My garbage disposal stopped spinning about a month after I moved in. Before you call a repair guy or start shopping for a new unit, check the reset button on the bottom — it took me about 30 seconds once I knew where to look. If that does not do it, two more things to try before giving up.
Why I'm writing this
I was making pasta on a Wednesday night, dumped the colander into the sink, flipped the disposal switch — and nothing. Just a low hum. Then nothing at all. I stood there staring at it like it owed me money. I poked around inside with tongs (please do not do that), googled for way longer than I want to admit, and was this close to ordering a new unit online. Then I noticed something on the bottom. A tiny red button I had walked past a hundred times without ever seeing.
Tools & Materials
- Your hand (for the reset button)
- Flashlight (to see under the sink)
- Allen wrench (most disposals come with one — hex key, usually 1/4-inch)
- Tongs or pliers (to fish out whatever is stuck inside)
- Flashlight or phone light
3 Things to Try (In Order)
1. Hit the reset button
Look at the very bottom of the disposal unit. There is a small red button — sometimes it is black on older models — that pops out when the motor overheats or gets overloaded. Mine had popped out at some point and I just never noticed. I pressed it in until it clicked, flipped the wall switch, and the disposal started right up. This is embarrassingly simple and it works more often than you would think. The motor has a thermal overload switch that trips if something jams it or if it runs too long. The reset button brings it back to life.
2. Check the circuit breaker
If the reset button did not do it, or if the disposal is not making any sound at all (not even a hum), the circuit might have tripped. Most disposals are on a dedicated circuit or share one with the dishwasher. Pop open your electrical panel — the big metal box in the basement, utility closet, or garage — and look for a breaker that is flipped to the middle position or all the way off. Flip it all the way off first, then back on. I have a buddy who spent an afternoon troubleshooting his disposal only to find a tripped breaker he had triggered by running the microwave and disposal at the same time.
3. Manually turn the flywheel with an Allen wrench
If the motor hums but nothing spins, something is probably jammed inside — a bottle cap, a stray olive pit, a piece of glass that should not have gone down the drain. Look at the very bottom center of the disposal unit. There is a hex-shaped hole. Grab the Allen wrench that came with the unit (or a 1/4-inch hex key from any hardware store), insert it into that hole, and turn it back and forth by hand. You will feel the resistance break once whatever is stuck gets dislodged. Stick your hand in there with tongs and pull out whatever you find. Then hit the reset button again and give it another try. Nine times out of ten, this does the trick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my garbage disposal stop working all of a sudden?
Most of the time it is either the thermal overload switch (fixed by the reset button), a tripped circuit breaker, or a physical jam inside the grinding chamber. The reset button is the most common fix — I would check that first before anything else.
Where is the reset button on a garbage disposal?
On the bottom of the unit. Get under the sink with a flashlight and look at the underside of the disposal. It is a small button, usually red, sometimes black on older models. If it has popped out, just press it in until it clicks.
My garbage disposal hums but does not spin — what is wrong?
That humming sound means power is getting to the motor but something is physically blocking the blades. Try inserting an Allen wrench into the hex hole at the bottom of the unit and turning it back and forth. That usually frees whatever is stuck. Then hit the reset button and try again.
Is there a fuse or breaker for a garbage disposal?
Yes — most disposals are on a dedicated circuit breaker in your main electrical panel. If the unit is completely silent (no hum, no sound at all), check the breaker box. Flip the breaker fully off and then back on.
Should I call a plumber or an electrician for a broken garbage disposal?
For a simple jam or a popped reset button, neither — you can handle it yourself. If you suspect an electrical issue beyond a tripped breaker (like a short or a bad wall switch), call an electrician. If the disposal is leaking or physically damaged, call a plumber.
How do I prevent my garbage disposal from jamming?
Run cold water while the disposal is running (not hot — hot water can melt fats that later solidify further down the pipe). Avoid putting fibrous scraps like celery, corn husks, or potato peels down the drain. And always run the disposal for a few seconds after the grinding sound stops, so everything flushes through.
To wrap it up
Garbage disposals are simpler than they look. A popped reset button, a tripped breaker, or a stuck bottle cap — those three things probably cover 9 out of 10 "broken" disposals. I was looking at replacement units online before I even knew the red button existed. Now I check it first, and it saves me every time.
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