Many homeowners experience problems with their garbage disposals–these units can easily jam up and stop working. This short video from The Honest Carpenter and The Eco Plumbers will show you several quick garbage disposal fixes!
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OUR OTHER ECO PLUMBERS VIDS:
6 Essential Plumbing Hand Tools:
https://youtu.be/uppuvS8BShU
Tankless Water Heaters:
https://youtu.be/Ax5yrRgtKMs
GARBAGE DISPOSAL NOT WORKING?! Try These Easy Fixes! (3 Sink Disposal Repairs…More Tips + Tricks!)
Typically, garbage and sink disposals stop working because some foreign object—like a spoon, or piece of glass or ceramic—has fallen into them and jammed them up.
Disposals aren’t meant to grind anything this large or dense! They mostly meant to grind up, or “macerate,” small, wet bits of food.
To fix your disposal, you’ll have to remove any foreign objects. But first, be sure to TURN OFF THE UNIT AND LEAVE IT OFF until the repair is complete. (You may want to flip the appropriate circuit breaker as well.)
Sometimes, objects can be fished out from above with tongs. If not, you may have to remove the unit and overturn it. (See video for how to dismount garbage disposal.)
Once foreign objects are removed, the sink disposal can often be “Reset” by pushing a small button on the underside of the canister. This button acts like a small circuit breaker. Once reset, the disposal will often be able to work again!
Also, you can sometimes free the grind plate in the unit by using an allen key to rotate the grinder from below.
It’s good to clean your garbage disposal frequently by grinding ice with dish soap and water. This will clear gunky matter in the grind chamber.
But remember, don’t put anything larger than a dime in the disposal. And don’t use clog-clearing chemicals—they can damage your disposal, and harm your plumber!
Thanks for watching!
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Another tip is to run the unit every day or so for 30 seconds, if it hasn't been used. This prevents the shaft and impeller from sticking, which can happen if gumming waste (e.g. fats) are emptied into the sink without the unit running.
We had a waste disposal at our holiday home. We rent it out on AirBnB and the likes. Over the years I had to clear out a number of items including string, paua shells and of course teaspoons.
But the nail in the coffin was when some guests messaged me on their last day to say it was blocked. We were heading up there for the weekend, so I said no problem, leave it to me, thinking it'll just be one of the usual blockages. On arrival I found the sink full of really foul water and it was really blocked! In the end I had to disassemble the waste plumbing to remove what was basically a fish sausage that ran from the disposal all the way down to where the pipe joined the main pipe that takes it away under the house. I reckon they had fed several fish through it!
After that I had it removed. Way more trouble that it was worth!
So, so helpful – thank you!
OMG man I have had a leaky disposal for a little while now. A $600 quote to come and fix it made me wait but your video just helped me take it off, swap the rubber seal for a new one.
The best fix for a problem garbage disposal is to remove it and replace the drain line completely. They are nothing but a guaranteed problem for under-sink leaks, clogs in your sewer line or septic tank. If it is solid trash, just throw it in the garbage. I have removed all of them in every home I have owned. These are the most useless and trouble filled appliances ever.
Excellent Video Ethan!
I have heard conflicting ideas if the dishwasher drain line should be connected to a disposal unit or not. Any insight?
You sound just like Chip in the latest Chip 'n' Dale: Rescue Rangers.
Aha! You saved me a plumber call and some money Ethan, thank you!
Great tips. I didn’t know there was a way to turn it manually and I am definitely going to try the ice and soap to clean mine. On a different note as an electrician I have seen so many disposals wired without a Romex connector, including the one in this video. The disposal vibrates a lot and this can rub through the insulation on the wires. Also the cable can get yanked out when cramming stuff under the sink. Both can lead to a dangerous situation.
Turn the switch on and the unit just have a buzzing sound. I have a Grindsmart and it has no socket under the unit to manual turn with allen wrench. Reset does nothing, shutting/resetting power in the circuit breaker down in the basement does nothing, nothing works. Grindsmart advertise as jam proof and that's why there is no socket built under the unit = FAILED.
Thank you for the tips, was a easy fix with the tips your recommended. Turned out the 5 tossed a Lego in the disposal.
Amazing video man, Allen key method and the button worked like a charm
Life saver
Worked like a charm! Thanks for the awesome advise and demonstration!
Thank you very much sir! You're a gangster
Wow you just saved me a lot of time and money. My disposal just….wouldn’t turn on today for some reason. I was mentally preparing to just buy a new one and install. Took a minute to look up videos and found this. Manually rotating the underside socket and hitting reset button worked! Back in business and saved some cash…for now. Thanks!
Thanks for the tip for using an Allen wrench to manually turn the disposal. Worked great!
Lol, it was the reset switch! Didn't know about it. Thank goodness. Thank you.
you are the best!
Dayton!
did not work, wrong info
This video was perfect! Able to fix my issue in a few minutes !
perfect example. just fixed it. something was jammed. cleaned the unit up and will reinstall..on to the next on my honey do list!
If you want to take the most complicated route to fixing the disposal, follow this video. 👎👎👎 but you really don’t have to take anything apart if the jam is minor. A lot of mess and trouble can be avoided. The video really should’ve offered easier ways to troubleshoot first, but it makes those suggestions only half way in.
Exactly what I needed to fix my disposal on a new house! THANK YOU!!
The garbage disposal was broken and the reset button didn’t work. Right when I twisted the Allen wrench, I heard water rushing out! Thanks dude!
Mine turning off has less to do with something getting stuck and more to with running the dishwasher for some reason its probably the wiring but I live in apartment so I can only do so much and they never listen
thank you , Ha make sure to use a Allen key that goes up the hole with snug fit and turn back and forth . At first I used a philp key that my wife gave me, said was for the garbage disposal …. long story it was an old one for old unit so when I thought was In there turn it was not until i got my tools and found the right to get up and move back and forth . Works Great Now and it was cute to see my wife try to help. Did not know about the Poatato starch clogging …. good to know.
Love
unfortunately garborators are illegal in Canada…
Holy crap that reset button fixed mine. Never knew such a thing existed.
thanks, clear explanation.
Literally fixed mine today! Thanks for the great video!
Beside from watching your excellent wood working tips… My garbage disposal has decided to stop working late this evening and my wife told me about it after 10PM.. Messed around with it, resetting the circuit breaker a few times but garbage disposal still refused to work… Jumped on YouTube searching around and happened to see you again with a different topic… Glad I found your "wood working" channel and saw the reset button of our disposal. Now it back to work after I hit the reset… 😄… Thank you so much and keep up the great job! TV.
I watched your video and repaired my garbage disposal. I saved 😊my self $70.00
What size Allen wrench?
3:45 this trick works! Thank you so much!
This is the most helpful video I found when I had to fix my disposal. Clear and concise. Thanks!
Came here to thank you for this video. Was able to fix my stuck garbage disposal with your explanation. Saved me a call to the plumber!!!
Thank you! Excellent overview.
Thank you for considering such thorough and concise instructions. Brilliant 😃👍🏻
Simply awesome! Thank you!