Let me get this straight, you put a garbage disposal on your sink without
checking the condition of the drain?

The drain was fine as far as we knew, and we were just replacing an older
disposal anyway.

That is one of the first things that
comes to mind, and then you probably put all sorts of garbage down the
disposal to see how it works.

Interesting assumption, but no.

Maybe it's not your problem, because I realize
the device is misnamed. It is NOT a garbage disposal, you are not supposed
to see how much trash you can stuff down it. It should have been named
"Small pieces that you didn't scrap off the plate grinder so it can wash
it
down the drain".

You mean I shouldn't have stuffed our old silverware down there?

Now about your questions. No both sinks filling with water shouldn't be
enough to make your disposal swallow water. But a blocked drain, and two
sinks backing up, and a dish washer pumping water out on a wash cycle
obviously is.

We turned the dishwasher off and the disposal kept leaking until all the
water had drained from the sink.

If it doesn't leak anymore, and the motor runs when you flip
the switch, it's okay. Have it replaced if you want, but tell the salesman
how you stuffed all the old rotting food from your refrigerator in 2
minutes
down the drain first. Maybe then he'll replace it.

Very humorous stuff, Dave. I know you'll find this hard to believe, but not
everyone with a leaky garbage disposal is a complete idiot.

NH



Dave



"David Babcock" wrote in message
news:Nq7Fb.103127$8y1.317040@attbi_s52...

"NH" wrote in message
...
A week ago my friend and I installed a new In-Sink-Erator 444 garbage
disposal, along with a new dishwasher. Had no problems with either
until
last night. While the dishwasher was running, both sides of the sink
started filling with water -- the kitchen drain had gotten clogged.

Here's the weird part: while the water sat backed-up in both sides of
the
sink (took hours to drain), the garbage disposal was leaking from
several
places on the BOTTOM of the disposal and had created a small lake under
the
sink before we noticed it. It was dripping from the screws, from the
reset
button...pretty much everywhere there was the smallest of openings.

The plumber came and fixed the clog in the drain today and now there's
no
more leaking from the garbage disposal, whether we fill the sink with
water,
run the dishwasher or run the disposal.

I have two questions:

Does it make sense that a clogged kitchen drain and a sink full of water
could create enough pressure to force water out of the bottom of the
garbage
disposal?

And more importantly, even if it won't leak again, is it likely that the
water caused some internal damage to the disposal? Should I have it
replaced?

Thanks!

NH