GARBAGE DISPOSAL NOT WORKING?! Try These Easy Fixes! (3 Sink Disposal Repairs...More Tips + Tricks!)

Check Out Our FREE GUIDE: 25 Must-Have Carpentry Tools...Under $25 Each!
www.thehonestcarpenter.com/
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!
THE ECO PLUMBERS are the best residential plumbing company in the CENTRAL + DAYTON, OHIO area! Reach out to them through their contacts below!
THE ECO PLUMBERS
[phone]
4691 Northwest Parkway
Hilliard, Ohio 43026
www.ecoplumbers.com/
KZbin: / @geteco
Facebook: / ecoplumbers
Instagram: / ecoplumbers
Twitter: / theecoplumbers
Tik Tok: / ecoplumbers
LinkedIn: / the-eco-plumbers
OUR OTHER ECO PLUMBERS VIDS:
6 Essential Plumbing Hand Tools:
• 6 ESSENTIAL PLUMBING H...
Tankless Water Heaters:
• Tankless Water Heater ...
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!

[@lackeymsts]

Thank you! Just crawl under the sink, found the reset button and then an alley wrench to turn the inside per your instructions. I got it to work. I'm so proud of myself. Just saved my twin and I a few hundred dollars. As a female KZbin has always been my go to.

[@maksymlushpenko5527]

Thanks a lot, I was afraid to call my landlord, but with this video, I fixed my disposal that had broken glass in it.

[@kelinhough9554]

Same thing

[@samuelecaquias1317]

This video help me out so much. I didn’t know anything about disposals, now I get to tell my wife not to worry about it. Thanx guys!

[@AndreZingerGonzalez]

Not only this was very useful and didactic, but you didn't do the usual waste of time asking for clicks, or saying obvious stuff. Thank you!

[@worldcuisine120]

Thank you so so so so so so much. It was the thermal switch. The plumber I called said he has to replace the whole unit. You are the best.

[@tienv]

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 KZbin 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.

[@kilugbusi]

This just saved me $125! I’m one happy kid today, guess I can call myself my own plumber today!💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽Thank you!! The explanation was concise and easy to follow 🙏🏿

[@TheHonestCarpenter]

That’s great to hear! Glad the vid helped 😄

[@minkoimages]

I was surprised to come across one of my favorite help resources-the Honest Carpenter-in this case. As always, the advice is straight forward and to the point. It’s great to have such helping hand always a click away! Thank you, Honest Carpenter!

[@monreyes4957]

I used the the allen wrench back and forth and reset button and unit started working again. There was a smell coming fron the unit so I used your ice and dishwashing soap technique and now the odor is gone. If not for this video I would have replaced the unit. Thanks a million!

[@anthonyvalenzuela4699]

Pulled it out like you showed and cleared the jam. Thank you!

[@cedricstreet8034]

Yo, my guy, you are the real MVP. This play-by-play saved 350 dollars; I appreciate you 🎉

[@FaddleRabbit]

I'm so very happy. I know nothing about this stuff. I watched your video and pushed the reset button and it's working perfectly. Cannot thank you enough. Thank goodness for honest people like yourself. Thank you!!!

[@hjoe4473]

Glad you are branching out to other contents besides carpentry. Your ability to explain things clearly and concisely applies to all your Videos. Adding expert guests to your show is a good idea. Appreciate all you do. Thank you.

[@TheHonestCarpenter]

Thank you, joe! I’ve been enjoying it 😄

[@billparrish4385]

Great tips! I ran into a 4th one sometime back: Had a unit in an overly-filled cabinet situation (not ideal, but it happens). The electrical wire was without the nut for strain relief as with yours in the video, and a heavy container of soap had been tossed in pulling a wire loose inside. No scorch marks or anything, and some quick reconnecting (and cabinet organizing) got her back in business.

[@NKSnaps]

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!!!

[@vincentwesolowski459]

Thank you for your plumbing series. I have been doing my own plumbing for 50 years. Up here in SE Pennsylvania it seems like the plumbers are against anyone doing their own plumbing. Keep up the good work.

[@Hulk-mc7bp]

Well... You guys just saved me from buying a new garbage disposal. I pressed the reset button and realized it was still alive. Proceeded to remove the garbage disposal, pulled a stuck soda tab out and...bam!! Back to business. Thanks a million!!

[@outtadarkness1970]

A number of years ago I had a problem with my disposal. I cleared the obstruction and the unit would not come on. Upon closer examination, I found the "circuit breaker" button on the side of the unit facing the cabinet door. Oh, and it was bright yellow! Newer units may have standardized the location and shape of the button, but just in case yours doesn't, check all around the side. Thanks for another informative video! This is valuable information. 👍👍❤️🌻

[@corwiniii]

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!

