Replacing a Garbage Disposal, the Dummy Method

Typical garbage disposal hookups

Replacing a disposal unit is a simple plumbing task that, believe it or not, is within the reach of most homeowners. That's assuming, of course, the would-be DIYer has or can borrow a simple toolkit, has sufficient upper body strength, and doesn't mind lying on his or her back in the cabinet underneath the sink for a while. Oh, and you'll probably want some sort of instructions from a competent person – "competent" being the key word which, we submit, leaves out Artesia Peluso. Just read her post "Tools Needed to Replace a Garbage Disposer"¹ at HomeSteady.com if you doubt us...

Peluso, who we suspect has never had to approach a garbage disposal in the course of her job as a fashion editor and who, we're almost certain, didn't have a plumbing lab while getting her "communications" degree, definitely was reaching here. According to Artesia, you need the following:

1. Plumber's Putty: "...used to adhere the base of the drain piece to the sink..."
2. Putty Knife: "...also called a spackle knife, is a tool used to mold and trim excess putty..."
3. Pipe Wrench: "...needed to remove and replace the plumbing connected to your garbage disposer."
4. Screwdrivers: "...to remove the electric panel door on the button of the disposer, remove and reassemble the bracket ring at the base of the sink and reconnect the dishwasher drain line if necessary..."
5. Hammer: "...used to tap out the plug from the small drain hole that connects the disposer to the dishwasher."

Our comments on Artesia's tool list? Well, first, let's address her list:

1. You don't necessarily "adhere the base of the drain piece to the sink" (whatever "drain piece" means) with plumber's putty. Many disposals use the same mount, so you can just "plug" the new one in place after removing the old one.
2. You don't need a putty knife even if you do use plumber's putty: you roll the stuff in your hands. Any excess can be trimmed with any tool, even a screwdriver. And "spackle knife"? Naaah...

3. You don't use a pipe wrench to loosen the plumbing; you use either a large adjustable wrench or large slip-joint pliers.
4. You need a screwdriver, yeah, but not to "remove the electric panel door on the button of the disposer" – whatever that means. You may need a big mofo screwdriver to get the thing loose from the mount, though. You'll probably need a screwdriver for the dishwasher hose clamp, though it might take a pair of pliers instead. Needlenose pliers are recommended for the wiring connections.
5. Unless you're a total n00b, you can remove the dishwasher plug with a common screwdriver – no hammer necessary.
6. Our house experts suggest using the jack from your car to support the weight of the disposer while you're trying to wrestle it into and out of place.
7. If you have half a brain, you'll also want a multitester or continuity tester to confirm that the power is turned off.

In other words, Peluso tried to give advice for performing a task she'd never done herself – the hallmark of Demand Media, aka eHow, aka Leaf Group and HomeSteady.com. Publishing rubbish like that is precisely why the company and its websites are frequently featured in our Dumbass of the Day awards, just like the one Artesia is collecting today.

¹ The original has been deleted by Leaf Group, but can still be accessed using the Wayback machine at archive.org. Its URL was   homesteady.com/list-7656074-tools-needed-replace-garbage-disposer.html

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