A Lewisville disposal that won't spin, won't start or leaves water in the cabinet is usually jammed, tripped, leaking at a connection or worn out. Many homes here date from the 1970s through the 1990s, so the kitchen drain may need attention too. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Lewisville.
Lewisville homes and what they drain into
Lewisville's housing is a bit older than many of its Forsyth County neighbors. Census survey figures give a median build year of 1987, with about 35% of homes built before 1980. Houses from the 1970s and 1980s often have their original kitchen drain under a newer sink and disposal, and those lines can be narrowed by years of buildup. When a freshly cleared disposal still leaves the sink full, the pipe in the wall is the next suspect.
Most of town is on sewer provided through the City-County Utilities Commission, the body behind Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities. Lewisville also has a Rural Overlay, and some rural-zoned areas are likely not on municipal sewer, relying instead on private onsite wastewater systems or small package treatment plants built to the commission's standards. If your home is in one of those areas, mention it to the plumber, because ground food affects an onsite system differently than a sewer main.
Tracing a leak under the sink
| Where the water appears | What it usually means | Typical fix |
|---|---|---|
| Around the rim at the top of the unit | The sink flange has lost its seal | Remove and reseat the flange with fresh putty |
| At the side outlet | Worn gasket on the drain elbow | New gasket or elbow |
| At the small upper inlet | Loose or cracked dishwasher hose | Tighten the clamp or replace the hose |
| From the bottom or a seam | Internal seal or housing failure | Replace the disposal |
Drying the outside of the unit with a towel, then running water while you watch with a flashlight, usually shows which of these it is.
Other signs to act on
- A buzz at the switch with no grinding
- No response after pressing the reset button
- The second sink bowl filling when the first drains
- Grinding that sounds harsh or metallic
- An odor that returns soon after cleaning
Seasonal notes
Disposals tend to fail when they're asked to do the most. Thanksgiving and other holiday cooking send peels, skins and fat down the sink in a hurry, and summer canning and corn shucking add fibrous waste that wraps around the plate. Scraping heavy waste into the trash and grinding in short bursts with cold water keeps a busy week from becoming a service call. Plumbing permits in Lewisville go through the joint Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Inspections Division; the plumber will know whether your job needs one.
Garbage Disposals questions in Lewisville
My home isn't on municipal sewer. Is a garbage disposal still a good idea?
Will a disposal cause trouble for the drain lines in an older home?
Who handles permits for disposal work, and is one needed?
What makes a disposal smell, and how do I get rid of it?
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