Lorton disposal trouble usually comes down to a jam, a tripped overload, a leaking seal or a drain clog just past the unit. Some quick checks can tell you which before you call. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Lorton.
Lorton sits in southern Fairfax County between Fort Belvoir and the Occoquan River, and much of its housing is newer, with the 2000s the biggest building decade and only about 17 percent of homes in the 22079 ZIP built before 1980. Fairfax Water's Griffith plant, which treats Occoquan Reservoir water, is near Lorton, and Fairfax County's Noman M. Cole, Jr. Water Recycling Facility, the county's wastewater treatment plant, is here too. Your kitchen scraps travel through the County sewer to that plant.
First steps
- Turn off the switch and unplug the unit or shut its breaker.
- Look into the chamber with a light and lift out solid objects with tongs.
- Push the reset button on the bottom of the housing.
- For a hum, fit the hex key into the bottom socket and work it until the plate turns.
- Power back on, cold water running, one test. If it trips or hums, stop there.
- If it leaks, catch the water in a pan and do not run the dishwasher.
Symptoms and what they point to
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Motor hums only | Debris lodged at the turntable |
| Dead at the switch | Reset, breaker or switch fault |
| Rim leak | Loose mounting ring or worn flange gasket |
| Hose leak | Loose clamp on the dishwasher or drain line |
| Base leak | Internal seal failure |
| Several fixtures backing up | Clog in the main line or private lateral |
Cost factors
- A reset or jam release compared with a new unit
- Motor size and grind components on a replacement
- Rework of drain fittings to match a different model
- Plug-in versus hardwired power
- Whether the job adds or relocates a fixture, which in Fairfax County calls for a permit through Land Development Services
Fairfax County makes the property owner responsible for the private sewer lateral. If sewage backs up from more than the kitchen, the County's 24-hour line is 703-323-1211. In spring, Fairfax Water normally switches from chloramine to free chlorine for a few months, which can bring a chlorine taste to tap water but does not affect the disposal. Because so many Lorton kitchens date from the same building wave, a lot of original disposals here are reaching the age where replacement becomes the practical choice.
Garbage Disposals questions in Lorton
How can I tell if the clog is past the disposal and in the main line?
When is an older unit not worth repairing?
Why does dishwasher water end up in the sink basin?
Which kitchen scraps are hardest on a disposal?
More plumbing services in Lorton
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