A garbage disposal failure disrupts your kitchen fast, and it rarely happens at a convenient time. Whether the unit is jammed, leaking, humming without grinding, or completely unresponsive, Shaw Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning sends licensed and insured technicians to diagnose and fix it quickly. We’ve served homes and businesses in Spokane, WA, since 2015, and we offer same-day scheduling and weekend appointments for non-emergency repairs alongside 24/7 emergency service for situations that can’t wait.
Every repair comes with a free estimate before work begins and is backed by a warranty. You know the cost upfront, and you know the work holds.
Most garbage disposals last 8 to 15 years under normal use, and our technicians can repair the majority of issues we encounter. That said, some situations make replacement the smarter investment. Our technicians give you an honest assessment either way.
Signs your garbage disposal may need replacement:
When a new unit is the right call, we handle garbage disposal installation as well.
At Shaw Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning, we repair all major garbage disposal brands and models. When you call us, you’ll get a thorough diagnosis and a clear explanation of what’s wrong before any work begins.
Spokane winters create a condition most homeowners don’t immediately connect to their disposal: cold temperatures cause grease and food waste to solidify much faster inside the unit and in the drain line immediately downstream. What flushes cleanly in summer can harden into a stubborn blockage within feet of the disposal once temperatures drop.
If your disposal develops recurring jams in fall or winter that seem to clear up as temperatures rise, seasonal grease buildup in the drain line is likely the root cause rather than the disposal itself. Running a strong stream of cold water during use and for at least 30 seconds afterward helps push solidified material through before it accumulates. When jams keep returning despite that, a professional drain inspection can identify whether buildup has already formed downstream.
When your garbage disposal stops working, you need a local plumber you can reach quickly and trust to be straight with you. Here’s what sets Shaw Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning apart:
With over 1,000 Google-verified reviews and a 4.9-star rating, the feedback from Spokane homeowners tells a consistent story: our technicians show up prepared, explain the problem clearly, and stand behind their work. Reviews mentioning Clay Cottrell, Jason, and David reflect the same themes across hundreds of calls, including professionalism on the job, honest communication about repair versus replacement, and warranty follow-through when it mattered. That kind of track record doesn’t come from one good interaction. It comes from doing the job right on call after call.
Over 1,000+ Google Verified 4.9 Star Reviews.
They were very knowledgeable, courteous and kind."I highly recommend this company to anyone who needs work done and need it done right the first time!"- Dale B.
They were so friendly and professional, and didn't even charge us!!"It turned out we had accidentally turned it off, and wasn't broken after all."- Kristen H.
Will use again!"The work looks good and they have a warranty they stand behind."- Advanced Radon Technologies
Hopefully not soon, but will call again should we need help. Very good."Our experience with Shaw and technician Clay Cottrell was excellent."- James D.
Thank you Shaw plumbing for providing such excellent service!"Shaw, plumbing heating and air hands-down, the friendliest group of trustworthy individuals that are highly skilled and motivated to do an excellent job."- Dougie B.
I was very pleased with his knowledge and expertise."Jason did a great job and will be my go to guy if I need anything else. Highly recommend!"- Tim
They do great work and are very professional."This is the third plumbing project that Shaw Plumbing has done."- Richard B.
The conversations with David were pressure-free and I trusted his advice."We are very happy with the service provided by David and we will continue to seek him out for future projects."- Jacqueline S.
Many common garbage disposal issues can be resolved before you ever need to call a professional. Before attempting anything, confirm the power is completely off at both the wall switch and the circuit breaker. Never put your hand inside the disposal unit.
Here are the six most frequent problems Spokane homeowners encounter, and what you can try before calling us:
Symptoms: You flip the switch and nothing happens. No hum, no grinding, just silence.
Symptoms: The disposal hums when switched on, but the grinding plate isn’t spinning, and nothing drains.
Symptoms: Water is pooling under the sink or dripping from the unit.
Symptoms: Water backs up in the sink after running the disposal or drains very slowly.
Symptoms: A foul smell from the kitchen drain, even after running water.
Symptoms: The disposal makes sounds outside its normal hum, such as clanking, screeching, or excessive grinding.
If these steps haven’t resolved the issue, we’re ready to help. Shaw Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning offers 24/7 emergency service and same-day garbage disposal repair in Spokane, WA, with free estimates and warranty-backed work on every job. Call us at (509) 954-5273.
Yes. Dishwashers drain through the garbage disposal, so a blocked or jammed unit can prevent proper dishwasher drainage entirely. A common issue we see in Spokane homes is a new disposal that hasn’t had its knockout plug removed, which backs water directly into the dishwasher. If your dishwasher isn’t draining and you suspect the disposal is the cause, contact Shaw Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning for rapid repair.
No. Most standard kitchen sinks have a 3.5-inch drain opening that fits almost every residential disposal unit. The main consideration is making sure there’s enough clearance in the cabinet below to accommodate the unit and allow access for maintenance. For more on installation requirements, visit our kitchen plumbing repairs page.
For cleaning, grind a tray of ice cubes with citrus peels to freshen the unit and dislodge buildup. You can also pour a cup of baking soda, wait a few minutes, then follow with white vinegar and flush with hot water. For jams or power issues, refer to the troubleshooting guide above, which walks through the reset button check and Allen wrench method. Always confirm the power is off before attempting any hands-near-drain work.
In an urban setting like Spokane, disposals handle food waste that isn’t suited for composting, including meat, bones, and dairy. Spokane’s wastewater treatment facilities, including the Riverside Park Water Reclamation Facility and the Spokane County Regional Water Reclamation Facility, use anaerobic digestion to convert food waste into biosolids and biogas. That makes a properly used disposal a meaningfully better option than sending food waste to a landfill.
A properly functioning disposal grinding food waste correctly won’t block a well-maintained sewer system. Blockages happen from improper use: fibrous foods like celery or corn husks, starchy items like potato peels or pasta, grease, coffee grounds, or large foreign objects. If you’re dealing with frequent blockages, there may be a deeper plumbing issue at play. Contact Shaw Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning for a professional drain inspection.
Signs that favor replacement include frequent recurring jams, persistent leaks from the unit body (indicating a cracked housing), unusual noises that persist after clearing foreign objects, reduced grinding performance, and age beyond the typical 8-to-15-year lifespan. If the repair cost approaches or exceeds half the price of a comparable new unit, replacement is usually the more practical choice. We provide honest assessments either way, and when replacement is right, we also handle garbage disposal installation.
Following these steps can significantly extend the life of your disposal and reduce the likelihood of a repair call. If you’d like professional guidance or service, contact Shaw Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning.
