How to Dismantle an Emerson Garbage Disposal

Turn off power to your Emerson garbage disposal from the main breaker. Hold a circuit tester against the disposal's wires to check that power has been successfully shut off.

Use a flat-head screwdriver to remove the screw that holds the wire cover to the disposal's bottom. Pull the wires out of the disposal. Untwist the wire nuts and separate the wires.

Loosen the pipe nut that secures the the P-trap -- the U-shaped pipe -- to the Emerson garbage disposal's discharge tube. Use a pipe wrench to tightly hold the nut and loosen the connection.

Support your Emerson garbage disposal with one hand and hold the screwdriver in your other hand. Position the screwdriver against the mounting ring's tab. Push the tab to the right as far as possible and lower the disposal from the mounting assembly.

Loosen the three screws underneath the mounting assembly with the flat-head screwdriver. Use the screwdriver to pry the mounting assembly's snap ring off of the bottom. Pull the entire assembly out from underneath the sink.

Push the sink flange -- the metal piece around the sink's hole-- up and out. Insert the flat-head screwdriver underneath the flange and use it, as leverage, to lift the flange while you push from the bottom. Scrape away any stuck-on plumber's putty with the screwdriver.