Home Improvement Ideas Plumbing Installations & Repairs How to Fix a Garbage Disposal Find out how to identify and fix these common garbage disposal issues. By Timothy Dale Updated on March 3, 2023 Fact checked by Marcus Reeves Fact checked by Marcus Reeves Marcus Reeves is an experienced writer, publisher, and fact-checker. He began his writing career reporting for The Source magazine. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, Playboy, The Washington Post, and Rolling Stone, among other publications. His book Somebody Scream: Rap Music's Rise to Prominence in the Aftershock of Black Power was nominated for a Zora Neale Hurston Award. He is an adjunct instructor at New York University, where he teaches writing and communications. Marcus received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Learn about BHG's Fact Checking Process In This Article View All In This Article Safety Considerations Disposal Won't Turn On Disposal Won't Grind Leaky Disposal Clogged Disposal DIY Kitchen Repairs and Projects Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Ryan Bent Project Overview Total Time: 30 minutes Skill Level: Beginner Estimated Cost: $0 to $10 A garbage disposal in the kitchen sink helps break down food waste items. Because these hardworking appliances get so much use, knowing how to fix a garbage disposal is a good DIY tool for your arsenal of skills. Not every type of food waste can be put in a garbage disposal. Avoid adding hot grease, oil, coffee grounds, seeds, stringy fruit, fibrous vegetables, and hard shells from eggs and nuts to keep it working correctly. Additionally, you should never put harsh cleaning products into the disposal. How to Clean a Garbage Disposal to Eliminate Stinky Odors Garbage Disposal Safety When working on your garbage disposal, keeping safety in mind is essential. Always turn off and unplug the disposal to ensure it won't activate while you're repairing. You can also turn off the circuit breaker for the disposal. Also, avoid sticking your hand or fingers into the disposal. If it's necessary to insert something into the disposal to retrieve an item or clear a clog, use a set of needle-nose pliers or a thin, wooden handle of a household tool. What You'll Need Equipment / Tools Tools for Disposal That Won't Grind 1/4-inch hex head wrench Metal tongs Needle-nose pliers Tools for Leaky Disposal Wrench Channellock pliers Tools for Clogged Disposal Metal tongs Needle-nose pliers Wrench Channellock pliers Materials Materials for Leaky Disposal Bucket Towels Plumber's putty Materials for Clogged Disposal Flashlight Plumber's snake Instructions How to Fix a Garbage Disposal That Won't Turn On Check the Circuit Breaker or Fuse Before worrying about how to fix a garbage disposal, check if it won't turn on because of the circuit breaker or a fuse. If the circuit breaker has tripped or the fuse has blown, you'll need to reset the tripped breaker or replace the fuse to restore power to the disposal. Keep in mind that if the breaker continues to flip, there's likely a more serious electrical problem. Consult a professional electrician to identify and repair the issue. The Basic Electrical Wiring Skills Every Homeowner Should Master Unplug the Garbage Disposal If the circuit breaker wasn't the source of the issue, unplug the disposal. For a hardwired disposal, turn off the circuit breaker to the garbage disposal to ensure it is disconnected before proceeding. Reset the Garbage Disposal Find the reset button on the bottom or side of the garbage disposal. In some cases, if there is an electrical issue with the disposal unit or the motor has overheated due to overwork, the overload protector will trigger, cutting power to the unit. To reset the disposal, press the reset button and wait a few minutes to ensure the disposal has had enough time to cool down. However, if the disposal regularly overheats and requires resetting, it may need to be replaced or repaired by a professional repair technician. Test the Garbage Disposal Turn on the circuit breaker and plug in the garbage disposal. Run cold water into the disposal and turn it on to test that it's working. 