When repair isn't the right call, we swap the unit same-day — new disposal, new mounting hardware, and the old unit hauled away. Dishwasher reconnect or extra piping is +$99 extra, never included in the $249 labor.
Garbage disposal replacement is the honest call when repair doesn't make economic sense. If your unit is leaking from the bottom of the shell, the motor is seized after multiple resets, the grinding chamber is cracked, or the disposal is 10+ years old and giving you a new problem every few months — replacement is the right move. Repair labor plus parts on a dying unit often adds up to more than a new install, and you're back on the phone three months later.
We stock replacement units on the van every day: InSinkErator Badger and Evolution series (1/3 HP through 1 HP), Waste King L-series (1/2 HP through 1 HP), and Moen GX/GXS with corrosion resistance for hard-water areas. If you have a specific brand or horsepower in mind, tell us when you book and we'll bring it. If you want us to recommend based on your household size, cabinet space, and existing plumbing, we do that on-site — no upselling, just what fits.
The full replacement is usually done in 60–90 minutes on-site: disconnect old unit, drop it, install new sink flange (or reuse existing if it's still solid), mount new disposal, reconnect discharge tube, reconnect dishwasher inlet, wire in the power cord, test under load, haul the old unit away. You don't have to lift or dispose of anything — the old disposal leaves in our truck.
Replace instead of repair when: the leak is coming from the bottom of the disposal shell (failed internal seal — not repairable); the motor is silent after resetting and has no continuity on a multimeter test; the grinding chamber is visibly cracked or the plastic housing is warped from heat; the unit is 10+ years old and this is the second or third problem this year; or you've had three or more jams in a short time on the same unit (usually means the impellers are worn and no longer clearing food properly).
Also worth replacing pre-emptively if you're doing a kitchen remodel, upgrading a rental unit between tenants, or moving into a new home where the previous owner's disposal is unknown vintage. A new 3/4 HP unit installed correctly with fresh mounting hardware and fresh putty at the flange should give you 10–12 years of clean service — the old-unit-plus-repair route rarely does.
Terminal. Water dripping from the bottom shell (not from the flange, not from the dishwasher inlet, not from the discharge tube — the bottom itself) means the internal seal above the motor has failed. Water is now inside the motor housing and it's a matter of days before the motor shorts. We replace, we don't repair.
If pressing the reset button and confirming the outlet has power gets you nothing — no hum, no click, no vibration — the motor windings have failed. A replacement motor costs about the same as a new unit, so we install a new disposal instead.
InSinkErator Badgers run 8–10 years, Evolution series 10–12 years, Waste King L-series similar. Once a unit is past its lifespan and giving you a second or third problem in a year, keep repairing and you'll spend more than a new one costs. Replace once, get another decade.
Often caused by a hard freeze in a vacation home or by a violent jam. Once the chamber is cracked, the disposal can't hold water and will leak into the cabinet every time it's used. Not repairable.
If you're running a busy kitchen (family of five, frequent hosting, garbage-heavy cooking) and you've got a 1/3 HP Badger 1, upgrading to a 3/4 HP Evolution Compact or a Waste King L-2600 makes a real difference — fewer jams, faster grinding, quieter. We swap them out the same as any other replacement.
Common request from property managers and remodel contractors — new sink, new disposal at the same time. We coordinate with the sink installer or drop in after cabinets are done. Fresh mounting hardware and putty means no leaks year one.
Call (619) 626-3542. We ask about your existing unit (brand, HP if you know it), sink type, and whether you have a dishwasher connected. We bring options that fit.
The $75 travel & diagnostic covers arrival, inspection, and honest confirmation that replacement is the right call (sometimes it isn't — we'll tell you). It always applies and is not credited toward the replacement.
Drop old disposal, install new flange or reuse existing, mount new unit, reconnect discharge tube and dishwasher inlet, wire power. 60–90 minutes on-site for most swaps.
Run the new unit under load with cold water. Check every joint under pressure. Wipe down cabinet. Haul the old disposal away in our truck. One-year workmanship warranty in writing.
Encino
Issue: Ranch home off Ventura Blvd — 14-year-old InSinkErator Badger 5, leaking from the bottom shell, motor sluggish.
Fix: Confirmed internal seal failure on diagnostic. Swapped for an Evolution Compact 3/4 HP. Reused sink flange (still solid), new mounting kit, hauled old unit. Total on-site: 75 minutes.
Studio City
Issue: Hillside remodel off Laurel Canyon — contractor asked us to install a homeowner-supplied Waste King L-8000 during final punch list.
Fix: New flange, mounting kit, discharge tube, dishwasher inlet knockout removed, hardwired power. Coordinated with sink installer. 90 minutes on-site.
West Hollywood
Issue: 1960s condo off Fountain — Moen GX (7 years old) locked up after a jam, motor wouldn't restart even after reset.
Fix: Diagnostic confirmed dead motor windings. Homeowner opted for a like-for-like Moen GXS75C. HOA hallway rules meant we timed elevator use around building schedule. 80 minutes on-site.
Travel & Diagnostic
$75
Always applies — never waived or credited
Replacement Labor
$249
Labor only — unit not included; extra piping / dishwasher hookup +$99 when needed; haul-away included
New Unit Cost
$130–$390
Depends on brand & HP (Badger to Evolution Excel)
Mobile on-site service across LA — same-day availability in most neighborhoods.
Same-day mobile service. Upfront quote. Most jobs done in one visit.
Call (619) 626-3542