Mario Bros.. Help me ! (Plumbing)

[cbelt3]

12 year old InSinkerator disposal has decided to spring a leak. From the farging threaded drain pipe, which appears to be part of the housing. Based on the current design, obviously this was a design defect, because the new ones have a screw / washer assembly that bolts to the metal housing and isn't cruddy plastic.

Tell me honestly... I just have to replace it, right ?

I also had to cut OUT the bottom of the sink cabinet, because it was soaked and sagging. I'm desperately tempted to replace it with a piece of concrete board and tile the damn thing. I hate under sink leaks !

:banghead:

[Racer X]

Oh heck yeah, use green board, or whatever it is called. Great idea. Honestly, Disposals are cheaper now than when I bought my house in 2002, and have bigger motors. I bet these new ones could digest a forged piston and connecting rod. How long would it take to get a replacement part, and the damage as part of the wait, vs getting a new one now.

[WHiiP]

HEY, you got 12 years out of it, so maybe NOT a design flaw. Maybe just improvements over the 12 years.

I'll take 12 years on any appliance I have.

Good call on the concrete board, Perhaps a couple of degrees tilt toward the front so any future leak could be identified quicker?

[Bill in NC]

Low-end ISE models are cheap metal and will corrode.

Higher-end ISE are SS - but the "Waste King" models are all SS and are cheaper, so Waste King is what I used to replace my corroded ISE.

[MikeF]

Get a piece of vinyl floor remnant and use that to line the bottom of the under-sink cabinet. You can curve it up the sides/back a bit...

[cbelt3]

Had a VERY nice email conversation with a lady at the Insinkerator customer support center. She agreed that it was out of warranty. She even explained what material the housing was made from ! As it turns out, it's an ABS housing. I can solvent weld that back together and fix the crack. Maybe. Hey, if it doesn't work, I'm no worse off than I was before.

It was a real surprise dealing with consumer product customer support that knows the product AND manufacturing history. And isn't pumping out 'scripted' responses. And has a perfect command of colloquial Americanisms. (High probability she's in the US..)

[GGD]

cbelt3 wrote:
It was a real surprise dealing with consumer product customer support that knows the product AND manufacturing history. And isn't pumping out 'scripted' responses. And has a perfect command of colloquial Americanisms. (High probability she's in the US..)

I've had excellent conversations with the technical support people at various low tech companies that make things like door locks, plumbing fixtures, paint and stains, cedar siding, etc. They are very knowledgeable about their products, and I suspect that they don't get too many calls and are happy to talk, and even continue conversations via email. They're not low paid script readers.

[Racer X]

cbelt3 wrote:
Had a VERY nice email conversation with a lady at the Insinkerator customer support center. She agreed that it was out of warranty. She even explained what material the housing was made from ! As it turns out, it's an ABS housing. I can solvent weld that back together and fix the crack. Maybe. Hey, if it doesn't work, I'm no worse off than I was before.

It was a real surprise dealing with consumer product customer support that knows the product AND manufacturing history. And isn't pumping out 'scripted' responses. And has a perfect command of colloquial Americanisms. (High probability she's in the US..)

That is fantastic. Now you have time to ship out my power supplies, when the solvent flashes off, of course......

It's great when a manufacturer has staff that are knowledgeable about this stuff, and will take the time to explain a possible solution.

Also a great tip about a vinyl remnant, and/or having it higher in the back so it leaks out, and not puddle.

[rgG]

Until you are sure about the repair, I suggest a shallow pan located under the disposal and checked daily.

[MikeF]

Use a few paper towels under the fixed plumbing in the cabinet for a day or two after everything's put back together -- they'll pucker if they get wet even the tiniest bit (from a single drop of water).