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Most garbage disposal problems announce themselves in one of four ways: a hum with no grinding, complete silence when you flip the switch, water dripping into the cabinet below, or a unit that grinds but drains slowly. Each points somewhere different, and two of the four are free to fix yourself. Homeowners in Columbus often call a plumber before pressing the reset button worth trying first.

A hum means the motor runs, but the flywheel is stuck. Shut the power off immediately; a stalled motor heats its windings toward burnout in seconds. Cut power at the switch and the breaker, insert a 1/4-inch hex wrench into the socket on the bottom center, and rock it until the plate turns freely. Pull the debris out with tongs, never your hand. Then press the red reset button on the underside. Total silence usually means that same reset button, a tripped breaker, or a GFCI outlet.

Leaks and repeat failures are where a pro earns the fee. Water from the top flange or a drain connection is a seal or gasket, $80 to $180. Water from the bottom housing means the motor seal failed, and that unit is done. Repairs run $100 to $450, averaging around $230, with plumbers billing $50 to $125 an hour plus a $70 to $130 diagnostic fee. Prices in Columbus sit inside those ranges.

Because a disposal sits on both plumbing and electrical, a licensed plumber can rule out wiring, seals, and drain issues in one visit rather than three. Below you’ll find licensed plumbers handling garbage disposal repair in Columbus, jam clearing, leak and seal work, motor diagnosis, and replacement when repair stops making sense. Compare licensing, reviews, and rates, and ask whether the diagnostic fee applies toward the repair.

List of Garbage Disposal Repair Services In Columbus

Based on our criteria
Workman Score
76.8 /100
Based on
9 reviews analyzed
Yelp Yelp
Score Data Quality
Moderate evidence
Decent data coverage
  • Project Completion 70%
  • Professionalism 82%
  • Experience 65%
  • Price-friendly 25%

What is the overall customer analysis in August?

Summerland Plumbing shows strong professionalism and responsiveness in recent years, with multiple customers praising quick response times and courteous service. However, project completion reliability is mixed—while several jobs were completed successfully, there are documented cases of incomplete repairs (water heater failure 3 days after service) and quality issues (toilet leaking at seam one y... Read more
Score last updated August 2026
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Workman Score
74.2 /100
Based on
39 reviews analyzed
Yelp Yelp Angi Angi Thumbtack Thumbtack Homeadvisor Homeadvisor Google Google
Score Data Quality
Moderate evidence
Decent data coverage
  • Project Completion 74%
  • Professionalism 72%
  • Experience 78%
  • Price-friendly 52%

What is the overall customer analysis in August?

The contractor receives broadly positive feedback on professionalism, with multiple reviewers citing punctuality, courtesy, shoe covers, communication, and willingness to explain work — however, two duplicate negative reviews describe a tech who spoke over the customer, ignored a callback request, and left a mess, which meaningfully drags the professionalism score down. Pricing is a concern: one r... Read more
Score last updated August 2026
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Workman Score
74.2 /100
Based on
21 reviews analyzed
Yelp Yelp Angi Angi Thumbtack Thumbtack
Score Data Quality
Moderate evidence
Decent data coverage
  • Project Completion 74%
  • Professionalism 78%
  • Experience 80%
  • Price-friendly 80%

What is the overall customer analysis in August?

Midwest Plumbing has a generally positive track record across all four dimensions, with consistent praise for responsiveness, professionalism, and fair pricing spanning many years of reviews. Professionalism scores well overall but is tempered by one explicit complaint about a technician arriving in an unacceptably dirty state and a separate serious complaint about a failed installation where the ... Read more
Score last updated August 2026
View Profile
Workman Score
72.8 /100
Based on
66 reviews analyzed
Yelp Yelp Angi Angi Thumbtack Thumbtack Homeadvisor Homeadvisor Google Google
Score Data Quality
Moderate evidence
Decent data coverage
  • Project Completion 78%
  • Professionalism 89%
  • Experience 85%
  • Price-friendly 52%

What is the overall customer analysis in August?

Jackson Services demonstrates strong professionalism with consistently courteous, punctual, and knowledgeable technicians across 38 mentions. However, pricing emerges as a significant weakness, with 11 explicit complaints about overcharging, inflated estimates, and poor value compared to competitors—some customers report savings of hundreds to thousands by using alternative providers. Project comp... Read more
Score last updated August 2026
View Profile
Workman Score
72.8 /100
Based on
21 reviews analyzed
Yelp Yelp Angi Angi Thumbtack Thumbtack
Score Data Quality
Moderate evidence
Decent data coverage
  • Project Completion 72%
  • Professionalism 68%
  • Experience 82%
  • Price-friendly 65%

What is the overall customer analysis in August?

Total Plumbing Solutions demonstrates strong technical expertise and workmanship quality, with multiple reviews praising knowledgeable technicians and effective problem-solving. However, professionalism is significantly undermined by documented instances of poor owner communication, dismissive attitudes toward customer concerns, and unprofessional phone handling. Project completion shows mixed res... Read more
Score last updated August 2026
View Profile
Workman Score
72.8 /100
Based on
11 reviews analyzed
Yelp Yelp Angi Angi
Score Data Quality
Moderate evidence
Decent data coverage
  • Project Completion 78%
  • Professionalism 65%
  • Experience 85%
  • Price-friendly 88%

What is the overall customer analysis in August?

J&J Plumbing demonstrates strong technical expertise and competitive pricing, with multiple reviews praising fair costs and skilled workmanship. However, professionalism is significantly undermined by severe communication failures, unresponsiveness, and one incident of vulgar employee conduct. The company excels at problem-solving and honest assessments but struggles with follow-through on callbac... Read more
Score last updated August 2026
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Why is my garbage disposal humming but not working?

