So you’re food disposal won’t turn on or just sits there and hums at you and does not spit? It is a very common problem that usually revolves around the garbage disposal’s impellers and the motor. Let’s look at the reasons why this happens and how you can try to fix it yourself before calling in a professional plumber.
Why Would the Garbage Disposal Stop Turning On?
Something Is Jammed In the Disposal
Any solid object stuck inside the garbage disposal can stop the blades from spinning. It might be a piece of plastic, a fruit seed, or a broken part of a toy. Once something gets wedged between the impellers, the motor can’t move, and you might hear a low hum instead of rotation. This type of jam locks the entire garbage disposal right where the blades turn.
Reset Button Has Tripped
Most food disposal units have a built-in reset button that cuts power when there’s too much strain on the motor. That usually happens when the motor gets overloaded or something inside the disposal gets stuck. Once it trips, the unit won’t respond when you try to run it. No sound, no motion—just a complete shutdown caused by that internal reset.
Power Supply Is Disrupted by a GFCI Outlet
Some garbage disposals are connected to GFCI outlets that cut off power when they detect a fault. If one of those outlets trips, the disposal won’t turn on, even though nothing seems wrong near the sink. This kind of wiring can run through different rooms, so the outlet causing the problem might not be visible at first. The garbage disposal stays inactive until the source outlet is reset.
Motor Is Stuck but Still Humming
If the garbage disposal makes a humming sound but the blades don’t move, the motor is jammed. It’s still getting power, but something inside keeps it from spinning. That humming sound comes from the motor trying to turn but not being able to push past the blockage. This usually means the impellers are stuck or the motor’s struggling to start.
The Motor Has Burned Out
When the garbage disposal is silent, won’t hum, and has no movement at all, the motor may have failed. This happens in older units or ones that jam often. The internal parts stop working, and the garbage disposal does not respond at all. A burned-out motor shuts down everything inside.
What to Do When the Garbage Disposal Won’t Turn On?
Remove What’s Jammed Inside
The first thing you need to check is if there’s something jammed inside the garbage disposal. For this, just cut the power to the disposal. Then, unplug it from under the sink. After that, grab a flashlight and something long, like a screwdriver. Now look inside the drain. You’re trying to see whether the impeller blades can spin freely. If they’re stuck, that usually means something’s caught in there. It might be a piece of plastic, a fruit seed, or even a broken part of a toy. If it’s close enough, try pulling it out. If it’s deep, you might have to reach in with your hand, even if it’s gross.
Reset the Food Disposal
The next thing you can try is pressing the reset button. Most garbage disposals have a small red button at the bottom. That button pops out if the motor gets overloaded. So just feel under the unit and find that button. Press it firmly. If it has tripped, you’ll hear a click when it resets. After that, plug the disposal back in and flip the switch to see if it runs. If nothing happens, don’t worry. Just keep going.
Check the GFCI Outlet
If the reset button didn’t do anything, the next step is to check if a GFCI outlet has tripped. A lot of garbage disposals are wired to outlets that shut off when they detect a fault. These outlets usually have two buttons on them—one that says “Test” and the other that says “Reset.” So, look around the kitchen and in nearby rooms to find the outlet, then press the “Reset” button and see if the outlet clicks back on. Then go back and see if your food disposal turns on this time.
Try to Move the Motor Manually
If the disposal just hums and won’t turn on, grab a 1/4-inch Allen wrench. Look under the bottom of the disposal for a small slot in the center. That’s where the wrench goes. Stick it in and start turning it back and forth. You’re trying to manually move the motor and loosen up anything that’s stuck inside. It might feel stiff at first, but once it starts spinning freely, that’s a good sign. Now, you can plug it back in and test it.
Tap the Motor with a Tool
If you’ve made it this far and it still won’t spin, there’s one last thing to try. Go under the sink and tap the disposal with a tool like a hammer or nut driver. Don’t hit it hard—just give it a few firm taps around the sides. You can also try tapping from the top using something that fits into the drain. Sometimes, that light tapping is enough to knock something loose inside. If the disposal starts working, then that is the problem. If not, the motor’s probably done.
Best Practices to Prevent Food Disposal Turning On Failure Problems
There’s nothing complicated about avoiding the issue where your garbage disposal doesn’t turn on. Just stick to a few small habits, and you’ll probably never end up crawling under the sink again.
- You should always run cold water for a few seconds before and after using the garbage disposal. This gives the scraps a clear path to flow through and pushes everything down properly.
- You never want to drop hard stuff into the drain. Things like bones, fruit seeds, and broken plastic chunks don’t grind up quickly, may just jam the impellers, and stop everything.
- If you’ve got big leftovers on the plate, just break them into smaller bits first. That way, the disposal doesn’t have to fight a whole chunk all at once and risk getting stuck.
- After you’re done grinding food scraps, let the water run for a few more seconds. It helps clear out any tiny bits still sitting around the blades.
- You should never pour chemical cleaners into the disposal. They don’t just burn through the gunk. They also wear down the inside parts and ruin the motor over time.
- When you’re rinsing dishes, make sure no forks or spoons slip into the drain. If a piece of silverware gets caught while the disposal is running, it can jam the blades or damage the unit completely.
- It’s always a good idea to use a heavy-duty switch and outlet for your garbage disposal. Low-quality power connections can cause power loss or a short out when the motor kicks in.
When to Call a Plumber?
If you don’t feel comfortable with the idea of putting your hand into the food disposal or trying to spin the motor, there’s no shame in calling someone who knows this job. It’s better to step back than to make the problem worse.
And if the disposal does not make any sound and the motor stays completely dead, that’s another clear sign it’s time to bring in a pro. A plumber can take a closer look and tell you whether a repair makes sense or if it needs to be replaced.For any of that, California Coast Plumbers fixes the issue fast and doesn’t waste your time. So if none of these steps fixed it and the unit still stays dead, just let them take over.