What to Do When Your Garbage Disposal Stops

When your garbage disposal stops working, there are a few potential solutions.  First, there is generally a small red button on the underside of the garbage disposal that "resets" the system.  If you get nothing when flipping the switch (and you have already checked the circuit breaker), lean down and take a look at the underside of the garbage disposal.  Push in that little red button and hope for the best.  If the disposal was just overworked, or if there was a power surge, this may fix the problem.  Simple, clean, and cheap.

But what if it doesn't work, you ask?  Garbage disposals come with a funky looking tool, shaped like a squared-off "s" and hexagonal in shape.  If you look at the end, you should see a flat piece of metal with six sides, hence the hexagon.  Now, I said the disposals come with this tool, that doesn't mean that you still have it.  If you don't, a quick trip to the hardware store will replace it for about $3.00.  Now, with this tool in hand, look at the bottom of the garbage disposal, near that little red button.  You should find a hole in which this tool will fit.  Slip it in there and turn the wrench a few times.  This manually forces the garbage disposal to turn, breaking up any hard pieces or goop that may have caused the disposal to stop.  A few turns should do the trick.  Hop back up and flip the switch.  Fixed?  Most likely so.  If not, you can pay someone to come take a look at it, which will likely cost you hundreds, or you can buy a new disposal and install it yourself, costing yourself no more than a couple hours and $100.