[@giselletah3958]

This is the best, simplified and most helpful video I’ve ever watched! Thanks for saving our bucks! 👌😊 I just used the allen wrench and push that small button and voila! No more clogged sink! I’m so happy!!👍😊

[@dezinicky9477]

Thank you. I was able to rerest it and it works. You saved me calling the plumbers. I appreciate it so much!

[@cwrobinson6363]

Hello, I am 75 years old, so the last thing I want to be doing is changing out a garbage disposal unit. When I was younger, I would hope something would break around the house so that I could fix it. Thanks to you and Grant, I say thank you 1,000,000,000,000.00 times for this video.

[@acanada1981]

I just followed your video and saved myself a few hundred dollars for a plumber. Great video!! Very concise, to the point and spot on 😊

[@UnderdogDigitalMedia]

Absolutely. Ive taken apart and replaced a garbage disposal before. This time I went straight to the Allen wrench fix and it worked. Excellent video- TY!

[@johnrobbins4500]

Exactly what I needed to fix my disposal on a new house! THANK YOU!!

[@pixelada]

Dude! I thought my disposal was gone and after watching this video I was able to fix it! Thank you so much! You saved me a lot of money and headache!!!

[@ronaldbaxter4581]

THANK YOU FOR SAVING MY WEEKEND!!!

[@walterchamberlain9052]

The reset at the bottom, combined with the hex key turning the impeller did the trick. Thank you so much!

[@charlesknight3204]

Excellent video; wish I had this info 25 years ago. I researched and taught myself everything you highlighted here. Hoping this helps someone else!!! Thank you, my friend!!! Be safe and God bless!!! Chuck Knight from Buffalo, Texas. 🤠👨‍🌾✝️🙏🐩

[@TheHonestCarpenter]

Thanks for watching, Charles!

[@MaxCamacho]

After doing all the checks you suggested, the allen key (which took me an hour to find) did the trick. Glad I fell into the 90%. Thanks. 🙏👍

[@TheCman5015PLPro]

That little button on the bottom was what was needed. Thanks!

[@markgallagher1376]

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.

[@gavinshineon3192]

Oh my goodness, you are so amazing. My husband is forcing me to learn how to fix our disposal because he has shown me a couple of times mini years back so this is a very good descriptive bit of information.

[@TheEve811]

I’m usually skeptical on some of the fix it videos on the internet, however this one was right on point. I had broken glass in my garbage disposal that caused it to stop working. I followed every tip provided in the video and it worked perfectly. Thanks a lot!

[@pdiazdeleon]

Great tips! I ran into a 5th about a month ago. The two impellers inside stopped swiveling, frozen in place. Tried using ice with no luck. Then I remember Richard Trethewey from "This Old House" took a tour of the "Insinkerator" plant. They showed some of the testing they did. One test that I remembered was they placed wooded pieces in the disposal and chopped them up rinsed them away. So I has some 1x2 pine stock and cut up 4 small pieces 1/2" wide. I placed them in the disposal, turned on the cold water and turned on the power and within 30 seconds the wood was completely gone and the two impellers swiveled perfectly.

[@mandys6525]

HUGE Thank you! Followed your Allen wrench steps as you explained & demonstrated and my garbage disposal is back to working! Saved me big bucks too. While I had the circuit breaker stuff off for allen wrench, before testing disposal I decided to also recheck which breaker controls what area of the home. Disposal back to working was music to my ears. 😊

[@Kalia_Lynette]

This worked! We were just about to call a plumber... it's working like a charm now... thank you

[@barbarabarrettcoates7953]

We had no power and thought for sure we had to get new garburator. Your advice worked for us and saved us $350 for plumber and garburators cost. Thank you so much

[@KO-lw4lo]

A thousand thank yous. I’m trying to pay off my air conditioner and was just about in tears thinking I would have to pay a plumber. The Allen wrench (and they had given me one when I bought the garbage disposal) worked perfectly. Once I fixed it I did the ice/soap method so hopefully won’t have the issue again.

[@shortstaxx]

Thank you so much for this video! It literally saved me from calling the plumber after just replacing an old leaky garbage disposal to one that shut off mid grind. Saved me another big headache 🎉

[@balloney2175]

Oh no!!! That easy? I had mine not working for 6 six now! You are my hero!

[@baishalir]

I was going to call a plumber today, but just pressing the button after listening to you resolved my problem. Thank you so much !

