Repair, replace, or unclog — diagnosed first
Garbage Disposal Repair & Installation in Katy, TX
A struggling disposal is usually one of three things: a jam, a failed motor, or a drain problem pretending to be a disposal problem. We tell you which before anything is replaced.
What actually kills disposals
Not all kitchen scraps play nicely with a disposal. Fibrous vegetables like celery, starchy loads like potato peels, coffee grounds, and large bones cause the stubborn jams — while grease and oil rinsed down the drain congeal as they cool and build the clogs downstream. The result is slow-draining water, foul odors, and a stressed unit that can't keep up.
Usage spikes make it worse: a disposal may run more in one holiday-hosting day than in a typical week, which is exactly when jams and clogs surface. The prevention habits are simple — scrape plates into the trash first, be selective about what goes in, and run cold water before, during and after each use.
Repair or replace — the honest line
A humming unit with a jammed flywheel, a tripped reset, or a leaking connection is a repair. A seized or burned-out motor, or a leak from the disposal body itself, means replacement — the body doesn't reseal. We diagnose first and quote before any work, so you're never buying a new unit for a $5 jam or repairing one that's already gone.
Installation is plumbing work done right: correct mounting, fresh seals, proper drain and dishwasher connections, and a test under load before we leave.
What we handle
Garbage Disposal Repair work we handle every week
Jam & Clog Clearing
Potato peels, coffee grounds, fibrous vegetables and congealed grease are the classic culprits — we clear the unit and the line it feeds.
Disposal Repair
Humming-but-stuck units, tripped resets, seal and connection issues — repaired where the motor is still sound.
Replacement & Installation
When the motor's done, we install a properly sized replacement — mounted, sealed and wired correctly the first time.
Leak Diagnosis
Disposal leaks come from the sink flange, the body, or the connections — each has a different fix, and the body leak means replacement.
Drain Line Service
A 'broken disposal' is often a clogged branch line downstream. We diagnose the whole path, not just the unit.
Preventive Check-Ups
Routine maintenance and inspection catches failing seals and dulled impellers early — worth scheduling before heavy-use seasons.
Triage
What your disposal is telling you
Each failure mode has a distinct signature — here's how to read them.
- What you noticeHumming but not spinningWhat it usually meansA jammed flywheel — the motor is alive but stuckWhat we doProfessional unjamming; forcing it burns the motor out
- What you noticeCompletely dead, no soundWhat it usually meansTripped reset, electrical issue, or a failed motorWhat we doDiagnosis — two of the three are cheap fixes
- What you noticeDraining slowly or backing upWhat it usually meansA clog in the disposal or the branch line downstreamWhat we doClear the actual blockage — often the line, not the unit
- What you noticeNowLeaking underneath the sinkWhat it usually meansFlange, connection, or body leakWhat we doFlange and connections are repairs; a body leak means replacement
- What you noticePersistent foul odorWhat it usually meansTrapped food waste decomposing in the unit or lineWhat we doCleaning and clearing — and a look at what's going in
- What you noticeNeeds the reset button constantlyWhat it usually meansA motor overworking toward failureWhat we doAssessment before it quits mid-use
Why Katy calls us first
3,681 reviews, 4.9 stars, 25 years
The whole drain path
We're plumbers first — when the real problem is the branch line behind the disposal, we fix that instead of selling you a unit.
Same-day service
A dead kitchen sink doesn't wait — most disposal repairs and replacements finish in a single visit.
Licensed and upfront
Licensed plumbers (MPL #36673) with the price quoted before work begins.
Katy-area coverage
Katy, Cypress, Fulshear, Sugar Land, Cinco Ranch, Richmond, Brookshire and Missouri City.
Common questions
Garbage Disposal Repair in Katy — answered
Don't see your question? Ask a real person — we answer the phone 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
281-601-1513My disposal hums but won't spin — is it dead?
Usually not. A hum means the motor has power but the flywheel is jammed. Don't keep running it — that burns out the motor. We clear the jam and check the unit; most humming disposals leave the visit working.
What shouldn't go in a garbage disposal?
Fibrous vegetables like celery, starchy loads like potato peels, coffee grounds, large bones, and any grease or oil — grease congeals as it cools and clogs the line downstream. Scrape plates into the trash first and run cold water before, during and after use.
Repair or replace my disposal?
Jams, resets and connection leaks are repairs. A seized motor or a leak from the disposal body means replacement — the body doesn't reseal. We diagnose first and give you the honest answer with a quote.
Why does my sink still back up with a new disposal?
Because the clog was never in the disposal — it's in the branch drain line downstream, usually congealed grease. We diagnose the whole path, which is the advantage of calling a plumbing company rather than an installer.
Garbage Disposal Repair across West Houston
Dispatching from Katy — not a call center across town.
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We answer the phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week — including holidays.
281-601-1513