Is your sink starting to smell like Fido's leftovers? A new garbage disposal, especially a tough one like a Glacier, can be a lifesaver for pet owners. Bones, stray kibble, the occasional dropped treat… they can all wreak havoc on your plumbing. Installing a Glacier garbage disposal might sound intimidating, but with a little patience (and this guide!), you can tackle it yourself and save some serious cash. Let’s get started!
Gather Your Supplies
Before you even think about touching that old disposal, make sure you have everything you need. Trust us, running to the hardware store mid-installation is not fun. Here's your checklist:
- New Glacier Garbage Disposal: Obviously! Make sure it's the right size and power for your needs.
- Safety Glasses: Protect those peepers! Seriously, flying debris is no joke.
- Work Gloves: Keep your hands clean and protected.
- Screwdrivers: Both Phillips head and flathead.
- Pliers: For loosening stubborn connections.
- Plumber's Putty: To create a watertight seal.
- Electrical Tape: For safely wiring the disposal.
- Drain Pipe Wrench: For disconnecting the old drain pipes.
- Hammer: (Maybe) For gently persuading things.
- Old Towels/Bucket: To catch any water spillage.
Remove the Old Disposal
This is where things get a little messy (and smelly, potentially). Be prepared!
Step 1: Disconnect the Power
This is crucial! Find the circuit breaker that controls your garbage disposal and switch it off. Double-check by turning on the disposal switch; it shouldn't do anything.
Step 2: Disconnect the Drain Pipes
Place a bucket under the disposal to catch any water. Use your drain pipe wrench to loosen the nuts connecting the disposal to the drain pipes. Carefully remove the pipes.
Step 3: Disconnect the Electrical Wiring
Remove the cover plate on the bottom of the disposal to expose the wiring. Loosen the wire connectors and carefully disconnect the wires. Remember which wire goes where! Take a picture if you need to. Typically, you'll have a black (hot), white (neutral), and green (ground) wire.
Step 4: Remove the Old Disposal
Most disposals are held in place by a mounting ring. There’s usually a special tool that comes with new disposals that helps you twist the mounting ring to release the old unit. If you don't have the tool, a screwdriver and hammer can sometimes do the trick (gently!). Once the mounting ring is loose, the disposal should drop down. It might be heavy, so be prepared to support it.
Install the New Glacier Disposal
Now for the fun part (relatively speaking).
Step 1: Install the Mounting Assembly
Follow the manufacturer's instructions to install the new mounting assembly. This usually involves applying plumber's putty to the sink flange and then securing it in place with the mounting ring. Make sure it's nice and tight!
Tip: Use plenty of plumber's putty! It's better to have too much than not enough.
Step 2: Connect the Disposal
Lift the Glacier disposal into place and align it with the mounting assembly. Twist the mounting ring until the disposal is securely locked in. Again, the special tool that comes with the disposal is usually very helpful here.
Step 3: Connect the Electrical Wiring
Reconnect the wires to the disposal, matching the colors to the wires you disconnected earlier (black to black, white to white, green to ground). Secure the wires with the wire connectors and replace the cover plate. Use electrical tape to reinforce the connections.
Step 4: Connect the Drain Pipes
Reattach the drain pipes to the disposal, tightening the nuts with your drain pipe wrench. Make sure the connections are snug to prevent leaks.
Step 5: Test for Leaks
Turn the circuit breaker back on and run water into the sink with the disposal running. Check for any leaks around the mounting ring, drain pipes, and electrical compartment. If you see any leaks, tighten the connections or apply more plumber's putty.
Congrats! You Did It!
You've successfully installed your new Glacier garbage disposal! Now you can say goodbye to those stinky sink smells and hello to a cleaner, more efficient kitchen. Remember to clean your disposal regularly with ice cubes and citrus peels to keep it running smoothly. And maybe think twice before letting Sparky lick his bowl completely clean. Enjoy!