12 Things You Should Never Put Down Your Garbage Disposal How to Fix a Garbage Disposal That Doesn't Grind Unplug Garbage Disposal When the garbage disposal makes a humming sound instead of grinding like it usually does, it's typically due to a physical obstruction preventing the blades from rotating freely. Start this fix by unplugging the garbage disposal or turning it off at the circuit breaker if it is a hardwired model. Rotate the Flywheel and Impellers Most garbage disposals come with a 1/4-inch hex head wrench, but if your disposal didn't, you can purchase one online or at a local home improvement store. Locate the small, hex-shaped recess in the bottom of the garbage disposal and insert the 1/4-inch hex head wrench. Firmly twist the wrench back and forth to rotate the flywheel and impellers to loosen the stuck item. Remove the Obstruction Once the item is loose inside the garbage disposal, use a set of metal tongs, needle-nose pliers, or even a thin wooden broom handle to reach into the disposal and retrieve the object causing the obstruction. Do not put your hands or fingers into the disposal. Test the Garbage Disposal Turn on the circuit breaker and plug in the garbage disposal. Run cold water and turn the unit on to test if it's working properly. In some cases, the obstruction will trigger the overload protector, so you may need to press the reset button to restore power. How to Thaw Frozen Pipes How to Fix a Garbage Disposal That Leaks Turn Off Disposal and Locate Leak If you suspect the garbage disposal is leaking, move everything out of the area under the sink and set up a bucket and a few towels to contain the leak. Inspect the plumbing around the disposal to find the source of the leak. The most common parts that leak into the hoses that run to and from the garbage disposal are the discharge drainpipe and the sink flange. Leaks coming from the body of the unit generally indicate that the disposal needs to be replaced. Tighten Hose Connections or Replace Leaking Hoses For leaks coming from one of the hose connections, simply use a wrench or a set of Channellock pliers to tighten the hose connections. If the leak persists, the issue is likely a worn-out hose. You will need to replace the hose and the hose connectors to stop the leak. Tighten the Drainpipe Bolts or Replace the Gasket Seal Leaks coming from the discharge drainpipe can usually be fixed by simply tightening the drainpipe bolts. However, if the gasket seal between the drainpipe and the disposal is worn out, you will need to disconnect the discharge drainpipe, replace the gasket seal, and reinstall the drainpipe to resolve the problem. Tighten and Seal the Sink Flange Sometimes the vibration of the garbage disposal can loosen the connection between the disposal and the sink drain opening, creating a leak. To fix this problem, start by turning off the power to the garbage disposal. Disconnect the garbage disposal from the mounting ring to access the mounting bolts. Inspect the plumber's putty between the sink flange and sink. If it shows signs of wear or improper installation, remove the old putty and apply a new bead of plumber's putty to seal the connection between the sink flange and sink. Tighten the mounting bolts to secure the sink flange to the sink and allow enough time for the putty to set. Once the plumber's putty has set, reinstall the garbage disposal to the mounting flange. Test the Garbage Disposal Plug in and turn on the circuit breaker for the disposal. Run cold water into the disposal and turn it on to test if the leak is fixed. Remove the bucket and towels, then put back anything you took out from under the sink. Our Helpful Guide to Understanding Electrical Cables and Wires How to Fix a Garbage Disposal That's Clogged Unplug Garbage Disposal Unplug and turn off the circuit breaker to the garbage disposal to prioritize safety over a quick fix. Inspect Disposal and Remove Accessible Obstructions In some cases, you can see the clog from above by looking into the disposal with a flashlight. Having an idea of what the clog looks like can help you to clear the disposal. If possible, remove the obstruction with a set of metal tongs or needle-nose pliers. The 10 Best Drain Cleaners of 2024 for Every Clogged Sink in Your Home Disconnect and Remove Discharge Drainpipe If the clog isn't completely solid or it's too deep to reach, you'll need to remove the bolts holding the discharge pipe to the disposal. Once the bolts have been removed, disconnect the drain trap and the discharge drainpipe to access the clog. Clear Clogs or Obstructions Inspect the drain trap and discharge drainpipe to locate and clear the clog. The clog is likely in the branch drain line if you can't find any clogs in the drain trap, discharge drainpipe, or garbage disposal unit. Insert a plumber's snake into the branch drain line to remove or break up the clog. Reassemble and Test Disposal When the clog has been removed, reinstall the drain trap and discharge drainpipe. Plug in the disposal and turn on the circuit breaker to restore power. Run cold water into the garbage disposal and turn it on to test that it works properly. DIY Kitchen Repairs and Projects Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining? 7 Common Causes of a Backup How to Replace a Kitchen Faucet Everything You Need to Know About Refacing Kitchen Cabinets Your Essential Guide to Kitchen Stove Parts Why Is My Fridge Not Cooling? 8 Possible Causes