Discover the top 5 reasons why your garbage disposal is not working. From improper use to common maintenance problems, we cover it all.
Garbage disposals are a huge help, saving us valuable time in the kitchen and even contributing to better waste management in the community.
Like any convenience, it can be frustrating when your garbage disposal is not working. The sinking feeling you get when the flick of a switch doesn’t bring sink-clearing satisfaction is a pain we wouldn’t want to wish on anyone.
A garbage disposal problem can manifest in several ways. You’ll likely have the occasional bad smells, but you can also face several functional issues. When you try to turn it on, you may hear it humming, making a weird sound, or it may not turn on at all.
If your disposal is leaking, the fix is generally straightforward. You find the leak, tighten or replace the gasket or clamp, and call it a day. For those other problems, you’ll have to know a little about what causes them.
If you’re left scratching your head over a malfunctioning unit, here are the top five reasons why your garbage disposal is not working and how to fix garbage disposal problems as they arise.
5 Possible Reasons Your Garbage Disposal Is Not Working
1. Electrical Problems
If your garbage disposal doesn’t turn on at all when you flick the switch, you probably have an electrical problem. It’s likely the culprit if you find your disposal randomly turning off as well.
To start, make sure you have the disposal plugged in correctly. If it is, see if the reset button on the underside of the disposal is popped out. There’s a built-in safety measure that can trip, shutting the power off, so pressing it back in should restore power.
Still nothing?
Check the circuit breaker. Find the circuit with the garbage disposal on the wiring diagram and see if it’s tripped. If you still have problems after resetting the breaker, you may need to look at the disposal switch or outlet.
Remove the disposal switch cover plate, unscrew the switch from the box and inspect the terminal connections. Tighten them if they’re loose and replace the switch entirely if needed.
If the power sources are all fine and the unit is still not turning on at all, you’ll need to replace the disposal.
2. Jammed Flywheel
In a basic sense, a garbage disposal contains a motor with a grinding chamber, or hopper, sitting on top. This is the area where you don’t want to be inserting your hand. In the hopper, there is a spinning metal plate, or flywheel, and a shredding ring that work together to rip up food and send it down the drain.
If you turn the disposal on and hear humming but no blades spinning, you might have a jam. There may be food waste or solid objects lodged in the shredding ring and flywheel.
Turn off the power to your disposal. Locate the flywheel wrench hole on the bottom of the unit. Insert either the wrench that came with the disposal or a 1/4″ Allen wrench and turn clockwise to loosen up the impeller.
Another option would be to go through the top of the disposal with a wooden spoon or tongs to dislodge and remove the cause of the jam. Never use your hand to reach into the disposal.
Once it’s clear, turn the power on, hit the reset button on the disposal, and run some cold water with the disposal on to flush the unit.
3. Overheating
If your disposal randomly shuts off during operation, it could be overheating. This is usually caused by constant use.
A common symptom of overheating is a reset in the internal breaker. Press the reset button on the bottom of the disposal and check your breaker to see if it’s tripped. Give your disposal time to cool down before running it again.
4. Clogs
If you find your sink is full of water or draining slowly despite a properly operating disposal, you likely don’t have a disposal problem but rather a clog in the drain.
Never use chemical drain cleaners, as they corrode the metal in garbage disposals. To clear your sink, add soap to the water and use a cup plunger to force out the clog. If that doesn’t work, you can try snaking the drain.
To attack the problem by disassembling the drain, put stoppers in your sink basins and use a bucket to catch any water spills. Take out the bolts connecting the disposal to the discharge pipe. Remove the drain trap and discharge pipe and check for any clogs.
If you can’t find any, snake further down the drain line for deeper clogs. Once it’s clear, put the drain trap and discharge tube back together and check to see if the water runs freely. If you still have no luck, you should call a professional plumber.
5. Faulty Motor
Sometimes a motor just goes bad. If your motor is a persistent pest, failing to turn on or resetting often, you may just have to replace it. Check your warranty for replacement information if it’s not too old.
Replacing a garbage disposal is simple enough, but it’s best to prolong your disposal’s life to save you time and money. Let’s look at how you can keep your garbage disposal cleaner and working for longer.
Maintaining Your Garbage Disposal
Garbage disposals are powerful, but to extend their life, you need to treat them right. Throw large, hard, and fibrous food scraps in the garbage or compost to avoid jamming your disposal. When using your disposal, make sure to run cold water to help clear out debris.
Certain food products can cause clogs. Keep grease, butter, oil, coffee grounds, and starchy foods out of your disposal so they don’t create hard blockages.
Using your disposal often will keep it smelling and performing better because it won’t become overfilled. If you do get some rank odors, grind up lemon wedges in the disposal or add baking soda and vinegar. Adding a few ice cubes every now and then will keep the blades sharp.
If you do run into the unfortunate clog, be careful to avoid chemical cleaners because they wear down the metal. Instead, use dish liquid and hot water to break up and dissolve greasy blockages.
Call the Pros When Your Garbage Disposal Is Not Working
If your garbage disposal is not working, these simple DIY tips can solve several of the most common causes.
Of course, sometimes plumbing troubles can have deep-rooted causes, and you’ll need the help of professionals. If you live in Omaha, Nebraska, contact the experts at Eyman Plumbing Heating & Air at (402) 731-2727 for cost-effective solutions for your drain and disposal needs.