How to Reset Garbage Disposal

Many things can cause your garbage disposal to stop running — from turning the appliance on without running water to dropping flat wear down the drain. In any case, when the motor is jammed, it can cause the garbage disposal to overheat and pop the reset button, also known as the overload protector. Luckily, this is usually a simple fix — here’s what to do.

How to Reset Your Garbage Disposal in 3 Simple Steps

Follow our simple guide to reset your garbage disposal in three easy steps:

Step 1. Turn off the garbage disposal. Ensure that the garbage disposal is off at both the wall outlet and unplug the garbage disposal from the wall outlet beneath the sink.

Step 2. Press the reset button. This is typically a red button located on the underside of your garbage disposal. It may be helpful to place a mirror under the garbage disposal so you can easily locate the button. If the reset button does not stay retracted, wait 10 minutes and then try again. If the reset button does not stay in after repeated attempts, the grinding plate or wall likely needs to be freed in order to spin freely.

Step 3. Test. Once the button has been reset, plug it back in and turn the water on cold and switch the garbage disposal to the on position. The garbage disposal should now work properly.

Garbage Disposal Won’t Reset

If your garbage disposal still won’t reset, try these 3 additional steps:

Step 1. Turn off the garbage disposal. Ensure that the garbage disposal is off at both the wall outlet and unplug the garbage disposal from the wall outlet beneath the sink.

Step 2. Unjam the garbage disposal. Use a garbage disposal wrench and insert the toll in the center opening in the bottom of an appliance. You can also use a ¼-inch hex key and rotate the key back and forth to release the jam. If you don’t have a garbage disposal wrench you can insert the end of a wooden plunger handle into the garbage disposal through the drain opening in the sink. Use the handle to rotate the grinding plate at the bottom of the disposal until the jam is released.

Step 3. Test. Plug the garbage disposal back into the outlet beneath the sink and turn on the cold water to allow water to flow into the disposal. Press the reset button on the bottom of the disposal. If the reset button does not stay retracted, wait 10 minutes and then try again.

If the above doesn’t fix your issue then you may need to contact a professional or replace your garbage disposal.