What To Do When Your Garbage Disposal Isn’t Working (5 Steps)

A garbage disposal is a standard appliance in many kitchens, tucked out of sight in the base cabinet under the kitchen sink. It blazes through food waste using blunt impellers (rather than blades), saving space in your trash and minimizing odors from rotting food.

But when it stops functioning correctly, its benefits disappear, and many problems pop up, from foul odors emanating from your drain to a sink that won’t drain properly. These problems can be caused by blockages, power issues, failed parts, and other issues.

This article delves into how to safely troubleshoot common garbage disposal problems, typical repairs, and when to call a professional plumber.

How To Take Safety Precautions When Working on Your Garbage Disposal

When working on your garbage disposal, using safety precautions is essential. By taking steps to mitigate risk, you can avoid placing yourself in situations that could result in traumatic injuries. Here are a few safety tips and precautions to keep you safe while working on your garbage disposal:

• Cut the power supply to the garbage disposal. When troubleshooting clogs and other issues inside the canister, unplug the unit or disconnect it from power. This eliminates the possibility of the system accidentally turning on as you work.
• Use protective gear. Use gloves, goggles, and tools with insulated handles as a safety layer when working on disposals to protect your body as you work.
• Never put your hands in or around the disposal chamber. Your hands should never, for any reason, go inside the garbage disposal when troubleshooting a clog or similar issue. Keep your fingers and hands away from the drain and disposal chamber. Instead, use a tool like a pair of kitchen tongs or pliers to act as an extension of your hands.
• Keep kids and pets away from your work area. Children and pets have a knack for getting into things they shouldn’t — so keep them out of your work area to promote safety.

How Do You Troubleshoot A Garbage Disposal That Isn’t Working (5 Steps)

If your garbage disposal isn’t working, you might be able to get it running again with a few simple steps. Some problems are easy to resolve, requiring just a few minutes of troubleshooting to get things operating smoothly. Here are five steps to send you in the right direction.

1.    Check the Power Cord and Outlet

Power issues are one of the most common culprits behind a garbage disposal that randomly goes on strike. If you don’t have power, the system won’t function, so this is a good place to start.

First, check the power cord. Examine it for signs of damage or wear and ensure it’s securely pushed into the garbage disposal port and the outlet. If you find signs of damage, you’ll need to replace the cord, as a frayed or otherwise damaged power cord can be dangerous.

If the cord isn’t pushed in all the way, ensure you seat both ends properly in their spots. Next, check the garbage disposal for proper function.

Sometimes, the outlet is the problem. To check, plug a working appliance into the outlet and verify it works. If it doesn’t work in that outlet but functions fine in other outlets, you have an electrical problem. These issues can be complex and may require the skilled expertise of a professional electrician.

2.    Press the Reset Button

Most garbage disposals feature a small red button at the base of the canister. This little button is designed to reset the system after occurrences like large blockages or power disruptions. The system may also trip the reset button if you overload the canister with food scraps, as this can cause the unit to overheat. 

So if your garbage disposal has power but isn’t working, try pressing the reset button. Locate the button on the underside of the disposal canister beneath your sink. Press the button firmly, release it, and check the system for proper function.

3.    Check the Circuit Breaker

Sometimes, power issues go beyond the power cord or outlet, venturing across your home to the main electrical panel. In most new homes, electricians must follow local building codes and run a single circuit to the garbage disposal and dishwasher. These two appliances often share the same circuit, but several other outlets might rely on that circuit in some homes.

If your home is older or has other outlets on the same circuit, running too many appliances on the circuit might cause it to trip. For example, you might have a toaster and a kettle plugged into an outlet on the same circuit that is running while the garbage disposal is on. This might overload the circuit and trip the breaker as a form of protection.

To remedy this problem, you’ll need to visit your home’s main electrical panel. Before you do, use a working appliance to check how many outlets are on the same circuit. If more than one outlet has no power, your kitchen likely has too many outlets on the same circuit.

While you can always work around this problem by ensuring you don’t plug in too many appliances at once, it can be a nuisance. To permanently remedy the problem, you’ll need an electrician to run more circuits in the kitchen to prevent overloading issues. 

When you’re ready to reset the circuit breaker, locate your home’s main electrical panel. In most cases, you’ll find it in the basement, utility room, or garage. The breakers should be labeled, making it easier to find the correct one.

Look through the breakers to find the tripped kitchen breaker. Turn it all the way off, then flip it back into the on position. This will reset the breaker and should restore your garbage disposal to working condition. You may need to reset your garbage disposal after resetting the circuit breaker.

4.    Inspect the Inside of the Disposal Chamber

Check the inside of the disposal chamber for foreign objects. Sometimes, random kitchen objects can end up inside the chamber, freezing the impellers in place and preventing the disposal from doing its job. You might be surprised at what you find there — it isn’t unheard of to find kids’ toys, pet toys, keys, and silverware inside a garbage disposal.

Remember, you should never stick your hands inside the canister. On top of that, even though you’ll use a tool to reach inside the canister, you should verify the disposal is disconnected from power.

When you’re ready, grab a flashlight and kitchen tongs. Use the tongs to hold open the baffle (the black rubber piece on the drain) and shine the flashlight inside the canister. Look around for random objects that shouldn’t be in there.

If you see a foreign object, use the tongs to carefully work it out of the disposal chamber and up through the drain. You may need to rock the object back and forth, especially if it’s caught by the impellers in an awkward position.

Once you remove the object, check for more foreign objects before restoring power to the unit and checking it for proper function.

