Garbage Disposals in Decatur, GA

Why does my old Decatur kitchen keep clogging?

Decatur's housing skews old. Census survey figures put the median build year at 1975, with about 54% of homes built before 1980 and nearly 23% built in 1939 or earlier. Close-in neighborhoods such as Oakhurst are full of houses where the kitchen has been updated, sometimes more than once, while the drain in the wall is original. Old galvanized and cast iron lines narrow from the inside, and ground food, grease and coffee grounds catch on that rough surface. A disposal makes it easy to send more food down at once, so a sink that clogs repeatedly is often a drain problem rather than a disposal problem. A plumber will typically fix the unit, then run water to test the line, and clear it if needed.

Do I need a city permit?

The City of Decatur requires separate trade permits for drainage, sewer, gas, mechanical, electrical or plumbing work regardless of value, and all applications go through the Community Core portal. The Design, Environment & Construction Division at 2635 Talley Street handles them (404-377-6198). Ask your plumber how a disposal job fits under that rule. Unincorporated areas with a Decatur mailing address are permitted by DeKalb County, not the city.

Who handles a sewer backup?

Decatur's water comes from DeKalb County Watershed Management, and DeKalb has replaced sanitary sewer lines in the city. For sewer problems at the street, contact the City of Decatur or DeKalb; DeKalb's 24-hour emergency repair line is 770-270-6243. A clog in your disposal, trap or kitchen branch is yours to fix with a plumber.

Before the plumber arrives, switch off the disposal and cut its power, clear the sink base, and avoid chemical drain openers, which are especially hard on old metal fittings. Let the plumber know roughly when the house was built and whether other drains gurgle or run slowly.

Those details help separate a disposal problem from an old drain or lateral problem.

Decatur note

Planning a kitchen renovation in an older Decatur home? Have the drain line checked while the cabinets are out. It's far easier to clear or replace a section of old pipe then than after new counters are in.