Licensed & insuredAvg. response 45 minutes★★★★★4.9 from 300+ local jobs
A garbage disposal that won't work is one of those problems that hits you mid-cleanup. You flip the switch and nothing happens, or it grinds to a halt with a stuck blade, and suddenly you're standing over a sink full of food scraps. Garbage disposal repair in Aptos is something we handle multiple times a week because the older Craftsman-era homes here in town, plus the beachside properties in Seacliff, often have disposals that have been running hard for years.
The problem is usually one of three things: a jammed impeller (something got wrapped around it), a tripped safety switch (a thermal overload), or a broken motor. We come out, run diagnostics with simple tests, and either clear the jam, reset the switch, or pull the whole unit if it needs replacing. Most jobs we can solve on the first visit. If we need to swap out the disposal, we'll handle the disconnect, installation, and testing before we leave.
The Santa Cruz County water here is decent quality, but disposal systems still work harder when there's a lot of starchy or fibrous stuff going down. That's just the reality of living where you do. We see it, and we're not going to upsell you on a replacement if a repair makes sense. Give us a call and describe what's happening, and we'll be honest about what you actually need.
When to call us
Disposal won't turn on at all, even though power reaches the outlet
Makes a humming sound but the blade won't spin
Leaks water from underneath or around the mounting ring
Trips the circuit breaker every time you run it
Grinds and slows down, then stops completely
Smells like rot inside even after you run it
Garbage disposal repair jobs we handle in Aptos
Diagnose whether it's a jam, thermal overload, or motor failure
Clear stuck objects or wrap without disassembling if possible
Test the reset button and electrical circuit
Remove and reinstall the disposal if replacement is needed
Install new disposal with all fittings and seals
Run water through the system to confirm it drains properly
Not sure which one you need? Call and describe what's going on. We'll confirm the scope and give you a free, no-obligation quote before any work starts.
Common questions
Can you fix a disposal jam without replacing the whole thing?
Most of the time, yes. If something got tangled or stuck, we can clear it and get the blade moving again. The tricky part is the type of jam: if a bone or hard object is lodged, we assess whether the impeller is cracked or if just clearing the blockage will work. Either way, we do that repair on the spot.
What causes a disposal to stop working?
Three main culprits: something jams the blade, the thermal overload switch trips (usually because the motor is overheating or struggling), or the motor burns out. Jams are the most common and easiest to fix. Overheating sometimes points to a failing motor or a drain line that's backing up. A truly dead motor usually means replacement.
Is it better to repair or replace a garbage disposal?
If your disposal is under ten years old and the problem is a jam or thermal overload, repair almost always makes sense. If the motor is dead, it's more cost-effective to replace it. We'll tell you which one applies to you during the visit before we do any work.
How long does a garbage disposal repair usually take?
A jam or thermal reset takes 15 to 30 minutes. If we're replacing the unit, plan on about 45 minutes total for removal, installation, and testing. We aim to have you in and out the same day, not dragging it out.