InSinkErator Garbage Disposal Troubleshooting: Common Problems, Reasons, and Solutions

This guide on InSinkErator Garbage Disposal Troubleshooting will break down common problems with garbage disposal, including:

• Garbage disposal won’t turn on: The disposal won’t turn on due to electrical power issues like a tripped circuit breaker or the overload protector (reset button) popping out.

• Clogged garbage disposal: The disposal unit gets clogged if you put unprohibited food items like pasta, rice, and potato peels.

• Garbage disposal makes a hum but not spinning: When the impellers get jammed, the disposal unit will only hum but fail to rotate the blades.

• Garbage disposal leaking: Your garbage disposal will leak due to worn-out gaskets, loose fittings and pipes, and improper installation.

• Garbage disposal makes unusual noises: You will hear a metallic noise from the disposal unit if you put non-food items like spoons or forks in the disposal.

I will walk you through practical troubleshooting steps to resolve those problems to keep the unit operational. Plus, you will learn how to maintain the garbage disposal to avoid those problems in the future.

So, let’s dive in. 

In This Article:

• InSinkErator Garbage Disposal Troubleshooting: Common Problems, Reasons, and Solutions
  • 1. Insinkerator Garbage Disposal Not Turning On 
  • 2. Insinkerator Garbage Disposal Clogged
  • 3. Insinkerator Garbage Disposal Humming But Not Working 
  • 4. Insinkerator Garbage Disposal Leaking
  • 5. Insinkerator Garbage Disposal Making Rattling Noise 
  • 6. Insinkerator Garbage Disposal Keeps Tripping The Reset Button 
  • 7. InSinkErator Garbage Disposal Releasing Odors
• How To Reset Insinkerator Garbage Disposal?
• Insinkerator Garbage Disposal Maintenance Tips 
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Conclusion

InSinkErator Garbage Disposal Troubleshooting: Common Problems, Reasons, and Solutions

Here are the 7 common problems with InSinkErator Garbage Disposal and their solutions: 

1. Insinkerator Garbage Disposal Not Turning On

Insinkerator Garbage Disposal won’t turn on if:

• The overload protector or reset button pops out
• Power supply issues

InSinkErator Garbage Disposal has a reset button at the bottom of the unit, facing the floor. The button is red. 

It’s a safety device that trips the reset button and cuts the electric supply off when you overload the unit. 

The disposal unit trips the reset button to prevent potential damages like motor burnout from overheating. 

Besides the tripped reset button, power supply issues like popped circuit breakers and faulty switches can also be responsible for your garbage disposal not turning on. 

How To Fix: 

Before going through any troubleshooting steps, press the reset button of your garbage disposal first. 

Regarding this, unplug your garbage disposal from the electric outlet to ensure safety. 

If the reset button or overload protector gets tripped, it will drop about a quarter of an inch. 

Gently push the red reset button back up inside. It’s spring-loaded. When you press that button, you will hear a clicking noise. 

After that, plug your garbage disposal into the electric outlet. Then, run the cold water supply and turn on your disposal. 

Hopefully, the garbage disposal should come on. 

If this trick (resetting the garbage disposal) does bring no luck, go for finding out the electric supply issues. 

When troubleshooting the unit for a power supply issue, verify that the garbage disposal is either plugged into an electrical outlet or hardwired. 

Try these steps if you plug the garbage disposal into a standard electric outlet: 

Inspect the circuit breaker and flip it to the On and Off positions several times. Or, you can replace the fuse or circuit breaker. 

Check the switch for proper functionality if the circuit breaker is okay. In this case, unplug the disposal and plug in another appliance, like a hair dryer. Turn on and off the switch several times.

The hair dryer should come on with the switch if it’s functional when you test. I bet the switch is defective if the hair dryer doesn’t come on and off with the switch. 

I highly suggest you contact a certified electrician to fix this issue. 

