Q. How difficult is it to install a garbage disposal? I am assuming actually hooking it to the pipe isn't that big a job, but what about wiring the switch and making sure it works? Can anyone give me some idea what all this entails? Should I pay to have a plumber do it or can I handle it on my own? Approximately how long will it take? Is it more difficult to install if you have a dishwasher also?

A. That all depends on how comfortable you are with electricity and plumbing. It's actually easier to install if you have a dishwasher, due to the fact that you have a source of power. A 15 or 20 amp circuit should be able to supply both appliances, assuming that nothing else is connected to the circuit. The hard part will be fishing the wires up through the wall for the switch. Most, if not all, disposals have a port on the side to connect the dishwasher drain. I have included a link to show you what's involved. Good luck.

Q. I live in an older apartment building. Assuming the permission of my landlord, would it be possible to install a garbage disposal in the sink if there isn't one already? We do have a dishwasher, and the kitchen area looks pretty new. The bathroom plumbing, however, is original 1940s, so I'm not sure exactly what my limitations are. Any help would be appreciated.

A. The size of the drain is very important.If the plumbing is really old it may not fit Most newer sinks can have a disposal hooked to them. You also need to think about where your going to pull the electric from and where the switch will go. I would be surprised if the landlord will let you do all this.

Q. I just bought a house. There is no garbage disposal. I need to install one. I can do the electricity, but I need help with the plumbing. All of the pipes are metal. Is there any type of adapter that will go from metal to PVC? If there is, does the PVC adapter need to be male or female (I thought I read somewhere not to adapter a metal male pipe to female PVC or vice versa)? Thanks!

A. Install it using "rubber boots" available at any builders supply store. They install with radiator type hoses and clamps. A lot of commercial applications are installed this way, allowing easy removal if it becomes clogged or jammed. Just measure your drain O.D. and purchase the right size "boots". Don`t worry about them blowing off, as there is no pressure in drains. It really is a simple install this way.

Q. The house does not have a dishwasher, so I was planning on having a general contractor come and install one for me. I know they'll have to cut out my cabinets and most likely install additional plumbing and electric. Do you know how much this will cost me?

A. Lot of imformation is missing. But I would say 4 hours labor at what ever your local rates are plus travel time. Is there a local electrical box the washer can be tapped into? Do you have a garbage disposal? Waste water returns two different ways depends if you have this or not. Are your pipes copper? plastic? gray stuff from the 80's (if so the cost just when up - splicing / banding tools needed) Cutting out the woodwork is about an hour to make it neat and clean. Electrics can be easy or they may need to run a new circuit breaker from the box if you are maxed out. Plumbing is plumbing it takes what ever time it takes. Request they wrap the dishwasher with baffling and duct tape it tight - this realy reduces the sound from the washer. Been there and did that.

A. Get two more quotes near you. Ask and CHECK OUT references of All. Also check with BBB before you decide on one.

Q. I am trying to have a good seal on a connection between the garbage disposal drain and PVC pipe. Will putting plumber's putty around the pipe do the job? If plumbing putty won't do, what is the best material to seal the connection between garbage disposal and drain pipe? I posted a picture of the current situation in yahoo!pictures. link is: http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jsumiyoshi/album?.dir=5451&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jsumiyoshi/my_photos Thanks jim_d and mr_jim51, yours were the best answers and I was able to resolve the problem. I found a 'disposal gasket' from Lowes and was able to fit it perfectly. For those who want to see what this looks like, I found an online store that sells the same thing. http://www.homeandbeyond.com/prod-0074665.html Thanks again everyone for your input!

A. Jim d is right about the rubber washer or poly washer. Plumbers putty has no business on a kitchen drain other than basket strainers,

Q. A small glass jar went into our kitchen garbage disposal. As soon as I turned it on I heard an odd noise and so I stopped it and looked into the sink using gloves. I found broken pieces of the glass. I took a lot of them out- as many as I could. But there are a few still remaining and I'm guessing a few went into the pipe. Should I be worried? I looked and there did not seem to be an easy way to access the cavity where the glass shreds are - unless I call a plumber. Tight on money. Will call plumber if needed, but dont want to uneccessarily shell out dough. I'm guessing the pipes are copper -- so nothing should get cut. I'm in a 12 year old house.

A. The disposer will break up the glass pieces into small particles. Just flush 'em down with plenty of water. The waste opening in most disposers I have installed is too small to allow a piece of glass large enough to cause you blockage problems to pass into the trap. If you do notice a slow drain down the road, it should appear pretty soon, and removing and cleaning the trap should take care of it. I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.

Q. Help! I have a dual kitchen sink with a garbage disposal. Recently the garbage disposal stopped working and now the sink won't drain on the disposal side. The other side drains fine but the dishwasher will not drain either! The garbage disposal won't even turn on anymore. We stuck our hands in there and pulled out broken glass (grrrr at whoever put broken glass in my sink and let it go down the drain!). I really can't afford a plumber and needless to say, I have no idea what to do and where to start. Is there a simple troubleshooting way to begin to figure out the problem that can be used by someone as clueless as me? By the way, I really don't know if I would be able to manage taking anything apart...maybe there is an easy way that someone can let me know about? Thanks in advance!

A. VERY EASY TO FIX Pending on your unit ( more then likely its a ISE disposal ) Under then unit in the middle there is a hole for a alan wrench (you ahould have recived 1 with the unit) 1st Unplug unit 2nd insert alan wrench and turn back and forth (counter clock wise and so on) this makes the motor and blades move to free the jam up. 3rd plug unit in and see if it works. 4th If unit seems to have no power under the unit there is a reset switch RED BUTTON push it in to reset the power. The reason your water is stopped up is the unit is blocked up with glass and food and the dishwasher is hooked to the unit so it wont drain either. (( You can try this be carefull )) unplug unit!!!!!! get a flashlight and a wet/dry vac Look in unit and try to pull glass out with pliers or a long needel nose ply- then use vac to suck up food and small bits of glass. BUT if the glass is wedged between the blades and wall of the unit you will need to use a alan wrench (2bucks at local hardware store) If you have any problems e-mail me or add me to messenger And I would be glad to help you out. This would take me 5min to fix But I have been doing plumbing for yrs and yrs. But dont fear this is something you can do yourself also!! kos101@yahoo.com E-Mail kos101 Mesenger