When a Brookhaven disposal hums, won't start or leaks, the cause is usually a jam, a tripped reset, a worn gasket or a dead motor. A plumber can fix or replace it and test the drain behind it. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Brookhaven.
Does swapping a disposal need a Brookhaven permit?
Brookhaven's permit FAQ draws a useful line: replacing fixtures in the same location needs no permit, but changes to plumbing lines do, and water heater replacement requires a permit and inspections. A straight disposal swap on the existing drain is likely on the simpler side, while adding a disposal to a sink that never had one, moving the drain or running a new circuit may not be. Your plumber can confirm how the city treats your job; permits are handled online, and the city's number is 404-637-0500.
Who fixes what when the sink backs up?
The City of Brookhaven doesn't run water or sewer. DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management owns and operates the sanitary sewer, including manholes, pipes and service laterals, and only DeKalb or its contractors may work on them. DeKalb takes reports of sewer spills at 770.270.6243. Inside the house, the disposal, trap and kitchen branch are the owner's responsibility and a plumber's job. If several fixtures back up at once, the plumber can help work out whether the problem is yours or the county's.
Is my older kitchen drain part of the problem?
It can be. Brookhaven ranges from the older homes of Historic Brookhaven and Lynwood Park to new development like Town Brookhaven. Census survey figures put the median build year at 1994, with about 30% of homes built before 1980, including close to 9% from the 1950s. In those older houses, a modern disposal may drain into original pipe that has narrowed, and ground food catches on the rough interior. A plumber will usually run water after fixing the unit to see whether the line keeps up, and suggest clearing it if not.
Before the visit, turn the disposal off and cut its power, empty the sink cabinet, and hold off on running the dishwasher. Note whether other drains in the house are slow, since that helps separate a disposal problem from a drain or lateral problem.
Brookhaven note
Households near Buford Highway's food corridor and anyone who cooks from scratch daily should size a replacement disposal for the load. A larger motor jams less, but rice, bones and fibrous peels still belong in the trash, and cold water should run well after the grinding stops.
Garbage Disposals questions in Brookhaven
Who handles the permit if a disposal job needs one here?
Who do I call if the backup is in the sewer and not the disposal?
Which kitchen scraps cause the most disposal jams?
Where does the water under my disposal usually come from?
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