Garbage disposals are a convenient kitchen appliance designed to break down organic food waste into a slurry that easily flushes down the drain. However, a jammed garbage disposal that stops working midway throws your peaceful cleaning routine off track. The inconvenience of scraping the leftover food and throwing it in pre-prepared garbage in repetition can test the limits of your patience.
The main culprit behind the jammed garbage disposal is throwing fibrous fruits or vegetable remains, heavy, greasy waste from oily food, pasta noodles, or coffee grinds into the appliance. These food particles are very difficult to break down and clog the spinning plate and the outer grind ring of the garbage disposal.
If you are stuck in a similar situation and don’t know what to do, worry not. We have curated some easy at-home solutions that will guide you on how to fix a garbage disposal yourself. Through these simple solutions, you can relieve the jammed garbage disposal easily at home without any assistance from a plumber.
Materials Required:
- Flashlight
- A pair of tongs
- Hex or Allen wrench
- Long-nosed pliers
Also Read: How to Unclog Shower Drain With Baking Soda and Vinegar
How To Fix a Garbage Disposal
Press Reset Button on Garbage Disposal
Always turn off the appliance before attempting troubleshooting for safety. The first solution is to go for a simple reset that might make your overworked garbage disposal work again.
- Locate the red-colored reset button at the bottom of your garbage disposal
- If it has popped out, wait for a few minutes for the motor to cool down and then push the reset button
- Try turning the appliance back on, and check if it works
Check the Main Circuit Breaker
Sometimes the garbage disposal might draw too much electrical current at once. It might be one of the reasons for your appliance to become unresponsive all of a sudden.
- Check the main electric circuit breaker of your house
- Search for the switch labelled with kitchen or disposal and flip it back on
Check for Objects Stuck in Drain
If the above-mentioned solution doesn’t work, check the drain to see if it is clogged.
- Grab a flashlight and carefully look through the drain for any objects stuck in it
- If there is a foreign object like a broken bottle cap, a chewed plastic spoon, or a popcorn kernel, pull it out using a pair of tongs or long-nosed pliers
Use Hex or Allen Wrench to Rotate Blades
Sometimes food particles stick to the blades attached to the impeller plate of the garbage disposal. A humble Allen wrench will do the fixing.
- Look for a small hex-shaped hole at the bottom of the garbage disposal
- Put the hex or Allen wrench in the hole and start rotating the blades
- It might resist at first, but keep on slowly rotating the blades to loosen up the debris
Call for Professional Help
If none of the solutions work and your kitchen’s garbage disposal is still inactive, consider calling a professional to address the issue.
Final Word
Garbage disposal simplifies kitchen management by taking care of odor, food leftover mess, and speeding up the cleaning process. But if you do not use the appliance with caution, it might get jammed.
Always be mindful of what you flush down the drain to prevent the garbage disposal from clogging up in the future. While at home, solutions can fix normal troubleshooting; in case of issues like leakage or a burnt-up motor, it is advisable to call for professional help.
