past few months).

Carol*Brady2 · January 2012

I've replaced 2 & the one at our rental house looks like it may need replacing again. I buy them at HD & hire a plumber...but maybe I should try myself. As I remember the plumbers always charged quite a bit

(

jak&imk · January 2012

My husband does this for us and makes it look pretty easy. (He is a mechanical engineer and very handy, so....) He buys the disposal at Lowes or Home Depot, and also uses a tub of putty. I think it costs around $70. Even if you were to give up, I doubt you could do any serious, expensive damage. But you can totally do it. His go to reference are those Time-Life books. You can get them at the library.

Meg.eliz · January 2012

My dad and DH just installed on in our house over Christmas and it took 5 minutes. We didn't have one prior and DH who is an engineer but not handy at all around the house did it himself with a little guidance from my dad. They are really easy!

Mrs.Greeko · January 2012

Make sure it isn't just jammed first, oh and make sure it's still plugged in. Our first tenants called us because the disposal was broken, turns out they put something under the sink that knocked the plug loose. And last month our tenants called saying the disposal was bad. DH went over to replace it, but it was just jammed. 5 minutes and no money later it was working just fine.

howleyshell · January 2012

Mrs.Greeko:
Make sure it isn't just jammed first, oh and make sure it's still plugged in. Our first tenants called us because the disposal was broken, turns out they put something under the sink that knocked the plug loose. And last month our tenants called saying the disposal was bad. DH went over to replace it, but it was just jammed. 5 minutes and no money later it was working just fine.

Thanks for the heads up.

I thought it might be jammed but it's a torque issue. The motor's shot.

DH may be chicken sh!t when it comes to physically doing the work but when it comes to diagnostics and motors he's golden.

Plus... everything in our house is going out right now so the timing makes sense, right?

MTJunebride · January 2012

It is so easy, especially if you already had one and you are replacing it. You can get one for $50-$75 at Home Depot. It comes with instructions to install. We have an Insinkerator, which I think is by far the most common brand.

schoolsoutbride · January 2012

If I can repair my washing machine, you can do a disposal!

As for breaking down, is your house about 20 years old? I think a lot of stuff (furnace, hot water heater, appliances, roof) are designed to last about that long.

stupid home owner question re: disposals and plumbers

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