A garbage disposal comes in handy when you don't want unused food filling up your trash can. Just put the food down the drain, turn the switch and listen as your garbage disposal grinds away until the water washes the food down the drain. If your garbage disposal is on the fritz, follow the steps below to fix the disposal yourself. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Garbage Disposal Makes No Noise When Turned On
1. Look on the bottom of the garbage disposal (under the sink) and press the reset button. You know it needs to be reset if the button isn't pushed in. Give the disposal a try.
2. Check to see if a circuit breaker has been tripped if pushing the reset button didn't work. If so, switch the breaker off and back on, and try the disposal again.
3. Locate the switch that gives the garbage disposal power (either on the wall or under the sink). The problem may be a faulty switch. Find the circuit breaker on the service panel that powers the garbage disposal and turn it off. Replace the faulty switch and turn the power back on. Check to see if the disposal is working properly.
4. Replace the garbage disposal if--after trying these steps--there is still no noise when you turn it on. Your disposal is likely unfixable.
Garbage Disposal Makes a Humming Noise, But Will Not Run
5. Switch off the circuit breaker in the electrical service panel that powers the garbage disposal.
6. Insert the offset wrench that came with your garbage disposal into the flywheel turning hole located on the bottom of the disposal. If you don't have a wrench that fits, purchase one from a store that carries your particular type of garbage disposal.
7. Turn the wrench clockwise to loosen whatever has gotten lodged in the garbage disposal or flywheel. You will feel the flywheel turn easily once it has been dislodged.
8. Use a wooden broom handle (or something of similar shape) to dislodge a stuck impeller or flywheel if you cannot find the proper offset or hex wrench. Go through the hole in the sink where the garbage disposal is located and put the broom handle against the impeller. Use a bit of elbow grease to loosen the flywheel.
9. Turn the power to the garbage disposal back on once you know the flywheel is no longer obstructed. Push the reset button under the garbage disposal.
10. Turn on the water and flip the garbage disposal switch quickly on and off for a short period of time. This should set the flywheel spinning and wash the dislodged object down the drain.
Tags: garbage disposal, garbage disposal, reset button, circuit breaker, down drain
