How to Install an Electric Garbage Disposal

Place a 1/2-inch, round ball of plumber's putty in the palm of your hand. Roll the putty between your hands to form a rope 1/8 inch wide. Place the putty rope under the lip of the drain flange for the garbage disposal. Slide the sink drain flange into the sink hole in the sink and press the flange down firmly.

Go under the sink and slide the paper gasket over the exposed sink drain. Position the upper mounting ring over the sink drain. Place the mounting ring retaining ring over the mounting ring and tighten the three mounting ring screws with a Phillips-head screwdriver.

Turn the garbage disposal over so the bottom is facing you. Remove the access cover to the electrical wires. Insert the appliance power cord through the mounting clamp on the side of the disposal until the wire are visible inside the access area. Tighten the cable clamp with a flat-head screwdriver to secure the power cord to the disposal.

Connect the wires from the power cord to the wires in the disposal. Connect like colors together using plastic wire caps. Close the access panel and secure the panel with the retaining screws. Place the lower mounting on the top of the disposer and tighten the ring with a screwdriver.

Lift the disposer up the sink drain and position the tabs on top of the lower mounting ring into the holes on the bottom of the upper mounting ring. Twist the disposer clockwise to lock the rings together.

Install the waste discharge pipe to the side of the garbage disposal. Secure the discharge pipe with the retaining screws and a flat-head screwdriver. Slide the slip nut from the drain pipe to the bottom of the discharge pipe. Tighten the slip nut with a pair of pliers.

Go above the sink and trim away the excess plumber's putty from around the sink drain flange with a putty knife. Plug the power cord into the garbage disposal wall outlet under the sink. Turn the circuit breaker on to the outlet and test the operation of the disposal.