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Plumbing Repairs

Garbage Disposal Installation in Toronto & the GTA

When a garburator dies, it usually does it one of three ways: a hum with no spin (jammed or seized), a leak from the bottom housing (done for good), or silence (motor or power). Homeowners often live with a dead disposal for months because the sink still drains through it — until the leak starts or the smell wins. A disposal replacement is a well-contained half-day job when it's done in the right order.

A proper garburator installation starts with the mounting assembly at the sink flange. If the new unit matches the old brand's mount, the swap is quick; if not, the flange comes out, the old plumber's putty gets cleaned off, and a new mount goes in sealed correctly — the step that, skipped, produces the slow drip that rots the cabinet floor. Then the drain gets aligned without strain, the dishwasher drain hose reconnects with a high loop so dishwasher water can't backflow, and the knockout plug gets removed (forgetting it is the classic first-run flood). Power-wise, most disposals plug into a switched outlet under the sink; if yours is hardwired, that connection is electrical work for a Licensed Electrical Contractor, which we arrange.

For a free quote, send a photo of the existing unit from below showing how it's mounted and powered (plug or cable straight in), one of the drain arrangement, and the brand and model if readable. If this is a first-time install rather than a replacement, photograph the whole under-sink area — we need to see the outlet situation and drain height to quote it honestly.

What this covers

  • Like-for-like garburator replacement
  • New disposal installation where a switched outlet already exists
  • Sink flange and mounting assembly replacement, properly sealed
  • Dishwasher drain connection with a correct high loop
  • Knockout plug removal and drain alignment
  • Jam clearing and reset for disposals that hum but won't spin
  • Splash guard and baffle replacement
  • Full leak test under load before we leave
  • Removal and recycling of the old unit

What affects the price

  • Power setup — a plug-in unit with an existing switched outlet is straightforward; hardwired or no-outlet situations need a Licensed Electrical Contractor, which we coordinate
  • Mounting compatibility — same-brand swaps reuse the mount; changing brands means redoing the sink flange
  • Drain geometry — the disposal outlet must meet the trap without strain, and some under-sink layouts need the drain rebuilt to line up
  • Unit size — higher-horsepower disposals are physically bigger and don't always clear the cabinet plumbing
  • Building rules — some condo corporations and municipalities restrict garburators, worth confirming before buying a unit
  • Age of surrounding parts — old traps and slip joints disturbed during the swap often need replacing while we're in there

Every home is different, so we don’t publish flat prices — the quote is free and based on your actual job.

Common questions

Who is allowed to do this work in Ontario — handyman, plumber, or electrician?
A like-for-like garburator swap on the existing drain and a plug-in connection is minor work we handle ourselves. Two things change that: altering the supply or drainage lines (new drain configuration, rerouted pipes) requires a licensed plumber, and any hardwired electrical connection or new outlet must be done by a Licensed Electrical Contractor under ESA rules. We tell you which category your job falls into from your photos, and we arrange the licensed trades for their portions rather than working around the rules.
My disposal hums but won't grind. Replace it?
Not yet — that's usually a jam, not a dead motor. Something hard (fruit pit, bone shard, a stray spoon) has wedged the plate. We free it with the hex key at the base, extract the object, and hit the thermal reset button. If it runs clean afterward, you've saved a replacement. Replacement is the answer when the motor is seized without a jam or the housing is leaking from the bottom, which means the internal seals are gone.
Are garburators even allowed in my building?
Check before buying one. Many Toronto-area condo corporations prohibit them because building drain stacks handle food waste poorly, and some municipalities discourage them in favour of green-bin composting. Houses are generally fine. If your building says no, honestly, the green bin does the same job without the plumbing risk — and we can remove a prohibited unit and rebuild the drain properly instead.
Why does my new disposal smell as bad as the old one?
Odour comes from the splash guard and the drain lines, not usually the grinding chamber. Food film builds on the rubber baffle's underside and in the trap. The fix is a removable splash guard cleaned regularly, cold-water grinding habits, and citrus peel or ice cube runs. If a smell persists after that, the dishwasher hose may be missing its high loop and holding dirty water — which we correct.
Can you install a disposal where there's never been one?
Often, but it's a bigger scope than a swap and we'll quote it honestly. The drain rebuild under the sink is our work. Power is the deciding factor: a new switched outlet under the sink is a job for a Licensed Electrical Contractor, which we arrange as part of the project. If the electrical side makes the total not worth it to you, we'd rather tell you at the quote stage than halfway in.

Ready to sort out your garbage disposal installation?

Tell us what your home needs — a small fix or a full project — and get a free quote.

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