How Do You Reset a Garbage Disposal?

If you have a garbage disposal, the reset button is a small red or black button on the bottom of the unit under the sink, and pressing it after the motor cools for a few minutes restores power after an overload. If it trips again right away, the disposal is probably jammed, which you can usually free with a hex key in the bottom of the unit before resetting it again.

How to reset it

1. Turn off the disposal switch.
2. Wait a few minutes. The overload protector needs the motor to cool before it will reset.
3. Find the reset button on the bottom of the disposal, under the sink. It is usually small and red or black. A flashlight helps.
4. Press it firmly. If it clicks and stays in, it has reset. If it does not stay in, wait a few more minutes.
5. Run cold water and turn the disposal on.

If it trips again: clear the jam

1. Cut the power. Turn off the switch, and unplug the disposal or turn off its breaker.
2. Find the hex socket in the center of the bottom of the disposal. Many disposals come with a small 1/4 inch hex key, often called a disposal wrench.
3. Work it back and forth until the plate turns freely in full circles.
4. Remove the object that caused the jam from above with tongs or pliers.
5. Press the reset button, restore power, run cold water, and test it.

If it is completely silent

If pressing the reset button does nothing and the disposal makes no sound at all, check the power before assuming the motor died.

• Check the GFCI. Kitchen outlets are often GFCI protected. Look for a tripped outlet with a reset button on the counter or under the sink.

• Check the breaker. Look for a tripped breaker labeled disposal or kitchen.

• Check the plug. If the disposal plugs into an outlet under the sink, make sure it has not been knocked loose.

• Check the switch. Wall switches and air switches on the countertop wear out. If the switch feels loose or works only sometimes, it may be the problem.

What not to put down it

• Grease, fat, and oil, which coat the drain and harden.
• Potato peels, rice, and pasta, which turn into paste.
• Fibrous foods like celery, corn husks, and onion skins, which wrap around the plate.
• Bones, fruit pits, shells, and coffee grounds.
• Anything that is not food, like twist ties, utensils, and bottle caps.

Run cold water before, during, and for several seconds after using it. If the sink drains slowly even when the disposal runs fine, see why a drain is slow. If a dishwasher drains into the disposal and is backing up, see why a dishwasher is not draining.