Last Updated on April 8, 2024 by Jawad Ali
Are you having problems with your garbage disposal? Is it stuck, clogged, leaky, or is it not draining? If the garbage disposal does not perform as it should, then read on. This comprehensive troubleshooting guide will assist you in pinpointing and repairing the garbage disposal issue quickly.
When your trash disposal doesn’t function:
- The reset button is located at the disposal site, and test the process again.
- Ensure the cord is connected to an electrical outlet working or wired directly in an electrical outlet. If required, you need to restart the circuit breaker, which supplies the electricity.
- To get rid of a blockage, put a 1/4-inch hexagonal wrench into the hex-shaped opening on the underside of the garbage disposal, and turn it in both directions several times to open the impellers.
- If you don’t own a hex wrench, cut off the power source, insert a small broomstick into the disposal, push it against any blade, and then try rotating the impeller in a circular motion to remove the blockage.
There’s more information on these steps further down.
Do not try running the disposal when it is humming but doesn’t grind. This could cause the motor to damage the engine.
Repair garbage disposal problems
To figure out the fastest and most efficient method to fix your disposal, you must identify what the issue is. The signs will tell you the first thing to do most of the time.
If the trash disposal does not do anything-meaning, it doesn’t even hum, and the issue is probably that it’s not getting power.
This usually means that:
- The overload circuit of the garbage disposal is shut down, or
- The electrical circuit that supplies for the waste disposal has gone shut off.
If your garbage disposal sounds but does not make a sound when you turn it on, then turn off the appliance. It’s because something is stuck inside it.
Something is probably not right on the cutting blade if the unit’s motor is running, but the engine does not grind as efficiently.
If the garbage disposal isn’t draining properly or the water from the removal comes back up the drain in the sink, The issue is usually in the drain for the garbage disposal and not the disposal unit.
If the trash disposal is leaking into the base cabinet, you’ll have to figure out the source of the leak. Look for drips originating from pipes (especially on connections) in the space beneath the sink.
Now you’ve identified the signs, Let’s take a deeper examine each of these issues and what you can do to fix these issues.
Garbage Disposal Not Working, No Noise
If the garbage disposal can’t make any noise, it doesn’t sound or humming noise. It’s probably not receiving energy.
Find the garbage disposal reset button on the bottom of the disposal. Press the reset button as previously mentioned. This simple press could be all needed to restart the removal to normal.
If that doesn’t accomplish the trick, check if the disposal is connected to an electrical outlet under the sink or is hard-wired (directly hooked) directly to the electrical box in the area.
If the disposal you have is a plug-in, disconnect the appliance from its electrical outlet. Then, test the outlet using another machine, like hair dryers. If the outlet isn’t working with another apparatus, go to the circuit breaker’s panel and the breaker connected to the disposal. The breaker is usually related to the same circuit utilized by dishwashers. It can be reset by turning the course off and then on.
If the device is connected to an electric box head directly onto the circuit breakers panel, reset the breaker by the exact method.
Read More: Top 15 Best Removable Basement Ceiling Ideas
Garbage Disposal Hums or Is Jammed
The disposal is jammed or blocked when it hums, but the removal isn’t grinding or sound too loud or is running but is stopped before turning it off. Do not continue running the disposal when it’s jammed, as this could cause the motor to burn out.
Even if it is jammed, the disposal will typically run out of water.
The jam is usually caused by a fragment from bone, pit of a fruit, or something similar that is stuck between the impeller blade or drain pipe.
Be sure to disconnect the disposal and turn off the circuit that powers it before making the repairs.
To get rid of blocked disposal:
- Remove the device from its socket or switch off the circuit breaker that powers it.
- Under the sink, examine the disposal’s bottom to find a hex-shaped opening. If you spot one, locate the 1/4-inch hex wrench sized to fit in the hole (often, there’s a wrench attached on the bottom of the garbage disposal).
- Insert the hex wrench into the hole, then push it in a back and forth motion a couple of times to loosen impellers. (Note that some models come with an inverse switch that performs the same thing.)
- If the disposal you are using doesn’t include a hex-hole or you cannot locate a hex wrench, insert a broomstick that is short inside your disposal (with the power off! ). Then, push it on one blade and turn the impeller circular.
- If you find something placed in the garbage place of disposal that isn’t needed–such as rubber, metal glass, metal, or other fibrous food waste, such as banana peels, artichoke leaves, or even banana leaves–use tongs or pliers for pulling the substance out. Never use your hand.
- It is possible to take the disposal off to remove a blockage. In some cases, this can be more straightforward than it may sound.
The following is a great video demonstrating the fundamental ways to fix simple issues and remove the disposal if required.
Disposal Grinds Poorly
If your disposal is not grinding well, make sure you are running sufficient water to operate the machine and not scrubbing something unnecessary.
If you detect the trash disposal roaring, but it’s not milling, it is possible that the cutting blades could be damaged.
In general, it’s not worth the effort to fix the broken garbage disposal. It’s typically cheaper and simpler to replace the whole appliance.
Garbage Disposal Clogged, Not Draining
If there is standing water at the bottom of your sink, it is a sign that the drain is blocked within the disposal or into the drain line.
This isn’t a disposal issue. It’s a plumbing issue. You’ll likely need to take out the drain pipe that runs under the sink to remove the blockage.
Failure to flush the disposal with enough water while it is grinding will result in a clog. Waste cannot be flushed through the pipes without enough water, which will quickly accumulate. Water can no longer flow at all once there is a complete obstruction.
Garbage Disposal Leak
If you observe leaks beneath the disposal that originate from pipes, or more likely, from the connection between lines, determine the leak’s origin and tighten the offending reference.
If your disposal has started leaking from the point, it enters the sink, and you need to replace the gasket for the drain or the screws used to mount the unit.
If the unit is excessively loud, make sure that nothing is in the team that it shouldn’t.
If the situation is as clear, the motor, impeller, or shredder could be damaged. It’s generally the least expensive, most efficient, quick, and the fastest to replace the whole unit.
