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    rachel101's Avatar
    rachel101 Posts: 77, Reputation: 19
    Junior Member
     
    #1

    Mar 6, 2008, 12:33 PM
    Small leak between garbage disposal and sink
    I've noticed a little water in the cabinet under my sink. Finally figured it leaks a little where the garbage disposal connects to the bottom of the sink. Can I expect to just pull the disposal and replace a rubber washer or something or will I need anything else to take care of this?
    Any advice before I start messing with this would be helpful.
    Thank you.
    hkstroud's Avatar
    hkstroud Posts: 11,929, Reputation: 899
    Home Improvement & Construction Expert
     
    #2

    Mar 6, 2008, 01:06 PM
    What brand of disposal is it? Name may be on drain flange.
    rachel101's Avatar
    rachel101 Posts: 77, Reputation: 19
    Junior Member
     
    #3

    Mar 6, 2008, 01:11 PM
    Unit reads "Grind All Food Waste Disposal"
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
     
    #4

    Mar 6, 2008, 01:12 PM
    You can try to tighten the bolts beneath the drain. If that doesn't get it then chances are you have a ruptured putty seal under the lip of the drain that is caused by the vibration of the disposal. To repair this you will have to remove the disposal and drain assembly completely. Set the disposal on the cabinet floor and clean up the old putty around the sink drain opening. Now take some plumbers putty and roll out a ring to put under the drain lip. Reassemble the drain assembly tightening the bolts so the putty squeezes out.; and the bolts are tight. You may now reinstall the disposal and you're back in business. Good luck, tom
    WallyHelps's Avatar
    WallyHelps Posts: 1,018, Reputation: 136
    Ultra Member
     
    #5

    Mar 6, 2008, 01:21 PM
    Refer to this page for pictures to help visualize the following steps:
    1. Unplug or remove power to your disposal
    2. You might want a small bucket or some towels because some water will be involved
    3. Disconnect the trap from disposal, leaving the discharge tube attached (second picture)
    4. Disconnect dishwasher drain hose (if used) from the dishwasher nipple (second picture)
    5. Now, up by the sink drain, you should see a ring with 3 loops (as shown in the first picture)
    6. Put a stack of 2x4's or a small stool under the disposal because it gets real heavy when disconnected--you don't want it falling on your hand/foot/anything.
    7. Stick a screwdriver into one loop and pry on it--rotating the ring counter-clockwise (i.e. you'll push the screwdriver away from you if you are looking straight at the loop (as in the first picture)
    8. After about a quarter turn or so, the disposal should drop down
    9. Remove the rubber seal on top of the disposal and replace (note that the referenced webpage does not show this seal anywhere)
    10. Reverse the steps to reassemble


    You might want to get the manufacturer and model info from the disposal and get the seal before going through all this work.

    Best of Luck,
    WallyH
    rachel101's Avatar
    rachel101 Posts: 77, Reputation: 19
    Junior Member
     
    #6

    Mar 6, 2008, 01:29 PM
    Thanks Wally, Tried to rate your answer but apparently I have to "spread some reputation around first"/ Thanks for the pics, I will refer to them.

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