Garbage Disposal Repair in Maryland & DC

If you have a garbage disposal in your sink, you know how much you rely on it and, therefore, how important it is that it works properly. Unfortunately, garbage disposals can be fickle. If you accidentally drop a spoon in there or if it’s just jammed up and you hear the infamous garbage disposal buzz, you may need garbage disposal repair. Fortunately, the garbage disposal repair experts at James A. Wheat & Sons can take care of all your plumbing problems, so your food preparation and disposal are never a hassle.

Schedule an appointment today! Give us a call at (301) 241-9636 or fill out the contact form on this page!

Our garbage disposal repair services

Everyone knows what a garbage disposal is—it’s an electrically driven device designed to grind down organic matter (food waste) into manageable pieces that can easily move through your drain pipes. Garbage disposals are invaluable items for anyone who does a lot of cooking at home because they prevent you from having to throw away all messy food waste, and they help save your pipes from accidental clogging.

All garbage disposals should have a reset button on the bottom of the unit. If you think you need garbage disposal repair, try pressing the reset button first. If this doesn’t work, call James A. Wheat & Sons! Our experienced garbage disposal repair experts can quickly diagnose your problem and get your garbage disposal working again in no time.

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Garbage disposal tips

The easiest way to keep your disposal working properly and avoid a garbage disposal replacement is by taking steps to make sure you never have problems with it at all. Almost all garbage disposal problems can be avoided by simply watching what you put down the disposal.

Things you should NOT put down your garbage disposal:

  • Fats from meats
  • Bone fragments
  • Unpopped popcorn kernels
  • Fruit pits and seeds
  • Onion skins
  • Banana peels
  • Stringy vegetables like asparagus and celery
  • Potato skins

Things you SHOULD put down your garbage disposal:

  • Vegetable ends
  • Soft food matter
  • Ice cubes (to clean the garbage disposal out every now and then)
  • A little dishwashing soap (helps freshen the smell)

Learn more about what you can put down your garbage disposal »

Garbage Disposal Installation & Replacement

Don’t forget, in addition to repairs, our experienced plumbers can also provide installations and replacements! If your home doesn’t currently have a garbage disposal and you’d like to have one, or if your current garbage disposal is old and beyond repair, our expert plumbers can help.

Learn more about garbage disposal installations »

Schedule Your Garbage Disposal Repair Today

If you need garbage disposal repair in Maryland or Washington, DC, contact the expert plumbers at James A. Wheat & Sons! Your friends and neighbors have relied on us since 1978 because of our dependable, customer-first approach. We can diagnose the cause of your disposal problem and repair it professionally and expertly.

Contact us online or by phone at (301) 241-9636 to schedule an appointment!

Garbage Disposal Repair FAQs

Can a garbage disposal be repaired?

Yes, sometimes garbage disposals are repairable. Some components can jam or break, or seals can become worn out over time. These small issues can get repaired for a fraction of the cost of a new system. However, you are best off if you have a professional tackle the repair to ensure it’s done right.

Should I repair or replace my garbage disposal?

While a plumber can repair garbage disposals, sometimes the most cost-effective option is a replacement. Repairing one part of the system when it breaks can leave the door open to further breakdowns because once one component starts to break, others often follow suit. If a component has broken or the system is leaking, you are probably better off replacing it. If, however, you are dealing with a clog, then you can have the unit unclogged with the help of a plumber and avoid the need to replace it.

What is the average life span of a garbage disposal?

You can expect your garbage disposal to last around 10 to 15 years. If yours is close to the end of that life span and is having trouble, it is time to consider replacing it. While you can repair it, you will likely be better served with a new one.

How can I prevent problems with my garbage disposal?

The best way to protect your garbage disposal from problems is to avoid sending items down that could damage it. Fibrous vegetables, meat, and fat are all potentially damaging to the disposal. You should also avoid hard, non-food items like rocks or glass. If these do get into the disposal, remove them before running it to avoid unnecessary and costly damage. By taking these precautions, you can get the longest potential life span out of your disposal.

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What To Expect

Discover the Difference

Satisfaction Guaranteed

We stand behind every job we perform, because that’s what it means to be family. Your complete satisfaction is our guarantee.

Upfront
Pricing

You’ll never be stuck with an unexpected bill when your services are complete. We offer upfront, no-surprise pricing, so you can rest assured you’re only paying for the high-quality work you receive.

Trained
Technicians

Our secret to offering the best service in the business is simple. We hire quality people and continually train them to provide the best customer experience possible. We train weekly on service, equipment, diagnosis, and more. You can rest assured that our technicians will bring the industry expertise necessary to exceed your expectations.

Extended
Warranties

We work continuously to keep up with recalls, extended warranties, and notices regarding all plumbing, heating, and AC equipment that we may come in contact with in your home.

Commitment
to Community

We believe that as we grow, so should our community—that’s why we look for every opportunity possible to give back.

