A garbage disposal that hums but won’t spin, a faucet that drips all night, a shower that suddenly runs too hot or won’t shut off: fixture problems rarely flood a house, but they waste water, make the kitchen or bathroom hard to use and tend to get worse. Spokane Home Help connects callers with independent, local plumbing providers serving Spokane and nearby communities for garbage disposal repair and replacement, dripping faucets, sink and faucet replacement and shower valve problems.
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What to Do Right Now
Disposal humming or stuck? Switch it off. Leave the wall switch off and never reach into the grinding chamber with a hand. Check the manufacturer’s manual for the reset button and jam instructions for that model.
Leak under the sink? Stop using that sink. Put a bucket and towels under the leak and note where the water comes from: the top of the disposal at the sink, a side connection or the bottom of the unit.
Keep water away from electricity. A disposal is an electrical appliance. If water reaches the outlet or wiring under the sink, cut power at the breaker, but only from a dry spot.
Faucet dripping or leaking at the base? Close the shutoff valves under the sink. EPA WaterSense reminds homeowners to turn off the water line before starting any repair.
Shower won’t shut off? Close the main shutoff valve. Step-by-step help: How to Shut Off Your Main Water Valve.
Sources: EPA WaterSense, City of Spokane Wastewater, CPSC · Checked: November 7, 2026
In this guide: Warning signs · What not to put down a disposal · Faucets, sinks and shower valves · What a plumber typically does · What affects the cost · Safety · How the call works · Video · Common questions
Common Garbage Disposal and Fixture Problems
| Problem | What it usually means | How urgent |
|---|---|---|
| Disposal hums but doesn’t spin | Something is jammed in the grinding chamber, or the motor is failing | Low to moderate – switch it off |
| Disposal makes no sound at all | A tripped reset button, a switch, outlet or breaker problem, or a failed motor | Low |
| Water dripping from the disposal | A loose sink flange, a worn connection at the drain or dishwasher line, or a cracked housing | Moderate – stop using the sink |
| Slow drain on the disposal side | Food waste or grease building up in the trap or drain line | Low to moderate – see drain cleaning |
| Faucet dripping from the spout | A worn washer, cartridge or seal | Low – but it wastes water every day |
| Water under the faucet base or at the supply lines | A loose connection, a failing supply line or a worn shutoff valve | Moderate – close the valves under the sink |
| Shower temperature swings or won’t get hot | A worn valve cartridge or mixing problem | Moderate – scald risk |
| Shower won’t shut off completely | A failed valve cartridge or seals | Moderate to high – shut off the water |
What Not to Put Down a Garbage Disposal
A disposal grinds food into small pieces, but everything it grinds still has to travel through the home’s drain line and side sewer. Fats, oils and grease are the biggest problem. The City of Spokane’s wastewater program lists food scraps, meat fats, lard, oil, butter, sauces, salad dressings, marinades and dairy products as sources of fats, oils and grease that can build up in pipes. The City’s tips for households: scrape leftover food into the garbage before washing, use screens on sink drains, wipe kitchenware with a dry paper towel, and drain cooking grease into a sealable container that goes in the garbage once it is full and solid. Source: City of Spokane – Fats, Oils and Grease brochure (PDF) · Checked: November 7, 2026
The City’s guidance sheet for apartment managers goes a step further and lists “don’t use in-sink food disposals” among its tips for tenants, alongside pouring kitchen grease into a container and using strainers in sink drains. Spokane County cites an EPA figure that grease from restaurants, homes and industrial sources accounts for approximately 47% of all sanitary sewer blockages. Source: City of Spokane – Apartment Managers guidance (PDF); Spokane County – FOG Control · Checked: November 7, 2026
If the kitchen drain keeps clogging even with careful use, the buildup may be further down the line. See Why Does My Drain Keep Clogging?
Faucets, Sinks and Shower Valves
Dripping faucets. EPA WaterSense says a faucet that drips at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year, and that the average household’s leaks can account for more than 9,300 gallons of water wasted every year. Old and worn faucet washers and gaskets frequently cause faucet leaks. Source: EPA WaterSense – Fix a Leak Week · Checked: November 7, 2026
Sink and faucet replacement. When a faucet is corroded, cracked or keeps leaking after repairs, replacement is often simpler than chasing parts. It’s also a good time to check the shutoff valves and supply lines under the sink, since an old valve that won’t close fully makes every future repair harder. For bathroom faucets, a WaterSense labeled model is one option to ask about.
