The reset button is usually on the bottom of the unit—press it first

When your garbage disposal stops working, the first thing to do is look underneath the sink at the motor housing. Most disposals have a red or black reset button on the bottom or side. Press it firmly once. This button cuts power to the motor when the unit overheats or jams, and pressing it restores power without you having to flip the breaker.

If the reset button pops out again when ready after you press it, the disposal is still too hot or still jammed. Wait 15 minutes and try again. Do not press it repeatedly—one firm press is enough, and repeated pressing can damage the button mechanism.

If the reset button stays in and the disposal still does not run, move to the next steps. The button working does not mean the disposal is fixed; it only means power is restored.

Key Takeaways

  • The reset button on the bottom of the motor housing is the first thing to press when a disposal stops—wait 15 minutes if it pops back out.
  • Never put your hand down the drain to clear a jam; use tongs or pliers to remove debris from above.
  • If the disposal hums but does not spin, something is stuck between the blades and the chamber wall, and you may need to manually turn the motor shaft with an Allen wrench.
  • A tripped circuit breaker or blown fuse will prevent the disposal from running at all, even if the reset button works.
  • If the motor runs but water backs up into the sink, the drain line is clogged, not the disposal itself.

Check the circuit breaker and outlet before assuming the disposal is broken

If pressing the reset button does nothing—no sound, no vibration, nothing—the problem may be upstream of the disposal itself. Go to your electrical panel and look for a breaker labeled for the kitchen or garbage disposal. If it is in the middle position or flipped to the off side, flip it fully off and then back on.

If you have an older home with a fuse box instead of breakers, check whether the fuse for that circuit is blown. A blown fuse will be blackened inside the glass or have a broken wire visible. Unscrew it and replace it with a new fuse of the same amperage rating.

If the breaker trips again when ready after you reset it, or if you replace the fuse and it blows again, stop. This means there is a short or overload in the disposal itself, and you need a professional electrician to inspect it.

Remove a jam by turning the motor shaft manually with an Allen wrench

If the disposal hums when you turn it on but the blades do not spin, something is wedged between the impellers and the chamber. Never reach into the drain with your hand. Instead, use tongs, needle-nose pliers, or a straightened wire coat hanger to fish out whatever you can see from above.

If you cannot reach the jam from the top, you can manually turn the motor shaft. Most disposals have a hex socket on the bottom of the motor. Insert a 1/4-inch Allen wrench into it and turn it back and forth gently—do not force it. This rocks the impellers and often dislodges the jam. Once you feel it move freely, remove the wrench, press the reset button, and try running the disposal again.

If the shaft will not turn at all, or if it turns but the jam does not clear, the impellers may be bent or broken. At that point, the disposal needs replacement.

Clear the drain line if water backs up but the disposal runs

If the disposal motor runs normally but water pools in the sink or backs up into the other basin, the clog is not in the disposal—it is in the drain line downstream. The disposal itself is working.

Place a bucket under the P-trap (the curved pipe under the sink) and unscrew the slip nuts on both ends by hand or with a pipe wrench. Pull the trap straight down and empty it into the bucket. Rinse it out and screw it back on hand-tight, then snug it with the wrench.

If water still backs up after you clear the trap, the clog is further down the line. You can try a plunger over the drain opening, or you can use a plumbing snake to push the clog through. If neither works, call a plumber—a clog deep in the main line is not a disposal problem.

Run cold water and let the disposal cycle completely before stopping

Once you have restarted the disposal, run cold water down the drain and let the disposal run for a full 30 seconds after you stop feeding it anything. This clears the chamber and the drain line of loose debris. Then turn off the disposal first, and keep the water running for another 10 seconds.

This order matters: if you turn off the water while the disposal is still running, food particles can stick to the walls and dry there, creating odor and buildup. Cold water is better than hot because it keeps grease solid so the disposal can grind it rather than letting it coat the blades.

When to call a professional instead of troubleshooting further

Stop troubleshooting and call a plumber if any of these are true: the reset button pops out and stays out even after waiting; the motor hums but the shaft will not turn even with an Allen wrench; the breaker trips when ready after you reset it; or the disposal leaks from the seams or the bottom of the motor housing.

A leaking motor housing means water has entered the electrical compartment, which is a shock hazard. Do not use the disposal again until a professional has inspected it. A disposal that will not restart after a reset and a breaker check has likely failed internally and needs replacement rather than repair.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I restart a garbage disposal that is leaking?

No. If water is leaking from the seams, the mounting ring, or the bottom of the motor, do not run it again. Leaks mean water is entering the motor or electrical components, which creates a shock hazard. Call a plumber to inspect it before you use it.

How long should I wait after the reset button pops before trying again?

Wait at least 15 minutes. The button pops when the motor overheats or when the jam is too tight for the motor to break free. Waiting lets the motor cool and gives you time to clear the jam manually if you can reach it from above.

What if the disposal makes a grinding noise but still will not work?

Grinding without the blades turning usually means something is stuck between the impellers and the chamber wall. Use tongs or pliers to remove visible debris from above, or use an Allen wrench to manually turn the motor shaft back and forth. If the shaft will not budge, the impellers may be bent and the disposal needs replacement.

Is it safe to put my hand down the drain to clear a jam?

No, never do this. Even with the disposal off and the breaker flipped, the blades are sharp and you could cut yourself. Use tongs, pliers, or a straightened coat hanger to fish out debris from above the drain opening.

Why does my disposal run but the sink still drains slowly?

The disposal is working, but the drain line is clogged. Clear the P-trap under the sink by unscrewing the slip nuts and emptying it, then try a plunger or plumbing snake on the drain opening. If water still backs up, the clog is deeper in the line and you need a plumber.