Garbage disposals are convenient appliances to have in your home’s kitchen, but because most are used on a daily basis, normal wear and tear will require replacement from time to time. This is particularly true when it comes to your disposal’s splashguard. The splashguard is designed to prevent debris and water from flying upward while it is being ground by the disposal. Replacing your garbage disposal’s splashguard can be a challenging process, but having the right information makes it much simpler. Make sure you buy a replacement splashguard that will fit your brand of garbage disposal
Here is a step by step guide on how to replace your disposal’s splashguard:
1. Make sure that the breaker that controls the garbage disposal is turned off.
For obvious reasons, this is important. When your safety is at risk, you do not want to take any unnecessary risks. Because your food waste disposer is powered by electricity, you must turn off the current at its source to prevent injury. Whenever you work on your garbage disposal, this should be the first step that you take.
2. Remove the drain pipe from your garbage disposal.
The next step is to remove the drain pipe from where it is affixed to the side of the garbage disposal. It can be helpful to build a stack of old phone books or blocks to “catch” the garbage disposal after you loosen its fasteners. In most instances, this will require the use of a flat headed screwdriver. The screws should be loosened by turning them in a counter clockwise motion until each one detaches itself from the garbage disposal. The drain pipe should then be removed by hand.
3. Detach the garbage disposal from the sink itself.
Using your flat head screwdriver, wedge it between the dog ears where the garbage disposal and sink meet one another. Push each one in a clockwise motion for about a quarter of a turn. The garbage disposal should detach itself from its sink mount and fall into the “nest” you built for it.
4. Remove the old garbage disposal’s splashguard.
This is the big moment. Use your hand to reach in the garbage disposal and remove the rubber splashguard.
5. Now it’s time for a little bit of routine maintenance.
Since you have your garbage disposal in hand, now is the perfect time to do a little maintenance work. Using a small flashlight to peer inside of your garbage disposal and make sure that no foreign objects have fallen inside of it. Should you find anything, you can use a pair of needle nosed pliers to retrieve the object(s).
6. Here is where you place the new splashguard inside of your garbage disposal.
Before doing so, compare the new splashguard with the old one to ensure that they are the same size. Incorrect sizing of the splashguard will cause your waste disposer to leak. If the sizing is correct, simply slip the new replacement splashguard into your garbage disposal.
7. Piecing it all back together…
Now is the time to piece it all back together. Place the disposal unit back into its mount in the “unlocked” position. Twist the unit in a clockwise position to secure it back into the flange. Your flat headed screwdriver should now be used to secure the fasteners back into place. Once the garbage disposal is securely mounted, it is time to reconnect the drain pipe by simply reversing the steps you took to remove it. Double check to ensure that everything is properly secured.
8. Turn the breaker switch back on.
For the final step, turn your breaker switch back on. Turn on the cold water and allow it to run down the sink for a few minutes. Carefully observe the splashguard and the unit under the sink to ensure that there are no leaks. Flip the garbage disposal on and let it run for a minute. If it operates normally, then congratulations! You are officially done.
John
Hello- The splash guard replacement and internal inspection can both be done while the disposal remains attached to the sink.
John A.