[@Charlielizard]

Keep an Allen wrench in a drawer next to the sink. Since booting my former fiance out, have not had to use it. Loved the idea of ice cubes and dish soap. Just did that and made a great change with minor odors. Appreciate your tips and suggestions. Thanks and have a great holiday weekend. 👍

[@TheHonestCarpenter]

Glad to hear it worked so well, Chuck! Happy Memorial Day weekend 🙂

[@annjacqmain3698]

This is the most helpful video I found when I had to fix my disposal. Clear and concise. Thanks!

[@TheHonestCarpenter]

Thank you, Ann! 😄

[@luisc2975]

I just fixed my desposal!!! This is an awesome and very detailed video. The turning with the allen wrench worked like a charm after some elbow grease!!

[@Uncleeric1Hunnid]

This is my first time trying to fix a GD. But with your guidance i totally aced the GD in about 7 min. Thanks man you were much help

[@Ro-bx6ss]

Brother, I thank you so much for this video. You just saved me money, literally about 30 minutes ago I fixed mine. I found your videos last night and was waiting for the daylight to try and fix it. It worked exactly as you said. I had a piece of beef bone stuck in between the grinders.

[@ajmorgan3439]

Just did everything in this video and completely fixed my disposal...very pleased!!! Great video!

[@user-xc5gk4cm6t]

You explained this perfect and I was able to fix it on my own. Thank you!!

[@richardstrada212]

Great advice. I will be saving this video for future potential use.

[@defresh4612]

Many thanks! My unit stopped working yesterday. I thought I was going to have to replace it. Turns out it was the circuit breaker on the bottom of the unit. Popped the little square button like you showed and it works again!! Saved me a bunch of money! Thanks again.

[@squirt0003]

Simple, honest and straight forward answers. Great video saved me a plumber visit.

[@Singonemonkey]

The disposal side of dual sink would swirl but not drain, so we tried your ice recommendation-worked great-thankfully did not have to take drain pipes apart-thank you so much!!!!!

[@earlyriser8998]

good advice...have done this several times to clear unexpected obstructions

[@ScottStruzik]

You just saved me the money on a new unit and the hassle of swapping it out. THANK YOU!

[@keizermoss]

Thank you so much for the video. We fixed our garbage disposal without calling someone to fix it. Thank you tons!!

[@susankmiotek6121]

My husband was a plumber but he passed away last year leaving me quite on my own. Thank you for telling to check the reset button AND in my case to turn that Alan wrench under the disposal unit which loosened it up! It WORKS AGAIN!!!! Thanks to you!!

[@David.M.]

These are some great tips, I am going to clean my disposal now! Thanks.

[@bora4861]

Thank you for considering such thorough and concise instructions. Brilliant 😃👍🏻

[@user-qc8xf7yu2k]

Thank you! The Allen wrench method worked perfectly once we found the right size allen wrench. Saved us $ and time waiting for a plumber.

[@atomonfestus7756]

Thank you very much for this video. I just fixed my garbage disposal that stopped working this morning using the tips from the video. Didn't have to dismantle it but, freed it using allen key and di the reset. Its working again.

[@seangagnon3253]

This was gold. I knew about the switch under there but not the allen key fix. That did the trick! Thanks!

[@pomsou1405]

Thank you, as I was not used to using a garbage disposal this video was pretty handy to help me solve my issues with it

[@elisamiller1820]

Thank you , it was jammed acted like it was broken, then i saw your video of resetting it .. works great now!❤

[@NearbyCactus]

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!

[@holliekellum7153]

I watched your video and was able to troubleshoot and fix my disposal myself! There was a penny and a nickel down there! Thanks for the video!

[@sundeshbalraj]

Did this step by step and wow - got my Insinkerator to work perfectly for the first time in 2 years !

[@christinasommerville3994]

thank you so much for this video! I was able to fix my seized up disposal easily with your tips. you saved me at least $100!!

[@Danzhee444]

This was so helpful!!!! can’t believe I fix it on my own. I feel like the man of the house now 😮‍💨😇

[@Wubstract]

Thank you. I was washing dishes one day when the power went out. I pressed the garbage disposal not thinking the power was out because it was in the middle of the day. I got done with the dishes and went to my in laws house with wife. 10 minutes when we got there I received a text from power company than they power returned. Today I tried using disposal... nothing. I pressed the reset button on bottom after watching this video and to my surprise it turned back on. Thank you for saving me around 150$ and teaching me something new!

[@skrome1953]

Good tips. I've restarted many but it's become an appliance I don't need anymore. Now I just compost all my kitchen waste and save money on potting mix.

[@halotileakona5270]

Thank you bro I just watched your video an it work 🦾🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼 had a piece of metal stuck inside. Couldn’t grind or spin bc of that metal piece💯 YOU ARE THE MAN!!!!!!!

