Many potential issues can cause a garbage disposal not to run. It may be something that can be fixed quickly and easily yourself, or it may require the help of the appliance repair professionals at American Appliance Repair. Keep reading to get some of the most common causes of garbage disposals that don’t run and potential fixes for them.
Troubleshooting a Garbage Disposal That Won’t Turn On
If you flip the switch and your disposal does not turn on, and you do not hear the motor humming, then there is likely an electrical problem that is keeping the appliance from getting the power it needs to run. The first step if you believe this is the problem is to simply ensure that the disposal is plugged in. Believe it or not, a device that is not plugged in is one of the top reasons for calls to customer service.
If you find that it is plugged in, then press down on the reset button on the bottom of the garbage disposal. This is a built-in circuit breaker and if it happens that the garbage disposal has “tripped,” then the red button will be popped slightly out. Just push it back and it will reset the unit.
If that doesn’t work, then check your pain service panel in your home to determine if the circuit breaker has been tripped. If it has, then reset the circuit breaker. If neither of these issues is the cause, then there may be a wiring issue between the disposal and the switch that controls it. This is something you will need to call the professionals for.
Troubleshooting a Garbage Disposal That Hums but Does Not Grind
If the garbage disposal is humming but does not turn on when the switch is flipped, then the inner flywheel may be jammed. This can cause the resent button to pop up or the circuit breaker to trip quickly. If left without being treated, this issue can burn out the motor. This issue is almost always caused by food or a foreign object lodged within the impeller and the shedder ring inside the disposal.
Take a flashlight and look down into your garbage disposal. If you can see an object that is causing a jam, turn off the garbage disposal and use pliers to get rid of the object. Once it is free, turn the power back on but do not yet move the disposal. Press the red button on the bottom of the disposal, run some tap water through the disposal, and then flip the switch on and off so it works quickly. Do that again, and make sure there is nothing lodged before running the disposal again.
When to Call in the Professionals
If your garbage disposal will not run, it is more than an inconvenience. Leaving it untreated can cause damage to your unit that requires replacement instead of repair. At American Appliance Repair we are standing by to help. Call us at 800-640-9934 to get started.
