Disposal of the disposal

Why do home projects turn into the resurrection of Rome?

For one, just once, I'd like a simple repair to just be simple. I admit this one is on me. I did it. I ruined my disposal. Kids don't try this at home.

The darn thing was a bit sluggish. It is 10 years old, but still, I never feed it anything but things only elderly people can chow. So I figured it would last most my adult life.

That is until it got sluggish. And I got tired of seeing the gunk come whirling up at me like food reversal on Fear Factor. So in a flash of stupidity, kids don't try this at home, I poured Drano on top of the disposal. Problem solved.

A few days later, the splash guard was gone and as I peered in the sink the rusty teeth of the disposal were clearly visible. Turning the disposal on gave me a face bidet.

Off to a home repair store, I found a replacement splash guard, hardly $3. First warning sign of disaster… repair part is under $5.

Got home and found repair part doesn't just pop in. No, I have to remove the entire garbage disposal to put it in.

Like most, I have a plethora of cleansers, soaps, and junk under the sink, so all that had to be removed. Unplugged the disposal, unlatched it and took it out. This is the motor part out now sitting on the counter; the splash guard is still lodged in the sink.

Lo and behold, I can't figure out how to get the thing apart. I bang, I tug, I rip up the old splash guard or what's left of it. Then out of frustration and anger, I start on the sink flange and beat the pudding out of it.

Back at the home repair store looking for a new sink flange, I notice the old disposal I have is pretty wimpy, it's only a third horsepower, and those 5 hp look so nice. $140 later and some plumbers putty I return home.

Lying on my back with flashlight, I find the offending snap ring holding the entire clamp assembly on to the sink flange and once that got out, I was able to take the splash guard out.

The new disposal went in well enough despite the engraving on the sink flange being a tad skewed, matching my opinion of home repair.