How to Remove Power Cord from the Garbage Disposal?

Are you trying to figure out if you can remove the power cord from your garbage disposal and if so, then how? I can help you out.

You are just a few steps away from doing this job. Just make sure you read this whole article properly and follow everything I say step by step.

In this article, I will be sharing if you can remove a power cord from the garbage disposal and if so, then how. As well as what can be the purpose for doing so. Have a look!

Can You Remove the Power Cord from the Garbage Disposal?

Yes, you can remove the power cord from the garbage disposal. But for that, you will have to take the main unit of the garbage disposal out from the bottom section of the sink.

And it is a messy task as you have to remove and clean away the food and water residues inside the garbage disposal properly before accomplishing the task.

You will not need any heavy tools to do the job just a simple screwdriver with the option of changing the needle is enough to work with.

Why You May Need to Remove the Power Cord from the Garbage Disposal?

There can be many reasons why you want to remove the power cord from the garbage disposal.

But one of the main and common reasons why people actually do it is while replacing old garbage disposal with new one. Generally, garbage disposals do not come with a power cord.

So, you need to buy one separately matching the size and type of the garbage disposal, and install it in the disposal unit before installing the garbage disposal to the sink.

But when you replace the old garbage disposal with a new one, you can simply avoid buying a new power cord all over again for the new garbage disposal and utilize the power cord of the old one in the new one.

For that, you will have to first remove the power cord from the old garbage disposal and then replace it with the new one.

Another very common reason for removing the power cord from the garbage disposal is simply because of any malfunction in the old power cord of the garbage disposal for which you might need to change it with a new one.

No matter, what the reason is it is very important for you to do it properly without messing up the power cord with any other cord of the garbage disposal unit.

What Do You Need to Know to Remove the Power Cord from the Garbage Disposal?

You don’t need much but some basic knowledge about the system and cables of the garbage disposal to remove the power cord.

Firstly, the green wire inside the garbage disposal is the ground, the red wire is positive and the white is negative. It might sound like diffusing a bomb. But don’t worry it is nothing much difficult.

Though it is required to have the minimum knowledge about these wires so that you do not mess up one with another causing a malfunction in the garbage disposal or not being able to accomplish the task of removing the power cord.

At the very bottom of the garbage disposal unit, there is a metal door that supports the wire with a Philips head screw.

For removing the power cord from the garbage disposal, you have to remove the garbage disposal unit from the bottom of the sink.

Without removing the unit, it is not possible to remove or replace the power cord of the garbage disposal. So, get prepared for the mess that might take place after you remove the unit.

How to Remove the Power Cord from the Garbage Disposal?

Follow the steps given below one after another to remove as well as replace the power cord from the garbage disposal.

Step 1: Detach the power wire from the socket.

Step 2: Use a rubber hammer to tap the lower metal ring anticlockwise. Once you tap it, a metal lip on the lower ring will disconnect from the top metal ring.

Step 3: Pull out and remove the unit from the bottom of the sink slowly so that the water and food from the disposal do not leak out.

Step 4: Dispose of the water and food the garbage disposal is containing and keep the disposal on a plain surface where it will not be a problem for dirty water or food residues to drop.

Step 5: Use a screwdriver to remove the screw securing the clamp and door made of metal on the bottom of the unit.

Step 6: Pull out the door at the bottom of the unit and remove the screw that is tying down the green wire to the edge with a screwdriver.

Step 7: Turn the plastic covers on the red and white wire anticlockwise and pull them off the wires.

Step 8: Pull the red and green wire associated with the string separated from the wire linked with the unit.

Step 9: Spot the wire into the clamp and reconnect the green wire to the casing and the red and white wire to the related colored wire on the unit.

Step 10: Put the plastic covers over each wire whenever they are connected and turn the covers clockwise until tight. Change the unit to the sink contrary way that you removed it.

Final Words

Were you able to remove and replace the power cord of your garbage disposal properly following the above steps? I hope and believe you were.

You can now simply install the garbage disposal unit back to the bottom of the sink. Was it too tough? No, right. I really hope you did not face any difficulty while doing the task.

Now, clean up the mess you made on the surface where you did it. I am glad to be able to help. Thanks for reading till the end!

James Miller

James is an organic fertilizer professional who owns a successful organic fertilizer company in new jersey. He is an expert in waste management in both houses and community cases. In his free time, he loves to write about his experiences in the field.