Licensed & insured · CA RMP #M-41712Avg. response 45 minutes★★★★★4.9 from 300+ local jobs
A garbage disposal usually fails in one of a few ways. It hums but won't spin, which means something's stuck in the grinding chamber. It clicks and does nothing, so the motor or reset has tripped. Or you find a puddle in the cabinet, and that's a seal or a cracked housing letting water out. Any of these can back up your sink and leave dishes stacked, so it's worth a fast look.
When our plumber arrives, they'll cut the power, check the reset button, and clear the chamber by hand or with the manual turn key. If the motor still won't run, they test it right there so you're not guessing. Sometimes it's a simple jam and you're back in business in minutes. Other times the unit is worn out or the seals have gone, and a clean swap is the smarter call. Either way you'll hear the reason before we touch anything.
Homes around here run the gamut, from older bungalows in New Monterey and Old Town to newer builds out toward Marina and Salinas. A lot of the older kitchens have disposals that were undersized to begin with, or fittings that have loosened over years of coastal damp under the sink. We check the drain connection and trap while we're down there, since a slow disposal is often a partly clogged line rather than a dead motor. We serve Pacific Grove, Seaside, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Pebble Beach, and the rest of the Peninsula.
When to call us
It hums when you flip the switch but the blades don't turn
Nothing happens at all, even after hitting the reset button
Water pooling in the cabinet under the sink
A rattle or grinding noise like something metal is stuck
Standing water backing up into the sink when you run it
A rotten smell that won't rinse away
Garbage disposal repair jobs we handle in Monterey
Cut power and clear jams from the grinding chamber safely
Test the motor and reset to see if it can be saved
Replace worn or leaking units with a properly sized disposal
Reseal and tighten the mounting and drain connections
Check the trap and drain line for a clog behind the unit
Run and test the disposal before we pack up
Not sure which one you need? Call and describe what's going on. We'll confirm the scope and give you a free, no-obligation quote before any work starts.
Common questions
Can you fix my disposal today or do I need a new one?
Often we can. Many disposals just have a jam or a tripped reset, which clears fast. If the motor's burned out or the housing is cracked and leaking, replacing it is usually the better move, and we can do that on the same visit.
Why does my disposal hum but not spin?
That hum means power is reaching the motor but something is blocking the blades. Turn it off first. Our plumber frees the jam with a turn key from below or by hand from above, then confirms the motor still runs cleanly.
What shouldn't I put down the disposal?
Skip fibrous stuff like celery and artichoke leaves, grease, coffee grounds, eggshells, and fruit pits. Run cold water while it grinds and for a few seconds after. Most of the jams we see come from grease buildup and stringy scraps.
Do you work in Pacific Grove and Carmel too?
Yes. We cover the whole Monterey Peninsula, including Pacific Grove, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Pebble Beach, Seaside, Marina, and out to Salinas. Typical arrival is about 45 minutes.