When a disposal quits in a busy Poway kitchen, it usually does it one of three ways. A hum without any spin is usually a jam. A leak under the sink is often a seal, a connection or a cracked housing. Total silence usually means an electrical problem or a motor that's done. Knowing which one you have says a lot about whether it's a repair or a replacement.
Jams are the most common. A pit, a bone or a handful of fibrous scraps locks the plate, and the motor can't turn. The contractor can free it with the proper tool, reset the motor and check for damage, since a jam that went on too long can take the motor or seals with it. If the unit comes back healthy, that's the end of it.
When a new unit makes more sense, the contractor sizes it for your kitchen, not just the biggest one available, and installs it with the drain and dishwasher connections done right and tested. If the kitchen drain itself is slow, the contractor will point that out too, since a new disposal can't fix a drain problem. You get it all in plain English and choose.
