How to Replace a Sink Baffle

Go to the main breaker box in your home and shut off the power to the garbage disposal. If you are unsure which switch controls the disposer, turn off all of the power to the kitchen to be safe. Go back to the kitchen and open the cabinet doors underneath the sink.

Locate the U-shaped drain connected to the garbage disposal and unscrew the coupler that connects the pipe with a wrench. Slide the coupler toward the disposer and pull the bottom drainpipe out.

Look at the side to determine if another pipe is attached to the disposer, which is the dishwasher line. If there is another pipe, loosen the coupler that attaches it and pull that pipe out as well.

Grasp the top of the garbage disposal with both hands and turn it counterclockwise firmly to unscrew it from the mounting ring. If needed, insert a screwdriver into the side hole of the mounting ring and push backward to loosen the disposer. Pull the disposal down and set it on the cabinet floor gently.

Look inside the top of the disposer to locate the black rubber baffle. Grasp it with your fingers and pull it up and out of the disposer. Throw the old baffle away.

Insert a new baffle over the top rim of the disposer with the flaps face-up.

Lift the garbage disposer back up and insert it into the mounting ring, turning it clockwise to secure it in place.

Reconnect the dishwasher line and the main drain line by inserting the pipes then tightening the couplers clockwise.

Turn the power back on to the disposer or the kitchen then flip on the wall switch to ensure the disposer functions properly.