Garbage Disposal replacement.. . DIY or hire a plumber? (to buy, cost of)

[polapoll]

Our garbage disposal needs to be replaced, but looking around online, it seems like the cost of installation by a plumber is in the hundreds. Is this something I can try to install myself or would you recommend that I hire a professional?

Also if I end up using a licensed plumber, would I have to had purchased a new disposal before hand or would the plumber suggest a brand/model for me to buy?

Thank you in advance for your replies!

[flyonpa]

If you are fairly handy you should be able to do it yourself. ( I did mine ). When you buy it Go for the higher horsepower one.

You also need to do a little electrical work, (Turn power off 1st) to move the power from the old one to the new one. (Unless both are plug in models (unlikely)) .


If you use a plumber, s/he will buy it and will be part of the contract. Some might tell you what make/model to get. But most plumbers keep a unit 'in stock' in there truck.

[sonofagunk]

I replaced mine, but I made it simple. I got the almost the same model that I had (upped the horse power a little). What this gave me was that the part that is actually hooked up to the sink did not have to be replaced (the only real place you can have a leak) and the adpater to the power was the same so that was easy. Just unscrew some plastic pipe connectors, give the garbage disposal a hard turn to dislocate it, unplugged it (never turned off the breaker, but had the switch off), and then did the reverse to put the new one on

[annerk]

It's really easy--they usually come with step by step directions. Just town off the power AT THE BREAKER before you start working on it, even if it's a plug-in model.

Most of them are plug-in models these days, even the higher HP ones.

[polapoll]

Thanks for your replies!