Special
Financing

We understand the financial strain that often accompanies new system installation, home remodeling, or unexpected service calls. That’s why we offer special financing to keep your household budget intact. Financing is subject to approved credit

Satisfaction Guaranteed

We stand behind every job we perform, because that’s what it means to be family. Your complete satisfaction is our guarantee.

Upfront
Pricing

You’ll never be stuck with an unexpected bill when your services are complete. We offer upfront, no-surprise pricing, so you can rest assured you’re only paying for the high-quality work you receive.

Trained
Technicians

Our secret to offering the best service in the business is simple. We hire quality people and continually train them to provide the best customer experience possible. We train weekly on service, equipment, diagnosis, and more. You can rest assured that our technicians will bring the industry expertise necessary to exceed your expectations.

Extended
Warranties

We work continuously to keep up with recalls, extended warranties, and notices regarding all plumbing, heating, and AC equipment that we may come in contact with in your home.

Commitment to Community

We believe that as we grow, so should our community—that’s why we look for every opportunity possible to give back.

Easy
Financing

We understand the financial strain that often accompanies new system installation, home remodeling, or unexpected service calls. That’s why we offer easy financing to keep your household budget intact.

Don’t take our word for it

See What Your Neighbors Are Saying

Thank you for sending such great individuals, Matt and John, to our home today. It was initially scheduled to be just a service call to diagnose our plumbing problems, but it turned out that they could easily correct our problem.I want to tell you that these two young men were the ultimate prof...

Gloria M.

Dear Mr. Wheat:We would like to take a moment to thank you sincerely for helping us with our water leak problem. We had no idea of the magnitude or scope of such an undertaking. All of your service men were excellent and highly professional. They were courteous, considerate and informative ever...

Lloyd & Carole W.

This is a much belated thank you. The job that your service men did installing the fireplace units in our house was extraordinary. Our house is nearing a hundred years old and the interior fireplaces are huge solid brick columns extending to the foundation. Getting gas pipes up from the basemen...

John T.

I wanted to write a brief note thanking you for the work you did on our front sewer line. In particular, I wanted to remind you how good your three employees are (Adam, Bill, and Desmond). All were courteous, neat, punctual, pleasant, and extremely hard workers during the week they spent at our...

David J. S.

Thank you for the generous in-kind donation of Delta faucets and shower bathtub valves, valued at $1,500.00. This donation will help Rebuilding Together continue its work to keep families in need at home in safety and independence.The course of one’s life can change in the blink of an eye. Fo...

Susan H.

I recently contracted with your company to complete repairs to a damaged air return and install new heating ducts in my basement room. Please know that your staff completed the work in a professional manner and in the timeframe promised and I am writing to express my thanks for a job well done!...

Joe C.

First off, I wish to express our satisfaction with service performing on our air conditioning unit yesterday by your service technician, Cliff. My husband was impressed by the work that was done efficiently, quickly, and at a reasonable cost. My husband contacted your company yesterday morning....

Jan M.

I have been impressed with your company and its people from the day your sales person walked in here, through all service personnel, and now.By the way, this is a fantastic system. Our energy costs are much lower than before, the airflow is practically unnoticeable, the air temp inside is even,...

Mau V.

Tom, our service tech, was incredibly helpful and pleasant. Not only did he fix our much-missed kitchen faucet, but he was also kind to the family, including the energetic family dogs who played at his feet. There’s a reason we have a service contract with you!

Susan R.

I am thrilled to have found James A James A. Wheat & Sons! There is nothing better than a complete feeling of trust when I need someone’s help and expertise.

Terri J.

Technician was prompt, polite, and obviously knew his business. He thoroughly checked our fireplace insert, and made a check for CO in the room. His work reassured us that the insert and its inlet-outlet system had not suffered earthquake damage. That’s just what we needed to know.

David L.

Our technician, Tom, was outstanding. He was thorough, thoughtful, explained the work to be done, the cost, options, and seemed to take the minimum amount of time to complete the work. The technician’s helper, who came along with Tom, was also a great asset. It was a wonderful experience for ...

James G. R.

Dear Mike,I am writing to say thank you for the great service today. Tim Whistler came to install my gas oven and range. There were a couple of challenges along the way, beginning with the way the gas line had been routed up through my floor . Another challenge was the fact that I have propane,...

Patricia R.

I wanted to make a special note about how professional Mr. Carey was when he visited our home to conduct the estimate. In the last couple of weeks we have spent hundreds of dollars and met with multiple HVAC companies to fix our air conditioner, and we haven’t been impressed with any of them....

Nick H.

Danilo and Ken were here on June 16 to do my AC check. They were extremely thorough at the time and even made sure that my hose connections were nice and secure. today one of my units was not cooling (it may have been that a circuit breaker tripped—I thought I had checked but perhaps I didnâ€...

Susan W.