Troubleshooting Guide
Most disposal problems have a fix you can do yourself in five minutes. We'll walk you through the most common issues and tell you honestly when it's time to call a plumber.
Safety First: Before working on your garbage disposal even just to look inside always turn off the switch and unplug the unit or cut power at the breaker. Never put your hand in the disposal.
Common Issues
Find your symptom below for step-by-step troubleshooting.
Nothing happens when you flip the switch. No hum, no sound.
Press the red reset button on the bottom of the unit under the sink. It often pops out after an overload and just needs to be pushed back in.
Check that the disposal is plugged in under the sink plugs work loose over time.
Check your breaker panel for a tripped circuit. Reset if needed.
If none of the above work, the motor may have failed. Time to call us or replace the unit.
The motor is running and you hear a hum, but the grinding plate isn't turning. This is a jam and it's the most common disposal problem.
Turn off the switch and unplug the unit immediately. Running a jammed motor burns it out fast.
Find the Allen wrench socket on the bottom center of the unit. Use a 1/4" Allen wrench to manually turn the grinding plate back and forth to free whatever is stuck.
Use tongs (never your hand) to remove the obstruction from inside the disposal.
Plug back in, press the reset button, run cold water, then turn the unit on.
Water dripping from or around the disposal. The fix depends on where the leak is coming from.
Leaking from the top (where it meets the drain flange) usually means the mounting putty or gasket has failed. This is a straightforward repair the flange needs to be reseated with fresh plumber's putty.
Leaking from the side often means a worn or loose dishwasher drain hose connection. Check that the hose clamp is tight and the rubber gasket is intact.
Leaking from the bottom means the internal seals have failed. At this point, replacement is almost always more cost-effective than repair.
Food residue stuck to the grinding chamber, or a partial clog in the drain line below the unit.
Run cold water, turn on the disposal, and drop in a handful of ice cubes. This helps knock debris off the grinding plate. Follow with some coarse salt and ice for a deeper clean.
Drop a few lemon or citrus peel pieces in and run this neutralizes odors naturally.
Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda into the drain, then add 1 cup of white vinegar. Let it fizz for a few minutes, then flush with hot water.
If it's still draining slowly after cleaning, the clog is likely in the trap or drain line below that needs a plumber's mechanical clearing.
Do's & Don'ts
Best Practices
Run cold water before you turn on the disposal, throughout use, and for 10-15 seconds after turning it off. Cold water solidifies fats so the grinding plate can chop them rather than smear them on the walls.
Don't dump a full plate of scraps in at once. Feed food in small amounts with the water running. Overloading is the number one cause of jams.
Ice + salt or baking soda + vinegar once a month keeps it smelling fresh and prevents buildup on the grinding components.
Chemical drain cleaners damage the rubber gaskets and seals inside the unit and the drain lines downstream. Stick to natural cleaning methods.
Know Your Limits
The reset button trick didn't work and the motor still won't start
You can't unjam it with the Allen wrench and the obstruction won't come free
Leaking from the bottom of the unit (internal seal failure)
Still draining slowly after you've cleaned the unit thoroughly
Grinding or metallic noises indicating worn bearings or damaged plate
Unit is 10+ years old and has recurring problems replacement is more cost-effective
