Garbage Disposal

“What was the last thing that you put down the disposal?”

  • First make sure that the electrical switch is in the OFF position.
  • Is there any obstruction in your garbage disposal?
    • After a visual inspection of the garbage disposal, reach down into the disposer area and sweep your hand around to find and pull out any little items that don’t belong.
      • Our crew has found shot glasses, silverware, broken pieces of glass, coins, toothpicks, egg shells, spaghetti/noodles, fruit pits (avocado, peach, etc.), bacon grease, just to name a few.
      • A good rule of thumb for using the disposal: If you wouldn’t eat it, it shouldn’t go down the disposal.
    • Once you have felt around and removed any major obstructions, try the disposal again while running water to see if it will run.
  • If the disposal is jammed, then you need to grab an allen wrench and, at the base of the disposal, there is a hole.  Place the wrench in the hole and turn it clockwise.
  • Check to see if the RED BUTTON is in the OFF Position at the base of the disposal.  This button is the fuse for the disposal and, if loose, it has been tripped.  Push it upward and then turn on the disposal at the outlet.