Shower valves. The valve behind the shower handle mixes hot and cold water. When its cartridge or seals wear out, the shower may drip, swing between hot and cold, or refuse to shut off. Temperature control matters: the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission urges lowering water heaters to 120°F and warns that most adults will suffer third-degree burns if exposed to 150°F water for two seconds. Source: CPSC – Tap Water Scalds (PDF) · Checked: November 7, 2026
What a Plumber Typically Does
| Job | What usually happens |
|---|---|
| Jammed disposal | Cuts power, loosens the grinding plate with the right tool, removes the object, resets and tests the unit. |
| Leaking disposal | Finds the source of the leak, then reseals the sink flange or replaces worn gaskets and connections. A cracked housing usually means replacing the unit. |
| Disposal replacement | Removes the old unit, mounts the new one, and reconnects the drain line, the dishwasher hose and the electrical connection. |
| Dripping faucet | Replaces the washer, cartridge or seals, or recommends a new faucet if parts are worn out or no longer available. |
| Sink or faucet replacement | Checks the shutoff valves and supply lines, installs the new sink or faucet, and reconnects the drain and trap. |
| Shower valve repair | Replaces the cartridge or seals; if the valve body itself has failed, it may need to be reached through an access panel or by opening the wall. |
The City of Spokane’s plumbing permit application lists garbage disposals, kitchen sinks, bathroom sinks and shower valve replacements among the items it covers, so ask the plumber whether a permit applies to the job. Source: City of Spokane – Plumbing Permit Application (PDF) · Checked: November 7, 2026
What Affects the Cost of Disposal and Fixture Repair
- Repair or replacement: clearing a jam or swapping a cartridge is a smaller job than installing a new unit or faucet.
- The fixture itself: the model and features of a new disposal, faucet or sink, and whether the homeowner or the plumber supplies it.
- Condition of valves and supply lines: old shutoff valves often need replacing at the same time.
- Access: a shower valve behind tile, or a cramped sink cabinet, takes longer to reach.
- What’s found: a clog in the drain line or water damage in the cabinet can add to the job.
- Permits: where a permit applies, its fee is part of the total.
- Timing: after-hours and weekend visits usually cost more than scheduled ones.
Ask for a written estimate before work begins, and ask whether it includes replacing valves or supply lines if they turn out to be worn.
How the Call Works
- Call and describe the problem – which fixture, what it is doing, where any water is coming from, and anything already tried.
- The call is connected to an independent, local plumbing provider serving the area.
- Talk to the plumber directly. Ask whether repair or replacement makes more sense, ask for a written estimate, and decide whether to go ahead.
Before hiring: check Washington L&I contractor registration. The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries’ Verify tool shows whether a business has an active contractor registration and can confirm that a person doing plumbing work holds a Washington plumber certification. It also shows bond and workers’ comp information. Source: Washington L&I – Verify a Contractor, Tradesperson or Business · Checked: November 7, 2026
Video from This Old House: how a garbage disposer is diagnosed and repaired:
Common Questions
Why does a garbage disposal hum but not spin?
Usually something is wedged between the grinding plate and the chamber wall, such as a bone, pit or utensil, so the motor gets power but can’t turn. Running it while it hums can trip the overload or damage the motor. Switch it off, check the model’s manual, and call a plumber if it stays stuck.
Can grease go down the disposal with hot water?
The City of Spokane’s guidance is to drain cooking grease into a sealable container and throw it in the garbage once it is solid, rather than sending it down the drain. Grease can build up in pipes and cause blockages in the home’s own lines or in the sewer.
Is a dripping faucet worth fixing?
Yes. According to EPA WaterSense, one drip per second adds up to more than 3,000 gallons a year. The fix is often a worn washer, gasket or cartridge.
Should a garbage disposal be repaired or replaced?
Jams, loose connections and worn gaskets can usually be repaired. A unit that leaks from the housing itself, or a motor that has failed, usually points to replacement. Ask the plumber to explain both options and what each would involve.
Does a shower valve replacement need a permit in Spokane?
The City of Spokane’s plumbing permit application lists “Showers/Valve Replacements” as one of its fixture categories. Ask the plumber whether a permit applies to the specific job, or check with the City’s permit staff. Homes outside city limits fall under a different permitting office.
Areas served: Spokane neighborhoods including the South Hill, North Spokane, Hillyard, Browne’s Addition, Indian Trail and Five Mile Prairie, plus nearby Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, Airway Heights, Cheney, Mead and Medical Lake.
Disposal or Fixture Trouble in Spokane?
One call connects to an independent, local plumbing provider serving Spokane and Spokane Valley for garbage disposals, dripping faucets, sink and faucet replacement and shower valves.
📞 Call Now – Connect With a Spokane Plumber
Spokane Home Help is a referral service, not a plumbing contractor.
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Spokane Home Help is a referral service and is not a plumbing contractor. Calls may be connected to an independent, third-party plumbing provider serving the caller’s area. Spokane Home Help does not perform plumbing work and is not responsible for the work, pricing, licensing or availability of any provider. Before work begins, confirm the provider’s Washington L&I registration and ask for a written estimate.