Garbage Disposal Not Working? Here’s What Might Be Wrong

  Prevent Issues With Your Garbage Disposal At Home

You turn on the garbage disposal only to find it doesn’t work properly. Although there are some issues that are easy to fix, it might be necessary to hire a professional if the damage is severe. If you identify the symptoms as early as possible, this can help prevent your garbage disposal from becoming severely damaged and use your kitchen properly. This helps you avoid foul odors, ensure that your faucet drains the way it should, and makes cleanup easier. In this article, we’re going to cover the common causes of garbage disposal issues, troubleshooting tips, and when to call a plumber. 

        Signs Your Garbage Disposal Doesn’t Work Properly

During your homeowning experience, it is important to know about the common signs your garbage disposal isn’t working properly. One sign there’s something wrong is if your garbage disposal won’t turn on. Another indicator of an issue is if you’re noticing humming noises. While using your garbage disposal, it should drain the water away instead of letting it pool in the sink. If you notice that your sink drains very slowly, this is another sign something is wrong. You might also find leaks underneath the unit. Burning smells are a sign of trouble as well. Loud grinding or rattling noises and frequent resets or the garbage disposal shutting off completely could indicate there’s something wrong with your garbage disposal. These issues usually indicate that there is a specific problem. 

Reasons For a Broken Garbage Disposal 

Let’s now discuss the reasons your garbage disposal may not be working. One reason is it may have no power. When this happens, it could be due to a tripped reset button. What this means is that most garbage disposals have a small reset button at the bottom of the unit. When there’s a tripped reset button, this indicates that the garbage disposal turned off by itself to shield the appliance from being damaged. In addition to reset buttons turning off by themselves, this can also happen with circuit breakers.  Similar to a tripped reset button, a tripped circuit breaker shuts off to avoid electrical damage or lower the risks of overheating - as both mechanisms are designed to do. Loose electrical connections are another reason your garbage disposal may not be working. Before assuming the unit is broken, you should safely check the reset button and breaker. If it works fine, this can help you avoid needing to schedule maintenance for service.

        More Reasons For a Broken Garbage Disposal 

One other reason your garbage disposal doesn’t work the way it should could be because of a jammed flywheel. For those of you who are unfamiliar with what it is, it’s a metal plate shaped like a circle. It’s on the inside of the garbage disposal. This will spin while the motor runs. With this particular mechanism, food scraps, utensils, bones, or fruit pits can get stuck on the flywheel. If you’re noticing that the motor hums without spinning, it could be because the grinding mechanism is blocked. It’s important to disconnect the power before attempting any inspection since it can accidentally turn on, creating a serious injury. Even if the garbage disposal will not turn on, it may continue to receive electricity. With that being said, if somebody turns on the switch on the wall, the jam becomes loose, or the disposal automatically resets while trying to do a repair, the machine can begin to move suddenly. Garbage disposals stop operating efficiently if there’s a clog. There are many types of foods that can get stuck inside. Common examples include grease, fats, fibrous vegetables, coffee grounds, pasta, rice, eggshell buildup, and potato peels. When your garbage disposal is clogged, it can cause both drainage problems and backups. One other reason your garbage disposal may not be working is because the motor has burnt out. 

What to Do if Your Garbage Disposal is Broken

In this type of situation, what happens with older garbage disposals is that over time, they become worn. If the appliance is frequently jammed, it becomes overheated, which causes it to stop working. It’s important to understand that it could be more expensive to get the garbage disposal repaired instead of replacing it. Another reason your garbage disposal may not be working is because the internal components are damaged. There might be possible issues with grinding plates, impellers, bearings, and seals. Unusual noises often indicate mechanical damage as well. 

Troubleshooting Techniques For a Defective Garbage Disposal

Now that you’re familiar with the reasons your garbage disposal may not be operating normally, let’s go over some troubleshooting techniques. One option is to press the reset button. Check the circuit breaker and inspect the wall switch to make sure it has power. Fix the jam by using a manufacture-provided hex wrench after disconnecting the power. While trying to do a repair, remove anything obstructing the garbage disposal with tongs or pliers. It’s a safety hazard to use your hands. In order to ensure that your garbage disposal works efficiently and reduces the chance of clogs, run cold water before, during, and after using the appliance. It’s an effective way to jumpstart the drain, helping food move into the garbage disposal. Don’t use chemical drain cleaners since they’re damaging to the pipes. 

    Learn About Which Items Do Not Belong in the Drain

One other effective way to keep your garbage disposal running properly is to learn about what to not put down the drain. For example, grease should never go down the drain because it sticks to the walls of the pipes. Bones and fruit pits can get jammed in the grinding mechanism or put extreme amounts of strain on the motor. With fibrous fruits, these types of foods can get wrapped around the part of the disposal that moves. For example, if this type of fruit gets wrapped in the impellers, it could stop the garbage disposal from being able to operate. Watch out for coffee grounds as well. After it goes in the drain, clumps begin to form and get stuck inside of it. Using the garbage disposal the right way helps the appliance last longer. It lowers the risks of clogs and jams as well. 

When to Repair or Replace a Garbage Disposal

It’s important to know when to call a professional to do a repair or replace your garbage disposal. For example, if your garbage disposal still doesn’t work after basic troubleshooting, you should contact an expert. Techincians know how to use the right tools and other high tech equipment to fix the problem. Electrical issues make fixing the garbage disposal yourself a safety hazard. It’s better to let the professionals handle it, so you can avoid experiencing an electrical shock or creating damage that’s more severe. Burning smells may be indicative of an overheated motor or electrical issues, which may pose a safety hazard that professionals know how to avoid. While trying to repair persistent leaks coming from the garbage disposal, all it takes may be to just tighten a connection, but that’s not always the case. Contacting a technician helps you avoid water damage in your home. Specialists can accurately diagnose the issue, safely repair or replace the unit, and check for any underlying plumbing problems. 

Call a Technician to Repair Your Garbage Disposal

When your garbage disposal isn’t working, it interferes with daily life. Suddenly, you find yourself unable to cook in your kitchen, wash dishes, or clean your hands in the sink. While scheduling plumbing services may not always be convenient, and it’s not the greatest feeling to take time out of your day to let a technician come over, but you will be glad you did. If troubleshooting doesn’t resolve the issue, or if you’re worried the problem will become more serious, you should definitely contact a professional today.