Food scraps are usually improperly disposed of and often wind up in the wrong place. While you don’t have to call your local junk removal company to take care of your dinner leftovers, you should be making sure they don’t wind up rotting in a landfill. Thankfully there is an easy solution: Garbage disposals!

Garbage disposal units can take a pretty heavy beating over the course of their lifetime, so replacing them is an inevitable factor. While finding a brand new unit is ideal, they’re often quite pricy.

Second-hand units are great alternatives to those looking for a more economical solution, but it’s often unlikely that they’d come with their original manuals.

If you’re looking to replace your garbage disposal, here are some general instructions you’ll need to follow:

Necessary Tools and Materials

• Phillips head screwdriver
• Flat-head screwdriver
• Slip-joint pliers
• Socket set
• Hammer
• Mounting screws
• Wire nuts
• Plumber’s putty
• New garbage disposal unit

Start by turning the power off the old unit via the main power supply. Check the amperage of the new unit to see it matches your old one. Now you’re ready to start taking the old unit out.

You’ll need to remove the drain arms and loosen the clamps using the pliers, and unscrew the mounting brackets using the screwdriver.

Drain whatever excess wastage is in the unit before continuing. If your new unit is the same kind as the one you are replacing it with, none of the mounting units need to come off. If it isn’t, remove the existing mounting assembly and drain.

Remove the mounting ring and push the drain flange up through the drain opening. Scrape off any putty or caulking from the last installation so it doesn’t get in your way.

Now is the important part- It’s time to put the new unit in!

Here you’ll have to replace all seals and put the new flange into place, with another rubber seal or plumber’s putty underneath once it’s in.

Place the new unit into position and attach the backup ring to keep it all in place. The mounting ring now should be able to be screwed into place. Make sure this is correctly done before continuing.

Once this is complete, you need to replace the wiring by removing the electrical plate, taking out the wires and screwing the strain relief into place. The new unit now needs to be connected to the power-supply.

Note: Electrical work should not be done without the close supervision of a professional or technical know-how, after all safety precautions have been observed.

After ensuring that you have disconnected the power, secure the connections with wire nuts, with white and black connecting to the same colors. Most units will twist into place on the mount.

Test the unit with running water, and you’re done! Your garbage disposal unit should be good to go.

If your garbage disposal is following a kitchen renovation, Junk It! is available to pick up any excess unwanted waste from your home!