Garbage Disposal is about 2-1/2 years old It is now no longer grinding up potato peels and clog every time! HELP--do we need a new one!!!

1/2 horsepower is the lighter weight model, and if you use it heavily, then it will not work like before.
Another thing to consider is whether the water is draining away completely while you're cutting.
If water and potato peels are both present, your p-trap and tubular drain may need to be cleaned.



Let's go through the whole thing: replacement, p-trap, tubular pipes, everything.

When I worked apartment maintenance, we replaced disposal with same brand disposal.
That way we didn't have to change out sink basket or move pipes around.
How to replace disposal body: Disconnect both nuts on p-trap. Remove p-trap and loosen tailpiece going into disposal.
Rotate connector disk clockwise that holds disposal to sink basket.
Before installing new disposal.
Attach electric wire to new disposal.
Attach dishwasher tube to new disposal. Knock out plug inside dishwasher opening.
Push new disposal up into place, and attach to old sink basket with new connector disk.
Use new connector washer.
Re-assemble tubular pipe.



If this is your home, you might want new sink basket that comes with new disposal because it looks shiny and new.
Buy a tub of plumbers putty also.
Remove old sink basket and clean opening.
Put finger-size roll of plumbers putty around sink opening, and then push new strainer basket into plumbers putty.
Tighten basket from below, wipe away excess putty around sink opening.
Install new disposal as described above.

Tips for tubular pipes:
When taking apart tubular pipes, start at p-trap and take apart as few pieces as needed to do job.
On image above, loosen both nuts on p-trap, trap falls loose, and then work on disposal.
Any tubular drain pipe that gets moved while working under sink needs to be disassembled, cleaned and re-assembled.
Metal pipes have rubber washer >> always use new rubber washers.
Plastic pipes have plastic washers > plastic washers can be cleaned and re-used.
Plastic washers have flat side that goes toward nut, tapered side away froGarbage Disposal is about 2-1/2 - geno_3245_164.jpg>

When reassembling tubular pipe, we use rectorseal on washers and joints.
Apply good amount on washer just before pushing washer in place and attaching nut.
Rectorseal will ensure tubular drain pipes won't leak.

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