Bring the unit or let us source one — we install both ways.
Garbage disposal installs
Remove old unit, fit a new mounting flange with fresh putty or silicone, install the disposal with the correct trap arm pitch (1/4" per foot, never uphill), connect the dishwasher discharge to the proper port with the knockout removed, hardwire or cord-and-plug per your existing setup, and run-test under load. Hardwired installs get a dedicated 15A or 20A circuit if not already present.
Dishwasher installs done to code
A correctly installed dishwasher has either a high-loop (drain line looped up under the counter and strapped to the underside of the deck) or a true air-gap fitting at the sink — both prevent waste water from the sink siphoning into the dishwasher. We install whichever your local code requires, with new supply line, proper electrical, and leveling pads adjusted so the door closes flush.
Common problems we fix on existing installs
Disposal humming but not spinning (jammed impellers), dishwasher backing up into the sink (no high-loop or clogged air-gap), persistent leak at the disposal flange (failed putty), and dishwasher tripping the breaker (shared circuit with disposal or microwave). Most of these are 30-minute fixes.
Garbage disposal replacement
Replacing a disposal is a same-day job in most kitchens across Norwalk, Whittier, Downey, Bellflower, and La Mirada. We shut off the branch circuit, disconnect the drain and dishwasher discharge, unlock the old unit from its mounting ring, and either reuse a sound sink flange or set a fresh one with plumber's putty. The new disposal locks onto the ring, we reconnect the trap arm at the correct downhill pitch, knock out the dishwasher inlet plug so the drain hose ties in, and confirm the electrical is landed on a proper circuit. Then we run it under water and a load of scraps before we call it done. Replace, do not repair, once the housing leaks from the body seam (not just the flange), the motor trips its internal reset repeatedly, or the unit is a worn-out 1/3 or 1/2 HP builder-grade model. On those, a new 3/4 HP unit costs less over its life than chasing failures on the old one. We size the replacement to how you actually cook, tell you the honest tradeoff, and quote it in writing before we touch anything.
Garbage disposal installation and replacement labor
We price disposal work by scope, not by the hour, and we hand you one written number before any work begins. A straight like-for-like swap where the sink flange, trap, and circuit are all sound is the quickest job on the board. What adds to the labor is everything around the unit: a corroded flange that has to be replaced, a trap arm running uphill that needs to be re-pitched, an old two-bolt mounting ring that a modern disposal will not fit, or the absence of a dedicated circuit on a hardwired install (that pulls in electrical work). A first-time installation where no disposal existed before takes longer than a replacement, because we add the flange, the trap connection, the dishwasher tie-in, and often the switched circuit from scratch. We assess all of that on-site so the quote reflects your actual kitchen, not a shelf price that balloons once the sink cabinet is open. Anyone quoting a flat labor rate sight unseen is guessing at what is under your sink.
Got questions?
Frequently asked questions
Can you replace a garbage disposal yourself?
A confident DIYer can handle a straight like-for-like swap where the existing sink flange, trap, and circuit are all in good shape, since the new unit usually locks onto the same mounting ring. Where it stops being a DIY job is a hardwired unit (that is a live electrical connection), a flange that has to be replaced, a trap that runs uphill and needs re-pitching, or a dishwasher discharge that was never connected right. If the old ring will not accept the new disposal, or you are adding a switched circuit, that is when to call us. We will tell you straight over the phone whether yours is a swap you can manage or a job worth handing off.
Do you need a plumber to replace a garbage disposal?
Not always, but a plumber earns the call when the flange, trap, or drain tie-in is involved, which is most of the failures we see. A leaking flange, an uphill trap arm, a dishwasher hose with no high-loop, or a cracked drain fitting are all plumbing problems, not just a unit swap. When the replacement also touches a hardwired electrical connection, you want someone comfortable with both sides of the box. We handle the plumbing, verify the electrical, and run it under load before we leave so you do not get a leak under the cabinet a week later.
Does a plumber or an electrician install a garbage disposal?
For the vast majority of installs, a plumber. The work is drain geometry, the sink flange, the trap arm pitch, and the dishwasher discharge tie-in, all plumbing. The one electrical piece is the connection itself: a plug-in unit just needs an existing outlet under the sink, while a hardwired unit lands on a switched circuit. A licensed plumber handles the plug-in and the standard hardwire. You only need a separate electrician when the kitchen has no dedicated circuit or switch and one has to be added from the panel, and even then we coordinate that so you are not managing two trades on your own.
How much does garbage disposal installation cost?
We do not post a flat number because the honest cost depends on what we find under your sink, and any single price quoted sight unseen is a guess. The unit itself (horsepower, brand, feed type) is one piece. What actually moves the total is the work around it: whether the sink flange and mounting ring can be reused or have to be replaced, whether the trap arm needs re-pitching, whether the dishwasher discharge has to be tied in, and whether a hardwired install needs a dedicated circuit added. A like-for-like swap with sound parts is the low end; a first-time install with new flange, trap, and circuit is more. We assess it on-site and give you one written number before any work starts. No hourly surprises.
What horsepower disposal do I need?
For most households a 3/4 HP unit is the right balance of grinding power, noise, and longevity. 1 HP is worth it for high-use kitchens or homes with a septic system. 1/3 HP and 1/2 HP units burn out fast — we don't recommend installing them.
Why does my dishwasher have standing water at the end of the cycle?
Usually a missing or failed high-loop letting siphon back from the sink, or a clogged air-gap. Both are quick fixes, and we'll diagnose for free if we're already on-site.
Are you licensed, bonded and insured?
Yes. Nava's Elite Plumbing carries a current California master plumber registration, $1M general liability coverage, and workers' comp on every technician. A certificate of insurance naming you or your property manager is available on request before we start.
Do you give upfront pricing?
Every job is quoted in writing before any work begins. We price by scope, not by the hour, so the number you approve is the number you pay — barring scope changes you approve in writing.
Do you require money down?
No deposit on standard service calls. On larger projects (repipes, sewer replacements, gas line installs) we phase work into progress payments tied to city inspection milestones — you never pay ahead of completed work.