Perhaps your current Waste King garbage disposal is on strike, but nothing seems to convince it to return to working conditions. Or, maybe you troubleshoot the issue (perhaps even have a plumber look at it), only to find out it’s done for good. So, you found yourself shopping for a new garbage disposal.
Now, you purchased the new garbage disposal but need to take out the old one. Although the switch can seem daunting, it’s pretty straightforward. We’re here to walk you through the steps, so keep reading to learn more!
How Do You Change A Waste King Garbage Disposal?
To replace your current Waste King garbage disposal, you’ll need to remove the old one. The process is fairly straightforward, but some folks might have more steps than others.
For example, if your garbage disposal is connected to your dishwasher, you’ll need to disconnect that during the process. Obviously, that step won’t be necessary if you don’t have a dishwasher (you get the point).
Here’s how to remove a Waste King garbage disposal to prepare for its replacement.
Gather Your Tools And Cut The Power
Before you get started, you need to gather a few materials. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Pan to collect water
- A few towels
- Flathead or Philips screwdriver (depends on the type of screws)
- Putty knife
- Pliers with rubber handles
- Safety glasses and gloves (optional)
Once you gather your tools, start by turning off the power to the garbage disposal. If it’s hardwired on a circuit, turn off the power at the breaker box. Otherwise, ensure the switch is in the “Off” position and unplug the unit from the wall.
Turn Off The Water
Next, turn off the water to the sink. There should be a shut-off valve beneath the sink, so turn the valve(s) clockwise to turn them off. Or, if there isn’t a shut-off valve beneath the sink, you’ll have to shut off the water at the main water supply valve.
Once the water is off, position the water collecting pan underneath the disposal. As you disconnect things, water will probably leak, and you (probably) don’t want to destroy the cabinet beneath the sink.
Disconnect The Dishwasher
If your garbage disposal is connected to a dishwasher, you’ll need to disconnect it to remove the appliance. There should be a tube running from the dishwasher to the side of the garbage disposal.
On the tube, you’ll see a clamp that’s tightened with a screw. Loosen the screw with your screwdriver, which will allow the clamp to move freely up and down the tube. Remove the tube from where it connects to the garbage disposal.
There will probably be some water in the tube, so angle it downward toward the pan to catch the water.
Disconnect The Plumbing Line
In some cases, the garbage disposal might be connected to the main plumbing with a tube. If this is the case, follow the disconnect process for the dishwasher tube – it should be the same. There should be a clamp around the line, secured by a screw. Once you loosen the clamp, you can remove the tube.
However, there might be actual plumbing connected to the disposal itself. So, if this is the case, there’s probably a PVC connection and a screw cap that connects the plumbing to the disposal. So, unthread the screw cap, then slide it back on the pipe.
Now, you can disconnect the plumbing from the unit.
Remove The Splash Guard
If you have a Waste King splash guard connected to your garbage disposal, you’ll need to remove it (unless you want to keep it for the next model). Unlike many other brands, Waste King splash guards are removable.
Insert the rubber handles of a pair of pliers into the garbage disposal, just past the flaps of the splash guard. Open the handles until they press against the sides of the splash guard. Once they’re firmly against the sides, rotate the pliers counterclockwise to unthread the splash guard.
After you loosen it, lift it up and out of the disposer.
Disconnect The Unit From The Sink
With the plumbing line and dishwasher hookup line disconnected and the splash guard removed, you can disconnect the unit from the sink. Some Waste King models feature an EZ Mount Twist-and-Lock system, making installation quick and easy.
To remove this system, you’ll need to retrace the installation steps. If you didn’t install it, no worries – we’ll explain it. There’s a silver ring at the top of the disposal canister. Twist the ring by hand a quarter turn counterclockwise to loosen it.
Once you loosen the ring, the garbage disposal is free, so pull down on it slightly. After you remove it, set it aside. Next, remove the black rubber gasket below the silver ring by pulling it down. The silver ring should easily come off after you remove the gasket.
After removing the gasket and silver ring, hand loosen the black plastic piece that snugly sits against the bottom of the sink by turning counterclockwise. Once it’s loose enough, remove it. Now, you can remove the rest of the assembly from the sink drain.
The specific parts inside the drain assembly depend on what kind of sink you have (stainless steel, porcelain, etc.). If there’s plumber’s putty around the drain, scrape it away before installing the new disposal.
Replace The Unit
With the old Waste King garbage disposal out of the way, you can replace it with a new unit. Or, if you’re not connecting another disposal, you’ll need to configure the plumbing to accommodate the lack of a disposal.
If you’re installing a new garbage disposal of a different size, you might have to adjust the plumbing connections to accommodate the new size. It varies from one disposal to the next, but if the new disposal is the same size as the old one, the installation is pretty easy.