Tightening a Garbage Disposal Bracket

Turn off the circuit breaker governing the disposal at the main breaker box. Hold a no-touch electrical tester near the wiring coming from the disposal in the base cabinet under the kitchen sink. Continue if the tester doesn't beep.

Loosen the large nut on the drainpipe connected to the disposal outlet pipe, using adjustable pliers. Pull the drainpipe away from the disposal.

Place one hand under the disposal and raise it up slightly to take the pressure off the mounting ring. Place the end of a flat-head screwdriver to the right of one of the mounting tabs on the mounting ring. Use leverage from the screwdriver to loosen the ring from the slots in the disposal. Lower the disposal and let it lay on the bottom of the base cabinet. Position the disposal so its electrical wiring is not pulled or stressed.

Tighten the retaining screws on the disposal mounting bracket attached to the underside of the sink, using a Phillips screwdriver. Tighten until the bracket is tight against the underside of the sink. Test the tightness of the bracket by hand before installing the disposal.

Raise the disposal to the mounting bracket. Line up the tabs on the mounting bracket with the slots in the disposal. Twist the mounting ring of the bracket with a flat-head screwdriver until the tabs are locked into place on the disposal.

Push the drainpipe into the outlet pipe on the disposal. Tighten the large nut with adjustable pliers. Turn on the circuit breaker and test the operation of the disposal.