This is our final article in our 3-part series on garbage disposals.

In our first  article, we provided some great tips on garbage disposal maintenance and best practices to help you keep your current disposal working properly. But, like any home appliance, garbage disposals stop working. So, in our second article in this series, we provided ideas on selecting a new garbage disposal that best fits your needs. This final article is for you ‘do-it-yourselfers’ who have the energy and inclination to install your new disposal in your free time.

Let’s be honest, installing a garbage disposal isn’t exactly the easiest task in the world. This is because doing the job properly requires some electrical and plumbing wiring skills. You must also make sure that you have a dedicated 20 amp 120V outlet that is close to where the unit will be installed.

Installing the Mounting Ring and Sink Flange

Before you begin, you must either remove the fuse or turn off the circuit breaker that feeds power to the disposal. Next, you will have to install the assembly that will hold the garbage disposal in place. You will need help from a second party to do this part properly.

The assembly is made up of a mounting ring and a sink flange. It must be fastened on either side of the opening in the sink. The steps are as follows:

• Seal the opening of the sink with plumber’s putty that is about half an inch thick
• Place the sink flange into the opening and onto the plumber’s putty
• Have someone hold the sink flange in place as you go under the sink and slide the triangular attachment ring and the fibrous gasket onto it.
• Firmly attach the mounting ring by tightening its three mounting screws evenly.

Connecting the Power Cord of the Garbage Disposal

Now that the assembly is in place, you must now attach the power cord to the disposal. The process is as follows:

• Remove the electrical plate that is on the bottom of the garbage disposal
• Use wire nuts to connect the white wire that’s on the disposal to the white wire that is on the power cord. The same must be done for the black wire and green ground wire.
• Once this is completed, put the connected wires in the electrical box and put the cover plate back on

Installing the Garbage Disposal

Before you continue, it is important to note that, the disposal may be a little heavy so it’s essential that you take your time while doing this part of the project:

• Match the disposal up to the three mounting ears that are on the sink mounting assembly
• Hold the disposal in place and turn the lower mounting ring until all of the mounting ears are secured

 Connecting the Drain Lines

Now that the garbage disposal is in place, you must connect the drain lines. The process is as follows:

• Attach the discharge tube to the garbage disposal with the appropriate gasket and screws
• Position the garbage disposal so that the waste trap and the discharge tube are properly aligned

Finishing Touches

It is now time to must lock the garbage disposal into place. This is achieved by using a screwdriver to tighten the rotating cam collar that is on the unit.

After this is completed, you must check the installation for leaks and tighten any loose drain connections. Once this is over, turn the circuit breaker that sends power to the unit back on and make sure that it’s functioning properly. That’s it. Your job is done.

Grant it, this do-it-yourself project is not for everyone. If you need a new garbage disposal, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We can make your life a lot simpler.