What Can I Do If My Garbage Disposal Is Not Working?

What can I do if my garbage disposal is not working?

Has your garbage disposal stopped working? Garbage disposal problems can be pretty frustrating, but don’t worry; we’ve got you covered. Let’s walk through what might be wrong and some quick, easy ways to fix a garbage disposal.

For more details on how to diagnose a broken garbage disposal, go here.

Safety First

It’s tempting to reach in there and feel around for what’s stuck, but please don’t. Those blades are sharp; even when the disposal’s off, they can cause serious injury.

Here’s what you should do instead:

• No reaching into the disposal!
• Cut the power completely; either unplug it or flip that circuit breaker off
• Got something stuck? Grab some tongs or pliers instead of using your fingers.

Safety first, always. It’s good to know when you can fix your garbage disposal yourself, and when you need a pro.

Troubleshooting Steps

1. Check Electrical Connections

You’d be surprised how often the problem is just electrical.

Before we get into the complicated stuff, let’s check the basics:

• Give the plug a good look. Is it actually plugged in all the way? (You’d be amazed how often this is the issue!)
• Press the reset button. It’s a small red button on the bottom
• Head over to your circuit breaker panel and make sure nothing’s tripped
• Don’t forget to check that wall switch; sometimes it’s the simple things.

If you’re getting power but things aren’t working right, we need to dig deeper.

2. Fix Common Problems

Humming But Not Turning

Is the garbage disposal humming? That usually means something’s stuck in there.

Here’s what we’re going to do if there is power to the garbage disposal but the disposal won’t turn:

1. First, kill the power (remember what we talked about with safety?)
2. Look underneath the disposal; you’ll see a spot for a hex wrench. Pop it in there and give it some back-and-forth turns
3. Use your tongs or pliers to fish out whatever’s causing the trouble
4. Now try turning it back on and see what happens

Just don’t let it keep humming without fixing it; that’s a quick way to burn out your motor.

Draining Slowly

When your sink starts draining like it’s taking a lazy Sunday afternoon, you’ve probably got a clog somewhere.

Let’s tackle it:

• Look under your sink and find that curved pipe (we call it a drain trap). That’s often where stuff gets stuck
• If you can’t spot the clog there, you might need to break out a sink auger to reach deeper
• Once you’ve cleared things out, put everything back together and run some water to make sure it’s all good

Quick tip: Have some towels and a bucket ready. This job can get messy!

Leaking Water

Leaks can show up in different spots, and each one needs its own fix:

• If water’s coming from the top, we’re looking at a sink flange issue. You’ll need to remove the disposal, clean the old putty, and reseal it.
• Getting water from the bottom? Check out where your dishwasher connects and that discharge pipe. It might need some tightening up.

Pay attention to leaks – they only get worse (and more expensive) over time.

Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Disposal

Look, nothing lasts forever, and garbage disposals are no exception.

Here are some signs your broken garbage disposal might need to be replaced:

• If your motor’s smoking or overheating, that’s a pretty clear goodbye signal
• Constant clogs or weird noises? Your disposal might be telling you it’s tired
• Can’t fix those leaks no matter what you try? Might be time to cut your losses
• And if your disposal’s pushing 10 years old, well, it’s had a good run

Getting a new unit is sometimes cheaper than keeping an old one limping along.

When to Call a Professional

There’s no shame in knowing when you’re in over your head.

Here’s when you might want to call a pro for garbage disposal repair:

• Anything involving weird electrical issues. Don’t mess around with that
• If you’ve tried fixing the same problem three times and it keeps coming back
• When nothing you try seems to make any difference at all

Sometimes, paying a professional now saves you money (and headaches) later.

Most disposal problems aren’t as scary as they seem at first. With some basic tools and a little patience, you can often get things running smoothly again. Just remember: When in doubt, especially about safety, it’s better to call in someone who knows their stuff. The key is not to let minor problems turn into big ones by ignoring them. At Service Minds Benjamin Franklin, we provide garbage disposal repair services, as well as tackling replacements when needed. And since we’re your Punctual Plumbers, you know we’ll always arrive on time. Give us a call?