5.    Rotate the Impellers to Free Any Jams

When operating a garbage disposal, running cold water is essential. Otherwise, you create an effect like running a blender without liquid. If your blender is packed with frozen smoothie ingredients but has no milk or water to loosen things up, the frozen items are unlikely to blend well, resulting in a blade that spins but doesn’t crush.

The same thing can happen with a garbage disposal. When this occurs, you might be left with a mass of dry food scraps that jam the disposal impellers. The same thing can happen when you put items that aren’t safe for the garbage disposal (for example, coffee grounds, orange peels, and plastic) into the canister. Luckily, relieving this issue is simple — all you’ll need to do is manually turn the impellers.

Most garbage disposals have a small hex-shaped hole near the bottom of the unit that allows you to turn the impellers manually. Generally, they require a ¼-inch hex wrench or Allen wrench. Before you start, unplug the unit.

Insert the hex wrench into the hole and manually rotate the impellers or auger. Work them counterclockwise until you feel resistance, then clockwise until you meet resistance. Maneuver the impellers back and forth, working through the resistance until the impellers spin freely in both directions.

Once they spin freely, restore power to the garbage disposal. While running cool water into the canister, turn on the garbage disposal and check it for proper function.

What Are Common Repairs and Costs of Broken Garbage Disposals?

Replacing the Flywheel or Impellers

The components in a garbage disposal are designed to withstand constant hot water exposure and grinding through food, but sometimes, the flywheel or impellers tire out before the unit has served its time.

The cost of this replacement hinges entirely on the price of the replacement part, but most homeowners pay between $65 and $100.

When replacing the flywheel or impellers, your first step is to cut power to the unit, either by unplugging or turning off the breaker. It doesn’t hurt to turn off the water to the faucet above the disposal, too, as you’ll need to remove the drain assembly.

When you’re ready, position a large bucket underneath the unit. Disconnect the drain pipe and dishwasher drain tube from the garbage disposal canister. Remove the unit from the mounting bracket.

Once you remove the disposal, carefully detach the old impellers and replace them with the correct replacement impellers specific to the brand you’re working with. Ensure you tighten the impellers firmly to avoid issues with leaks.

Reinstall the garbage disposal and reconnect the drain lines. Turn the water back on, restore power to the unit, and check it for proper function.

Replacing the motor or the entire unit

The motor is the heart of a garbage disposal, so when it stops working, it renders the system useless. While you can replace the motor, it’s usually more cost-effective to replace the entire unit. The motor itself can cost $150 or more, which is comparable to most full-sized garbage disposal units.

Replacing the garbage disposal unit

To replace the entire garbage disposal, you’ll need to start by disconnecting the unit from its power source. After the power is off, disconnect any drain lines and remove the assembly from the mounting bracket. If you’re using a compatible model, you can keep the same mounting bracket.

Otherwise, you’ll need to disconnect the mounting bracket from the sink drain. Once the bracket is out of the way, it’s time to install the new garbage disposal. If the new unit is the same size as the old one, you might not need to adjust the plumbing setup, but if it isn’t, adjust the plumbing setup accordingly.

Install the new mounting bracket on the drain flange, then attach the garbage disposal. Connect the drain lines and hook the system up to power. Check the system for proper function and run water through it to test for leaks.

Replacing the sink flange or mounting assembly

The sink flange or mounting assembly may fail, resulting in leaks and improper function. In some cases, you might be able to adjust the assembly to ensure a snug fit and remedy the problem, but in others, you might need to replace the entire setup.

New sink flanges and mounting assemblies are usually fairly affordable, costing less than $50, although the cost hinges on the brand and part necessary.

To replace the sink flange or mounting assembly, start by turning off the power to the unit. Disconnect drain lines and remove the canister from the mounting assembly. Then remove the mounting assembly and sink flange to make the necessary replacements.

Reinstall the garbage disposal on the new mounting assembly, then reconnect the drain lines. Restore power to the unit and check it for proper function.

When Should You Call a Professional Plumber?

While some garbage disposal problems are simple and DIY-friendly, others are more complicated and require the experienced hands of a professional plumber. For example, while most homeowners can clear a simple clog, many replacements fall outside of their realms of experience.

Here are a few scenarios where it’s best to call in a professional plumber:

• If you don’t feel comfortable working with electricity or plumbing
• If you have an old, complicated garbage disposal requiring disassembly or repair
• If your garbage disposal isn’t easily accessible or you don’t feel you have the mobility to access it
• If you’ve attempted all of the repairs you could think of, but the problem persists or worsens
• If you find signs of water damage, mold, or foul odors in or around the disposal area

If any of the above situations match yours, calling a professional plumber is your best bet. Here’s a handy option to find professional plumbers nearest you.

So, What Should You Do When Your Garbage Disposal Isn’t Working?

A malfunctioning garbage disposal can quickly become problematic, filling your kitchen with foul odors and preventing smooth draining from your sink and dishwasher (if it’s connected). While general garbage disposal care, cleaning, and maintenance can help prevent some problems, others, like foreign objects getting into the disposal, are sometimes unavoidable.

When your garbage disposal abruptly stops working, start by ticking off the culprits that commonly cause functionality issues. Work your way down the list, addressing each one until you find a solution. If you get to the end of the list and your garbage disposal still isn’t working, it might be time to consider a repair.

While you can DIY some repairs, many are more complex and require help from a plumber. So, if you’re unsure of your ability to repair the problem or feel it’s out of your realm of experience, call a professional in your area.