How to Replace a Garbage Disposer That Has a Sink Seal
- 1). Turn off the electrical supply to the existing garbage disposal from the breaker panel / fuse box.
Warning: Do not proceed until electricity is turned off at the supply. - 2). Disconnect existing waste plumbing from the garbage disposal.
Note: if there is a "U" or "P" shaped trap in the plumbing, this will be filled with waste water. Take care to empty this piece of plumbing carefully. - 3). Disconnect disposal from the sink mounting ring attached to the sink.
Note: The method for disconnecting these two pieces of the complete garbage disposal system varies by manufacturer. Typically a sliding collar exists, and twist locks the disposal to the mounting collar. Details as to the specifics of your disposal can be found at the manufacturer's web site. - 4). Remove the existing sink mounting collar from the sink.
Note: This is typically done by loosening three mounting screws from the bottom side of the sink, and then removing a mechanical fastening device. Details as to the specifics of your disposal can be found at the manufacturer's web site.
Clean the upper side of the sink and remove any old putty, sealing compound from the area in which the new sink mounting ring will be installed. This can be done with steel wool and any spray cleaner. - 5). Test fit the new sink mounting ring in the hole of your sink.
Take a small portion of plumber's putty from the plastic can. Use an amount roughly the size of a golf ball.
Roll the putty out on the counter top in such a way as to create a putty "worm" roughly the diameter of your pinky finger.
Place the worm around the bottom of the sink mounting collar that will fit into the top side of the sink.
This worm needs to wrap all the way around the bottom of the collar, forming a complete circle.
Press the sink collar into the sink hole according to the manufacturer's instructions to begin mounting the new disposal. - 6). Attach the mechanical fasteners to the bottom side of the sink collar according to the manufacturer's instruction. Tighten the collar so that the plumbers putty is squeezed out of the joint between the sink collar and the sink, on both the top and bottom side of the sink.
Note: Do not tighten the mechanical fastening devices so as to force all the putty out of the joint. The goal is to leave a small amount of the putty in the joint, which forms the watertight seal. - 7). Complete the installation of the garbage disposal according to the manufacturer's instructions included in the kit.
Reattach the drain waste plumbing.
Reattach the electrical supply.
Turn the disposal power back on at the breaker panel / fuse box.
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