leaking garbage disposal

[billr0w]

I have an Emerson E30 garbage disposal. It was jammed tonight. I found a small metal measuring spoon in it, and got it out, but it was still jammed. I used the allen wrench in the bottom; still no luck. I turned the allen wrench even harder... It was still jammed, but now water was leaking out of the bottom of the unit; not coming from around the sides, but through the holes in the bottom. I assume I twisted too hard and broke something inside? I finally got it unjammed, but now water continues to leak from the bottom; even without running the disposal. My guess is I'll have to replace it, but thought I would check with the experts first. Thanks for any advice.

[LazyPup]

Sad to have to be the bearer of bad news but you are probably correct in your assumption that you will have to replace the unit.

Most residential disposal units have either a pot-metal or aluminum housing and as they age a degree of corrosion is common on the interior of the housing walls. The corrosion effects is often increased by the repetitive use of chemical drain cleaners. (Chemical drain cleaners should never be introduced into the drain through a disposal)

As the units age, the corrosion erodes away at the interior walls of the disposal, and often when a jamb occurs on an older unit, the side wall is cracked during the servicing, requiring replacement of the unit.

There are a limited number of repair parts available for some brands of disposals, but for all but the most expensive disposals, when one considers the age of the unit, and factors in the cost of parts, labor and expected lifespan, it simply is not cost effective to attempt repair.

[HayZee518]

Quite possible the motor shaft got bent in the process. There's a ceramic/ carbon seal between the water chamber and motor compartment. Maybe a piece of metal got lodged in between this seal or the shaft is indeed bent. It's a son of a pup trying to get the unit apart to find out maybe its a better bet in getting a new unit.