How to Repair a Garbage Disposal

Depending on where the problem is located, you probably need little more than caution and patience to restore garbage disposal activity right away. The important part about doing this kind of repair is diagnosing the problem accurately. Garbage disposals have fewer than a dozen parts, but you still must examine them closely to find the source of the trouble.

The most common reason garbage disposals suddenly stop working is because they have tripped a circuit breaker. Obstruction or malfunction can quickly cause such units to overheat, so many models now contain their own built-in breakers. If you hear nothing when you flip the switch, your first stop should be under the sink to find a red button on the bottom of the unit. Press this back in, then try it again. If the machine starts up immediately, problem solved. Of course, you still want to address what tripped the breaker to begin with.

The most common cause of circuit breaker release is an obstruction in the disposal itself. Be aware, however, that you should never reach your hand into the disposal! Instead, cut the main power to the unit, then try turning it on again to confirm the power is shut off. Now you can make your way into the unit from either direction – above or below. Above is generally easier, as it doesn’t require getting out the toolbox. Use needle-nose pliers or tweezers to get at the cause of the problem, again being careful not to bring your hands anywhere near the blades. If you can remove the obstruction, the disposal should be good to go.

Objects often get jammed underneath the blades, however, which will require more sophisticated techniques. Most disposals allow access from below with an Allen wrench. A turning hole at the bottom of the unit should allow you to rotate the impellers in either direction, so a strong twist can usually “back up” the blades and give you access to the obstruction. If you cannot achieve enough torque using small tools such as these, you may be able to force the blades from above using a dowel or wooden rod. Check out the situation with a flashlight first. Often a stubborn obstruction requires dexterity and a game plan. Once the obstruction has been loosened a bit, try turning the disposal on and off in quick, short bursts. The same physics that help a car get out of the mud can help the blades “catch” on the obstruction here and send it downstream.

Of course, garbage disposals are prone to countless problems that have little to do with an obstructed impeller. Leaks can be an issue as well, usually identified when the area under your sink fills up with water or worse, slurry! A garbage disposal can spring a leak for any number of reasons, but the problem is almost certainly attributable to a poor seal somewhere in the pipeline. Check seals and joints such as the sink-mounting flange, drain chamber, motor housing gasket and clamping ring since plenty can go wrong with a machine that operates with so much force.

Often these problems can be solved with plumber’s putty or new clamps. Check all the bolts once you have located the leak, then replace gaskets and flanges that show signs of wear. With a little trial and error, you should be able to restore a comfortable and reliable garbage disposal back to full daily function.

If none of these measures works, it may be time to replace the unit altogether. Garbage disposals eventually grow dull, and it isn’t unheard of for a motor to fail altogether. Speak with the plumbing department at your local housewares store if you want to make a solid replacement choice.

Find a local Plumbing contractor.
View more Plumbing articles.