Why Is My Garbage Disposal Leaking?

Pipe Rupture

• The most obvious and sometimes messiest reason a garbage disposal leaks is because of a ruptured pipe. Garbage disposals connect under the sink to a drainpipe that is often made of PVC and is prone to cracking. If this pipe is damaged, it may allow all of the water and other material put into the sink’s drain to leak out beneath the cabinet. Repairing this can be done without having to disassemble the disposal. Turn off the water and disconnect the device from power; replace the section of pipe that is damaged.

Gasket

• When water is leaking around the area where the drainpipe connects to the actual garbage disposal, the problem is likely a gasket. This is a simple and inexpensive fix. Turn off the water and disconnect the disposal; remove the end of the drainpipe where it connects to the machine. Inside the pipe is a rubber gasket that is likely dried out, torn or cracked. If so, water can squeeze around the gasket and leak. Replacing the gasket and reattaching the pipe should cure the problem.

Top Seal and Internal Leaks

• A serious problem with the disposal itself could exist if the device is leaking from around the top seal near the sink or if the leak seems to be coming from inside the actual mechanism. If the garbage disposal has this type of internal problem, it will have to be replaced entirely.

Sink Flange

• The garbage disposal is held in place by three bolts that attach it to the sink flange. If the leak appears to be coming from around the sink flange where the disposal is connected, the bolts may not be tight enough. The vibration of the device could have loosened them. Check the bolts and tighten before trying to use the garbage disposal again. If water continues to leak, you may need to remove the bolts entirely, detach the disposal and put more plumbers putty around the flange to make the connection watertight.