Video · Plumbing Pipes, Faucets and Disposals
How to Replace a Garbage Disposal, From Mounting Ring to Leak Test
To replace a garbage disposal: cut the power, remove the old unit, mount the new one to the sink flange, reconnect the drain and power, then run water and look for leaks. The leak test is the step people skip.
Job footageSwiftPro
- Topic
- Plumbing Pipes, Faucets and Disposals
- Length
- 0:30
- Posted
- September 16, 2026
- Shot by
- The SwiftPro crew, Northern Virginia
What you’re seeing in this video
A SwiftPro tech in a black beanie, safety glasses and shoe covers kneels on a drop cloth under a kitchen sink. Numbered steps on screen track where he is in the job.
He lifts the new disposal up to the mounting ring, the metal collar hanging under the sink drain, and turns it until the tabs lock. That twist-lock carries the weight of the motor and keeps the seal tight against the sink.
Then the water goes on, and he checks the connections under the sink for drips before calling it done.
Why it matters in your house
- If the old disposal is the same brand, the existing mounting ring often works. A different brand usually means replacing the flange too, which means breaking the seal at the sink.
- Hooking up a dishwasher? Knock out the plug inside the new disposal's dishwasher inlet first, or the dishwasher backs up on its first run.
- Check under the sink a day later with a dry paper towel. Slow drips at the flange or drain elbow show up overnight, not in the first minute.
Can I replace a garbage disposal myself?
If you're handy with basic plumbing and the unit plugs into an outlet, plenty of people can. The tricky parts are a new sink flange, a hardwired unit, and lining up the drain so it slopes right. If the old one leaked at the sink, or the switch or outlet acts up, it's worth having a plumber do it.
Want it done at your place? See Plumbing Pipes, Faucets and Disposals at SwiftPro or call (703) 997-9757.
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