How to Install a Food Waste Disposer

Turn off the electricity to the current garbage disposal by turning it off at the breaker box located inside your home. Remove the wire connectors from the garbage disposal to your home's electrical wiring by removing the base of the disposer. To do this, remove the ground screw with a standard screwdriver.

Remove the dishwasher discharge hose clamp by loosening the screws that hold the clamp in place, using a screwdriver. Let the hose dangle from underneath the sink.

Remove the disposer from the sink drain by rotating the disposal counterclockwise out of the mounting ring assembly. Remove the three screws, using a screwdriver, that hold the mounting ring assembly in place.

Push the existing drain up and out the top of the sink. Remove any old caulk and putty, using a putty knife.

Unroll a pack of plumber's putty onto a flat surface until it is approximately 10 inches in length and ½-inch thick. Apply the putty to the underside of the removed drain and reinstall the drain in the existing sink hole.

Slide the cardboard washer and backup ring onto the bottom of the installed drain. Install the mounting flange and retaining ring by hand on the bottom of the drain as well.

Install the three screws of the mounting ring with a screwdriver. Tighten the screws until the putty squeezes out and the ring fits snugly.

Install the original disposer connector onto the bottom of the new unit. To complete this, thread the connector into the unit.

Secure the conduit and circuit wires to the connector. Connect the black circuit wire with the black lead and the white circuit wire with the white lead. Joint each wire and lead pair by a single yellow connector. Place the circuit ground wire under the green ground screw and tighten the screw with a screwdriver. Replace the base of the unit by inserting the screws with a screwdriver.

Unplug the dishwasher discharge nipple by pushing the plug out of the nipple with a screwdriver, and remove it by hand from the disposal.

Raise the food disposer to the mounting ring and slide the unit into the tabs of the mounting ring. Rotate the disposer clockwise until it is tight.

Install the drain outlet for the disposer by placing a washer over the plastic crosspiece. Slide a metal flange onto the other end of the pipe. Tighten the fastening bolt of the flange to the side of the disposer, using a screwdriver.

Connect the drain outlet to the drain "T" and install the P-trap pipe by hand.