Garbage Disposal Not Working? How to Troubleshoot & Fix Common Issues

Picture this: it’s early in the morning, in the middle of the day, or late in the evening. You are washing dishes as usual and cleaning up in the kitchen. Suddenly, you notice your garbage disposal is not working. What’s going on? What do you do?

You’re not alone. Many people don’t know what to do when their garbage disposal stops working properly. Continue reading to find out why and how you can fix it with the help of Dauenhauer.

5 Common Garbage Disposal Problems and How to Fix Them

To fix your garbage disposal, let’s first examine some common problems to better assess whether you can do it yourself or need to hire a professional. Once we identify the problem, we can determine how to fix it.

1. Garbage Disposal Hums But Doesn’t Turn

If your garbage disposal is humming but not turning, something is likely jamming the inner flywheel and preventing it from turning.

Try turning off the garbage disposal’s power and circuit breaker and using a hex wrench to turn the inner flywheel clockwise. Once you have removed the obstructing object, turn everything on. 

2. Garbage Disposal Leaking

If your garbage disposal is leaking from the top:

1. Turn off the power to the disposal.
2. Turn the disposal counter-clockwise to remove the unit from under the sink. 
3. Apply plumber’s putty to the sink flange and tighten it to the sink. 
4. Reinstall the disposal and turn the power back on.
5. Run water and check for leaks.

If your garbage disposal is leaking from the bottom:

1. Check and make sure the bolts holding the discharge pipe are tight.
2. If the leak continues, remove the bolts and the pipe to replace the gasket seal between the sink and the disposal. 
3. Reinstall and tighten the bolts. 
4. Run water and check for leaks.

If your garbage disposal is still leaking, it is most likely caused by a deeper kitchen plumbing issue. 

3. Overheating 

One way to tell if your garbage disposal is overheating is if your disposal has been running for a long time or is overloaded. To fix this, you can:

1. Turn off the power.
2. Allow the disposal to cool for 10-15 minutes.
3. Locate the reset button.
4. Press the reset button (you should hear a click).
5. Restore power and test to see if it’s working correctly.

4. Garbage Disposal Draining Slowly

The best way to fix a clogged garbage disposal is to clear the drain trap. Here’s how:

1. Disconnect the drain trap and the discharge drainpipe by removing the bolts on the bottom.
2. Check for clogs and clean the inside of the disposal.
3. If that doesn’t work, use a sink auger to clear the clog in the branch drain line. 
4. Reassemble the drain trap and reconnect the discharge tube to the side of the garbage disposal.
5. Check to see if the issue is gone by running water with the disposal on.

5. Electrical Issues

Sometimes, a tripped circuit breaker, blown fuse, or loose wiring may cause your garbage disposal not to work properly. If so, here’s how to troubleshoot:

1. Check the power source and ensure the disposal is plugged in securely. If hardwired, check that the wires are correctly connected.
2. Inspect the circuit breaker by finding your home’s electrical panel. Then, see if the disposal’s circuit breaker has tripped. If it has, reset it.
3. If your home has fuses, inspect them for any that have blown and replace them as needed.
4. Push the reset button. You should hear a click, indicating the disposal has been reset.
5. If the disposal is plugged into an outlet, test it with another appliance to ensure it functions correctly.

When to Call a Professional

If you’ve exhausted the list of troubleshooting techniques to no avail, it’s probably time to call a professional. More extensive electrical problems or severe internal issues could be occurring, and a licensed technician will need to handle the repairs.

• Deeper Electrical Issues: You could have more substantial electrical problems if the disposal or reset button is not working, even after resetting the circuit breaker.

• Persistent Leaks: Leaks can require professional plumbing services, especially when not resolved by tightening connections.

• Grinding Noises: Unusual sounds can be caused by severe internal component issues requiring expert diagnosis and repair.

Garbage Disposal Do’s and Don’ts

When troubleshooting the cause of your garbage disposal not working, there are specific actions you should take and avoid to prevent creating a larger issue and headache.

Do’s

• DO turn on the cold water before turning on the garbage disposal, and keep it running until grinding is complete. 
• DO occasionally and maintain your garbage disposal machine and the drain.

Don’ts

• DON’T pour grease or fat down the drain. Grease and fat should be thrown in the trash.
• DON’T pour coffee grounds down the drain.
• DON’T use hot water when grinding. This can lead to your garbage disposal overheating.
• DON’T fill the disposer with large loads of food all at once.
• DON’T grind a large amount of egg shells or fibrous material.
• DON’T turn the machine off abruptly when grinding. Run it for about 10 seconds with cold water only.

Contact Dauenhauer Plumbing to Fix Your Garbage Disposal

Garbage disposal problems don’t have to be a headache if you call Dauenhauer. Dauenhauer Plumbing is dedicated to making a positive impact by delivering plumbing solutions with precision, integrity, and respect. Call us now to remedy your garbage disposal issues.

Frequently Asked Questions