Why Is My Garbage Disposal Not Working & Where Is The Reset Button?

We recently went to a “broken garbage disposal” call in Medina. That description we got over the phone when the call came in didn’t tell us much. Sometimes the reset button just needs to be reset. 

The reset button fix is easy. Most manufacturers have an electrical reset button under the unit. InSinkErator’s reset button is red and they are the most common brand we see out there. But even Waste King and Moen garbage disposals have a reset button. 

Once you’ve located the reset button push it and then turn on the disposal. If it doesn’t make any noise at all, that means something else is going on – most likely there is no power going to the unit or the motor is bad. 

What does the humming noise mean? If you’ve tried the reset button and all you’re getting is a humming noise when you turn it on that indicates a jam in the motor or a stuck motor. When that happens we always first try to free the motor with a jam wrench. The jam wrench is a tool that usually comes with the disposal. The wrench goes underneath the disposal in the very center. Once inserted, try to turn the wrench back and forth. If it turns out, great! If not, the motor or grinding chamber may be shot. In either case, the disposer would need to be changed. 

Uh-Oh, it’s leaking. If you have water dripping out from the bottom or the side-wall of the unit that means it’s unfixable and needs to be replaced. Most of your in-expensive garbage disposers like the InSinkErator Badger V have a regular steel grinding chamber which can quickly rust out and leak. 

Garbage disposals are a great tool to have in the kitchen but when they don’t work it takes a little diagnosis to figure out what’s wrong and if it can be repaired or needs to be replaced. Happy grinding.