A garbage disposal that has suddenly stopped working is almost always fixable without replacing the unit — if you catch it early and respond correctly. The three most common reasons a disposal goes silent or unresponsive are: the reset button has tripped (a built-in overload protector), a jam has locked the grinding plate, or the unit has lost power due to a tripped breaker or a loose connection. Less often, the motor burns out or internal components wear to the point of failure. Walking through a logical sequence of checks will resolve the majority of disposal problems without a service call.

Start With the Reset Button

Every residential garbage disposal has a small reset button — usually a red or black button on the bottom of the unit, under the sink. When the disposal overloads (from running too long, grinding something too hard, or jamming), a thermal overload protects the motor by cutting power. The button pops out slightly when it trips. Press it firmly until you feel it click back in, then try running the disposal again with water flowing. This single step resolves a surprising percentage of “dead” disposal calls. If the button pops out again immediately after you reset it, there's an underlying problem — a persistent jam or a motor on its way out — that needs further investigation.

Check for a Jam

If the disposal hums but doesn't grind, or makes a grinding attempt then stops, it's almost certainly jammed. Never reach into the disposal with your hand — turn the unit completely off at the wall switch and unplug it (or shut off its dedicated breaker) before doing anything else. Most disposals ship with a small hex wrench that fits a socket in the center of the unit's underside. Inserting the wrench and working it back and forth manually frees the stuck grinding plate. Once the plate turns freely, remove the obstruction using tongs or needle-nose pliers (never your fingers), restore power, press the reset button, and test. Common jam culprits include bones, fruit pits, artichoke leaves, fibrous vegetable scraps like celery strings, and non-food items that found their way in.

Check the Power Source

If the disposal is completely silent — no hum, no sound at all — the issue may be electrical rather than mechanical. First, check that the unit is plugged in (the outlet is typically inside the cabinet under the sink). Then check your electrical panel for a tripped breaker on the circuit that serves the disposal. In older Denver-area homes, the disposal may share a circuit with the dishwasher or other kitchen appliances, and a high-draw moment can trip the breaker. If the breaker holds but the disposal is still silent after resetting and pressing the reset button, the wall switch itself may have failed, or there may be a wiring issue at the outlet or switch.

What Not to Put Down the Disposal

Many disposal problems — and many of the drain clogs that follow — stem from what goes in. A disposal is designed to handle soft food waste rinsed away with running water, not as a general food-waste compactor. Knowing what to avoid protects the unit and the drain line beyond it.

  • Fibrous foods: celery, asparagus, artichoke leaves, corn husks (strings wrap around the motor)
  • Starchy foods: potato peels, pasta, rice (expand and form a paste that clogs drains)
  • Hard items: bones, fruit pits, shellfish shells, coffee grounds in large amounts
  • Fats, oils, and grease (FOG): solidify in the drain line and cause clogs downstream
  • Non-food items: packaging, twist ties, glass, anything that isn't food

When to Call a Plumber

If you've reset the button, cleared the jam, and confirmed power is reaching the unit — and the disposal still won't work — the motor has likely failed. Motors can burn out from repeated overloads, age, or water intrusion. At that point, whether to repair or replace depends on the unit's age and the cost of a new motor versus a new disposal. Disposals older than 10–12 years are usually better replaced; newer units are worth the motor swap conversation. A plumber can also diagnose whether a drain clog downstream from the disposal — which is common after a jam event — is contributing to the problem. Colorado's hard water can accelerate mineral deposits in drain lines, compounding disposal-related clogs.

Done's plumbers handle garbage disposal repair and replacement as part of our full kitchen and bath plumbing services. If the reset-button-and-jam routine hasn't solved the problem, we're ready to help — visit our kitchen and bath plumbing page for more, or reach out through emergency plumbing if the situation involves a leak or backup that can't wait.