Once disposal rusts out, it needs replacement.
Usually if sink basket seal is broken or if dishwasher attachment is leaking, you can feel water near top of disposal.
Use paper towel at top to see if that area is wet.
If top area is dry, then water is coming from inside disposal, and disposal is rusted out.
If sink seal is still good, we used to buy same brand disposal and re-attach to same sink basket. That's the quick fix.
If this is inside your home, you probably want to install new sink basket that comes with disposal.
To install new disposal, also buy container of plumber's putty to seal sink basket.
Remove disposal.
Clean off old putty on sink. It will chip off easily.
Apply finger-thick amount of plumbers putty to sink opening.
Set disposal sink basket into putty and push down.
Tighten screws on bottom of sink basket.
Wipe away excess plumber's putty from sink so it looks nice and smooth.
Before lifting disposal into place, attach electric wires and attach dishwasher hose to disposal.
Use hammer and screwdriver to remove steel blocker located inside dishwasher stem ... the blocker is left in place if no dishwasher hose is attached.
Disposals can be different: But here's the usual sequence:
Lift disposal with one hand and hold level. Push up strong while rotating attachment ring until ring grabs bottom of sink basket.
If you cannot lift disposal with one hand while rotating attachment ring with other hand, use small bottle jack from auto-parts store. And put piece of wood between bottle jack and aluminum disposal so disposal doesn't break.
Here's how to handle tubular pipes below sink:
Any tubular pipe joint that moved while removing or installing disposal, has to be taken apart, cleaned and re-attached.
If washers are plastic, then clean and re-use.
If washers are rubber, then replace each washer with new rubber washer.
When reattaching tubular pipes, apply generous amount of rectorseal over each plastic or rubber washer for first-time seal of tubular pipes.
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