Troubleshooting Garbage
Disposals
Safety
Tip
Troubleshooting a Garbage Disposal
You can't turn on the motor.
Motor hums, but unit doesn't grind.
The disposal continuously
blows fuses.
You can't stop the disposal.
The disposal drains slowly.
The disposal is making an unusual
amount of noise.
There is a leak in the disposal.
The two types of
garbage Disposals are:
- Batch
Feed - Activated by turning a stopper.
- Continuous
Feed - Activated by a wall switch.
Problems usually
involve jams or clogs, or occasionally leaks.
Safety
Tip
If
dismantling the Disposal or working on electrical
connections, shut off power at the main disconnect.
Never put your hand in the Disposal. Use pliers
or tongs to remove an object. Never pour a chemical
drain cleaner into a Disposal.
Troubleshooting
a Garbage Disposal
- If
your Disposal makes a loud whirring noise or
stops, it has jammed. Turn it off and wait 5
minutes, then firmly press the reset button
on the bottom of the motor housing. (Machines
without buttons reset automatically).
- If
the Disposal still doesn't work, see if it's
designed to be unjammed from below. It may have
a small crank or a socket for an Allen wrench
to turn the flywheel. Or it may have a reversing
switch
- Lacking
these, angle a broom handle against an impeller
blade and work the blade back and forth until
the jam dislodges. Then press the reset button.
- To
cure a clog, disassemble the trap and use a
snake.
- Water
dripping from the Disposal usually indicates
one or more seals are worn and need to be replaced.
- Helpful
Hint When professional help is required, take
the Disposal to the repair service to avoid
paying for a service call. To remove it, separate
it from the drain elbow and loosen the mounting
screws to release it from the support flange.
- For
best service from your Disposal, run cold water
during disposal and for a minute after.
- Never
put glass, metal or rubber in the Disposal.
- Disposals
vary, so consult your owner's manual.
You
can't turn on the motor.
Check for:
- No
power.
- Defective
on/off switch.
- Tripped
overload protector switch.
- Defective
motor.
Remedies:
- Check
the fuse box/circuit breaker, and if the disposal
is plugged into a wall outlet, check the outlet.
- On
continuous feed models, check the wall switch.
- On
batch-feed models, check he stopper switch.
- If
the flywheel is jammed, free it. Then, push
the reset button.
- Call
a qualified contractor.
Motor
hums, but unit doesn't grind.
Check for:
- Jammed
flywheel.
- Frozen
motor bearings
Remedies:
- Free
the flywheel.
- Call
a qualified contractor. You'll probably have
to buy a new unit.
The
disposal continuously blows fuses.
Check for:
- Too
many appliances plugged into the circuit.
Remedy:
- Install
a 15-amp circuit just for the disposal.
You
can't stop the disposal.
Check for:
Remedy:
- Call
a qualified contractor.
The
disposal drains slowly.
Check for:
- Not
enough water.
- Clogged
drain line.
- Disposal
isn't grinding finely enough.
Remedies:
- Run
more cold water when using the disposal.
- Don't
use harsh chemical agents.
- Flush
with hot water to remove a grease clog, then
remove the drainpipe and clear it.
- Replace
a dull shredder ring or any broken flyweights.
The
disposal is making an unusual amount of noise.
Check for:
- Metallic
object in the unit.
- Loose
mounting screws are loose.
- Broken
flyweight.
- The
motor is defective.
Remedies:
- Inspect
the unit and fish out the object with thongs
or forceps.
- Tighten
the mounting screws.
- Replace
the broken flywheel.
- Call
a qualified contractor.
There
is a leak in the disposal.
Check for:
- Loose
sink connection.
- Loose
drain connection.
- Damaged
housing gasket.
Remedies:
- Tighten
the flanges holding the gaskets or replace the
gaskets.
- Tighten
the drain flanges or replace the drain gasket.
- Replace
the gasket.
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