The motor is running, but the flywheel is jammed. Turn it off right away; running a stalled disposal burns out the windings fast. Cut power at the wall switch and breaker, insert a 1/4-inch Allen wrench into the hex socket on the bottom center, and rock it back and forth until the plate spins freely. Remove the debris with tongs, never your hand, then press the reset button. If it still hums, call a plumber rather than retrying.

Why won't my garbage disposal turn on at all?

Silence usually means power, not mechanical failure. Press the red reset button on the bottom of the unit firmly until it clicks. If nothing changes, check the wall switch, the breaker panel, and any GFCI outlet nearby; disposals often share a circuit with one, and a trip elsewhere can kill power here. If all three check out and the unit is still dead, the wiring or motor has failed. That’s when a plumber is worth the call. Both fixes need a pro.

How much does garbage disposal repair cost?

Most repairs run $100 to $450, averaging about $230. Clearing a clog or jam is $70 to $200. Leak repairs run $80 to $180 for a worn seal or flange, more if drain piping is involved. Labor is $50 to $125 an hour, and most companies charge a $70 to $130 diagnostic fee that usually credits toward the work. Prices fall in these ranges. Replacement runs $200 to $550 installed, which is often the better call on an older unit.

Why is my garbage disposal leaking?

Where it drips identifies the part. Water at the top rim means the sink flange seal or plumber’s putty failed a common, inexpensive fix. Leaks at the side connections point to the dishwasher hose or discharge tube gasket. Water dripping from the bottom of the housing is the one that matters: it means the internal motor seal has gone, and no repair reliably fixes that. Plumbers charge $80 to $180 for the fixable leaks. The bottom leak means replacement.

Should I repair or replace my garbage disposal?

Replace it if the unit is leaking from the bottom housing, is over about 10 years old, or needs resetting repeatedly. Those all point to a failing motor, and a new disposal costs $200 to $550 installed versus $230 average for a repair that may not last. Repair makes sense for jams, tripped resets, a leaking flange, or a bad drain connection. Quality units last 10 to 15 years; budget models 5 to 8. Plumbers can price both options.

Can I fix a garbage disposal myself?

Two problems, yes. Clearing a jam with a hex wrench and pressing the reset button cost nothing and solve most complaints. Beyond that, hand it off. Replacing seals, diagnosing a motor, or touching the wiring under a wet sink carries real risk, and improper work can void the manufacturer’s warranty. Never put your hand into the chamber, even with the power off. Plumbers charge a $70 to $130 diagnostic fee that is usually credited toward the final repair bill.

How can I keep the disposal from breaking again?

Most failures trace back to what goes in. Fibrous scraps celery, corn husks, onion skins, potato peels wrap the impellers and cause repeat jams. Grease solidifies downstream. Bones, fruit pits, coffee grounds, pasta, and rice all cause trouble. Run cold water before, during, and several seconds after each use. Skip chemical drain cleaners, which damage internal components. Grinding ice or citrus peel controls odor. Plumbers see the same handful of preventable failures over and over again every year.

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1.2 million + Plumber reviews analyzed

See customer stories
IR
Igal Rubinshtein @igal

Joel and his team went above and beyond to make sure they helped us fix the gas leak. Joel is a man of his word and came through on his promise.

AP
Alex Pritchard @alexpritch

Very expensive. Make sure you establish the price up front. They did some work on gas pipes, which was specialized so the prices weren't so horrible.

JS
Joe S. @joe

They did a good job and came quickly. Installed a bidet in my toilet. Shout out to Casey for the quality work.

DE
D Evonne W. @evonne

Scheduled service for a clogged toilet and never showed. No call, all messages unanswered

JA
Jari @jari22

If its an easy fit sure they maybe great but if its something different then quoted they are going to charge you either way a hefty price.

AU
Ashley Undercuffler @undercuffler

They never called my property manager, or myself, to ask if they could do an additional estimate while at my property. I was shocked. Companies cannot go around doing estimates.

AJ
A Jackson @jacksona

Mike showed up in an hour to shut off a spigot that I could not shut off. Always great friendly service at a reasonable price!!!

IR
Igal Rubinshtein @igal

Joel and his team went above and beyond to make sure they helped us fix the gas leak. Joel is a man of his word and came through on his promise.

AP
Alex Pritchard @alexpritch

Very expensive. Make sure you establish the price up front. They did some work on gas pipes, which was specialized so the prices weren't so horrible.

JS
Joe S. @joe

They did a good job and came quickly. Installed a bidet in my toilet. Shout out to Casey for the quality work.

DE
D Evonne W. @evonne

Scheduled service for a clogged toilet and never showed. No call, all messages unanswered

JA
Jari @jari22

If its an easy fit sure they maybe great but if its something different then quoted they are going to charge you either way a hefty price.

AU
Ashley Undercuffler @undercuffler

They never called my property manager, or myself, to ask if they could do an additional estimate while at my property. I was shocked. Companies cannot go around doing estimates.

AJ
A Jackson @jacksona

Mike showed up in an hour to shut off a spigot that I could not shut off. Always great friendly service at a reasonable price!!!

What does the Wise Workman score mean?
<70 Low
71–80 Moderate
81–100 High
77.5
WW Score
Learn more about how the Wise Workman scoring system works, along with our data governance policy.
What things affect the Wise Workman score?
Price-Friendly
💰Professionalism:
Experience
🛠️Project
Completion

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