How to Fix a Garbage Disposal Leak

Remove the disposal's electrical power supply cord from the wall outlet.

Remove the dishwasher drain hose and the sink's waste pipe from the side of the disposal. The drain hose can be removed by loosening the hose clamp on the hose with a screwdriver, then by pulling the hose away from the disposal. Use an adjustable wrench to loosen the slip nuts on each side of the waste pipe, then pull the pipe away from the disposal.

Insert a screwdriver into one of the three mounting lugs on the lower mounting ring, then turn the lug in a counterclockwise direction until the ring is loose. The lower mounting ring is the metal ring located underneath the sink that the disposal attaches to. Twist the disposal until it disconnects from the mounting ring.

Loosen the three studs located on the lower mounting ring with a screwdriver, the remove the mounting assembly from the bottom of the sink, as well as the sink sleeve from the top of the sink. Pry the snap ring out of the bottom of the lower mounting ring with a screwdriver, then pull apart the components of the mounting assembly.

Ensure that the lip of the sink's drain hole are clean at the top of the sink, as well as the edges surrounding the sink sleeve. Coat the underside of the sink sleeve with a hand-formed rope of plumber's putty, then press the sink sleeve into the sink's drain hole.

From underneath the sink, slide a new fiber gasket onto the sink sleeve, followed by the triangular-shaped backup ring and the lower mounting ring. Insert the snap ring onto the inner lip of the lower mounting ring until the snap ring clicks into place, then tighten each of the three lower mounting screws.

Press the top of the disposal onto the lower mounting ring, then twist the disposal in a clockwise direction to attach the disposal to the mounting assembly. Tighten the disposal onto the assembly by placing a screwdriver through one of the mounting lugs and by turning the lower mounting ring in a clockwise direction.

Connect the dishwasher drain hose by sliding the hose onto the disposal and tightening the hose's clamp with a screwdriver. Attach the sink's waste pipe by sliding the pipe onto the disposal and tightening the slip nuts. Plug the disposal's power cord into an electrical outlet to complete the repair.