[@far06c]

The Allen wrench thing did the trick, and pushing that reset button. You’re the man!!! Thanks for the video.

[@Dreamwish27]

Thank you thank you thank you. I didn't know about the switch on the bottom found it hit it I didn't like garbage disposal is working again it's been 2 weeks thought I would have to replace the entire thing

[@frankcamp5988]

You absolutely ROCK!!!! I watched your video and followed your instructions. Used an Allen key to swivel the rotating parts back and forth and that dislodged whatever was clogging garbage disposal!

[@TheHonestCarpenter]

Awesome to hear, Frank!

[@arux21]

Thank you to the Honest Carpenter. My problem was the interrupter below to the Garbage Disposal. I only reset this and the problem was solve.

[@nimamahanfar6122]

One of the best DIY video's I've ever watched. Content is super well-explained and only covers the essentials with just enough details. You got yourself a new subscriber.

[@TheHonestCarpenter]

Thank you, Nima! 😄

[@MariMari-vq8hl]

Very visually helpful and learned lots on how to remove and check safely!

[@Aaquk]

As a woman living alone, this was perfect video to follow! Thank you!!

[@rickfantasies1672]

Thank you for this video! I thought something serious happened to my disposal and that it would require a professional, but it turned out something got stuck and flipped the thermal lockout switch. I managed to unclog it without taking it apart and then flipped the switch back. Good as new! Fantastic video 🥂

[@nickbowmanfilms5046]

Fixed my disposal with the help of this video! Thank you! 🙏🏽

[@tamalamciver6025]

Thanks to you, I was able to save myself a lot of money today. I fixed my own garbage disposal. Thanks for the easy to understand tutorial and the tips about the ice, Draino, potato water etc. This was an enormous help. ❤

[@TheHonestCarpenter]

Happy to help, Tamala! 😄

[@BoydPSUSA]

Great video, fixed the problem. Kids dropped a plastic cap into the disposal that broke into several pieces and tripped the reset button - thank you!

[@thakkarvijayrajiv]

Thanks to your video, I just fixed my disposal by resetting the circuit. The plumber quoted $125 - $225; I pressed the button, and voila. It started. Thank you very much.

[@princeiam828]

I literally just fixed my sink disposal by watching this video. Thanks for this very detailed tutorial. Just saved me some money.

[@venturanah8835]

Thank you for helping save money and time. Easy and clear way to fix the problem.

[@joshadventure8253]

Just saved myself a trip to Home Depot. Thank you guys for the help, it really saved my butt today

[@dotr613]

The best ever. The little button underneath was magic. Thank you =)

[@ryimpdx]

Thank you for the clear and concise directions of how to get a disposal back up and running. Found the reset button which I didn't know was there and am back in business. Will watch putting starchy foods down it without running it right away, which is what I think the problem was today--it got gummed up and then too hot and shut off completely.

[@0xjoe]

Thank you for this video! I’m a first time homeowner and was able to resolve the issue. I had always called maintenance to fix the disposal previously in rentals 😂

[@xaviethecat]

THANK YOU for this video! I knew about the reset button, but not about the allen wrench. Tried the reset button first (I saw it had jutted out); now at least had sound but still no macerator. Did the wrench trick (even found the disposal wrench in the tool drawer!) & that got her back in business! Thanks again!!!

[@lilsolja2402]

Thanks for the help!! It’s actually worked!! I’m watching all of your videos from now on!!!

[@gilbertchacon4860]

This video was great. I dismantled the unit just like the video showed and once I was able to get a good look inside I could see something obstructing the plate from moving. Once I removed the obstruction I put the disposal back and everything worked great!

[@koushiksaha1459]

I was going to get a new one. Your video saved me $140. THANK YOU!

[@SriAZ6]

The Allen wrench trick resolved the problem at my home. Thank you so very much!

[@ajfatca]

thanks this was very helpful and straightforward. My kid poured dry dog food into it this morning so this did the trick hahaha its been a fun morning

[@TheHonestCarpenter]

🐶

[@jessicabassett8923]

Thank you for explaining and walking us through it, I was able to fix my disposal super fast!

[@KaiaCree]

I appreciate you so much for putting this video up! I was able to fix my garbage disposal thanks to your video! All by myself! I'm super proud of myself for this bc normally I would be too afraid of trying to do something like this for fear of getting in over my head and not being able to fix what I was already trying to fix lol. Thank you!

[@TheHonestCarpenter]

👍😁

[@andrejradinger9092]

Thank you, thank you!!! You saved me from buying a new one. Followed your instructions and it worked like a charm. It wven smells good now 😅. Thank you!

[@markomarten]

I would recommend getting one, fairly easy to fit and not expensive.