When your garbage disposal quits working, it doesn't always mean you need a new one. With a little troubleshooting, you can sometimes fix it instead of replacing it.
When you flick the switch for your garbage disposal and you don’t hear that familiar whirring noise, your heart may sink a little with the thought, “Oh my gosh, I’m going to have to pay for a new disposal.”
Well, don’t jump the gun just yet. Garbage disposals can be prone to getting jammed and tripping circuit breakers, which are problems you can easily fix using this step-by-step troubleshooting process.
What Noise Does it Make?
To diagnose the trouble, first determine what noise the disposal makes when you try to turn it on? Is it a loud clatter, a humming, or silence?
When it Makes a Loud Clatter
A loud clatter sounds the worst but is the easiest to fix. It usually means a hard object is inside the disposal, such as a bone, a spoon, or some other item.
Before attempting to retrieve it, turn off the electricity to the disposal for safety. Look under your sink for the disposal’s power cord that may be plugged into an outlet, and unplug it. If you can’t unplug it, go to your circuit breaker box and turn off the circuit breaker to the unit. IMPORTANT: Test to be sure the electricity is off before proceeding. Turn on the switch to be sure the disposal is disabled, then BE SURE you turn the switch back off.
Pull out the rubber shroud from inside the sink drain, and look inside the disposal with a flashlight. If you see the object, retrieve it with a pair of pliers or similar tool. If you’re positive the power is off, you can also safely reach into the disposal with a gloved hand to remove the item.
Replace the rubber shroud, be sure the switch is still off, and restore the electricity. If it still makes a loud clatter, repeat these steps to be sure you removed everything from inside the disposal. If it still makes a loud clatter, it may be a problem with the disposal itself requiring replacement.
When it Makes a Humming Noise
A humming noise usually means the masher is jammed. The motor is trying to turn the unit, but it’s stuck, usually due to a foreign object or vegetable residue.
First, follow the steps described above for turning off the electricity to the disposal.
You’ll need to locate the special hex wrench that came with your disposal; it’s a six-sided metal rod bent in an “L” shape. If you can’t locate it, you can use a standard hex wrench of the proper size from your toolbox, or pick one up at the hardware store.
Insert the hex tool into the matching hole on the underside of your disposal and give it a few turns. If it won’t turn, follow the steps above for looking inside the disposal and removing any visible foreign matter. If you’re completely unable to get it to turn, even with the aid of someone stronger, the unit may need to be replaced.
When you can turn the inner workings with the hex wrench, restore the electricity and test the unit. If it works momentarily then jams again, repeat this procedure. If it doesn’t work and still hums, even though you can turn the unit with the wrench, the unit may need replacing.
When the Disposal is Silent
If the disposal is completely silent when you turn on the switch, you have an electrical problem. First, find the red push button on the underside of the disposal. This is a built-in circuit breaker that will “pop” if the unit is jammed. Press the red button to reset the circuit breaker, and be sure the power cord to the disposal is plugged in.
Try turning the disposal switch on again. If pressing the red reset button doesn’t work, check in your electrical panel to see if the circuit breaker to your disposal has popped. Reset it if necessary and test the unit again.
After resetting breakers, if the unit makes noise then goes silent again, follow the steps above for removing foreign objects or unsticking the unit with the hex wrench, then reset the breakers and test again.
If All Else Fails
Many times, this troubleshooting procedure will correct most problems with a disposal. When it doesn’t, refer to the article in this topic on “Replacing a Garbage Disposal.”
