What Causes Garbage Disposals To Leak From the Bottom in Winnipeg, MB?

The garbage disposal is unarguably the most important appliance in your kitchen when it’s time for that post-dinner cleanup. This powerful device breaks up your discarded food remnants, making it easier to keep your kitchen clean.

However, all that grinding action can take a toll on the system, leading to malfunction. It’s not uncommon to find your garbage disposal leaking from the bottom at some point. This is a major issue because such leaks can give your kitchen a bad smell in addition to all the attendant risks of water damage.

What causes garbage disposals to leak from the bottom? What can you do about them? The most trusted plumbers in Winnipeg, MB, cover all you need to know in this post.

The Top Reasons Your Garbage Disposal System Leaks From the Bottom in Winnipeg, MB

Some of the major causes of leaks from the bottom of your garbage disposal system include the following:

Worn or Damaged Seals

Garbage disposal systems feature internal seals designed to prevent leakage. However, these seals don’t last forever. After a few years, they will wear out, making it easier for liquids to leak out from the bottom of the unit. You may think that this is an easy fix that will simply involve changing the seals, but that’s rarely the case.

If you have a single worn seal in your garbage disposal, then you definitely have more worn on their way out. Replacing all these seals at once is not always practical. Therefore, most plumbers will recommend simply changing the entire unit—especially if you’ve already had it for more than five years.

If the unit is newer, they might try to stem the flow of water by replacing a few seals and using plumber’s putty to hold things together.

Cracked Motor Housing

The motor housing is an inner shell that houses all the key components of the garbage disposal system. This interior shell might crack as the disposal ages. When it happens, you’ll likely find your garbage disposal leaking from the bottom.

If you have a cracked motor housing, you’ll need to call a plumber as soon as possible. Most will recommend replacing the entire system. So you may need to dust off your warranty papers if the unit still qualifies.

Internal Corrosion

You expose the metal parts of your garbage disposal system to water, food waste, cleaning agents, etc., every time you use the unit. Over time, this will lead to corrosion and rust. When the internal parts begin to corrode, water will seep out from the bottom of the unit while in use.

Again, this is another problem without a fix. You’ll need to replace the unit as soon as possible.

Loose Connections in the Plumbing

When you spot that pool of water underneath your sink, it’s easy to conclude that it’s your garbage disposal leaking from the bottom. However, you may be looking at a purely plumbing issue.

The garbage disposal system doesn’t work in isolation. It’s hooked up to your plumbing system. You’ll find the dishwasher hose, drain pipe, and the sink itself all connected to it.

If there’s any leak in the connections, you may find water dripping from the bottom of the garbage disposal system. But when you look closely, you might find the water coming from elsewhere.

If you notice such a leak, don’t worry too much about finding the source of the leak. An experienced plumber will find it quickly.

Complete Disposal Failure

Very old garbage disposal systems can have multiple issues going on inside them at the same time. Some homeowners in Winnipeg, MB, call a plumber to look at their garbage disposal system leaking from the bottom only to find that they have a wobbly grinding mechanism, malfunctioning motors, worn-out seals, and extensive corrosion.

Each of those problems can cause water leaks on their own. Together, that spells the end of the unit’s lifespan.

Worn or Faulty Gasket

If you find your garbage disposal leaking from the bottom, you might have a worn rubber gasket. The gasket sits between the sink flange and the disposal’s seal and will wear down after years of use. When it wears out too much, water will start to leak from the bottom of your garbage disposal.

Thankfully, it’s possible to fix this problem. Your plumber will loosen the drain pipe to reach the rubber gasket inside and then install a compatible replacement gasket.

How To Keep Your Garbage Disposal System From Leaking in the Future

The surest way to keep your garbage disposal system from leaking is to judiciously follow a plumbing system maintenance schedule. An experienced plumber looking over the unit at least once a year can spot the signs of internal damage before they fully manifest.

They can also tighten connections and generally make sure all components are in shape.

Between their visit, you can also do your part to keep the unit working optimally. Here are a few tips you should keep in mind:

• Don’t run the disposal dry. Always run cold water while using the system to avoid putting excessive strain on it.
• Avoid cleaning the disposal system with harsh chemicals.  They can hasten corrosion. Your normal dishwasher liquid can work perfectly when cleaning off accumulated debris.
• Don’t send fibrous or greasy food down the disposal. They are tough on the internal components. Therefore, you may end up with cracked housing a lot earlier than normal.
  

Get Expert Help With Your Leaky Garbage Disposal From Your Local Pros in Winnipeg, MB

Have you found your garbage disposal leaking from the bottom and can’t work out what to do? Don’t sweat it. Reach out to the team at King’s Services. Our highly experienced technicians will thoroughly inspect your unit to pinpoint the cause of the leaks.



We’ll also recommend the most cost-effective action, which doesn’t always have to be a replacement. Call our Winnipeg, MB, team today, and you’ll never dread cleanup time again.

For further reading, here’s a post on understanding plumbing emergencies.