On the other hand, if your garbage disposal is hardwired, go to the circuit breaker box and inspect the breaker or fuse for the disposal unit. 

Flip the circuit breaker to the On and Off position several times. If needed, replace the fuse. 

Still, if the disposal unit doesn’t come on, there is a problem with the unit or the electrical system.

2. Insinkerator Garbage Disposal Clogged

Disposing of unprohibited items like rice, pasta, or other fibrous foods into the disposal can wrap around the disposal blade and cause a clog. Sometimes, fibrous foods can restrict the drain pipes responsible for the blockage.

Read this article to discover the complete list of what not to put in garbage disposal.

The symptoms of a clogged garbage disposal are:

• Slow draining
• Sink comes back up or sink not draining
• Unable to grind the food waste

How To Fix A Clogged Garbage Disposal:

• Take a plunger.
• If you have a double sink, use a stopper to block the other sinkhole.
• Fill the sink opening with water about 4 inches or 10cm.
• Set the plunger over the disposal opening and push the plunger gently. Then, pull the plunger upwards quickly. Repeat this several times.
• Once the clog breaks free, run cold water and turn on the unit to flush the dislodged debris down the drain.

If this procedure doesn’t bring luck, I assume the drain pipes get clogged with food waste from rice or pasta.

In this case, disconnect the drain pipes connected to the garbage disposal and release the restrictions. The following tutorial may come in handy if the sink backs up:

3. Insinkerator Garbage Disposal Humming But Not Working

There is power at your garbage disposal, but it makes a hum when you turn on your garbage disposal. If your disposal is humming, it indicates that the impellers get jammed.

How To Fix A Jammed Garbage Disposal:

To fix a jammed garbage disposal, try these steps:

• Unplug your garbage disposal from the electric outlet.
• Locate the center hole at the bottom of the unit and insert an Allen wrench into the hole.
• Rock the wrench back and forth until the blockage breaks free.
• Use a flashlight to detect whether restriction comes loose.
• Use long-handled pliers to remove the blockage from your garbage disposal.
• The garbage disposal should come on. If the unit gets jammed again, use the wrench. 

4. Insinkerator Garbage Disposal Leaking

Generally, your InSinkErator Garbage Disposal leaks from one of the following leak points, including:

• Leaking from the top
• Leaking at the discharge
• Leaking at the dishwasher inlet
• Leaking from the bottom
• Leaking from the body
• Leaking at the motor joint
• Leaking from adjacent plumbing

How To Fix A Leaking Garbage Disposal:

Fix your leaking garbage disposal by following these troubleshooting steps:

• Verify that the mounting assembly is assembled properly. Check the locking ring and the three mounting screws and ensure the locking ring is fully rotated to the left & the screws are tight.

• Check the discharge nuts and ensure they are tight & Secure. Next, ensure that the gasket is free of cracks. Then, the discharge below or trap is secure and free of damage.

• Remove the knockout plug at the dishwasher inlet. Then, check the clamps, hose adapter, and elbows and ensure they are tight.

• Check the plumbing around the garbage disposal when the garbage disposal is leaking from the bottom.

• Replace the garbage disposal if it leaks from the body.

• The garbage disposal may need service if it’s leaking from the motor joint.

• Tighten the joints or call a certified plumber if the garbage disposal leaks from the adjacent plumbing. 

5. Insinkerator Garbage Disposal Making Rattling Noise

You will hear an unusual noise from your InSinkErator Garbage Disposal if:

• Metal nuts get stuck inside the shredder ring
• Improper installation or the lower mounting ring may come loose from the mounting assembly
• Impellers get stuck

How To Fix:

To stop the rattling noise that comes from the garbage disposal, follow these troubleshooting tips:

• Use a flashlight and pay attention around the outer edge of your disposal’s shredder disk. Then, remove the metal or any objects using long-handled pliers.

• Tighten up the lower mounting ring by inserting a wrench into the left side of the metal loop and turning the wrench right. You will hear a click if the lower mounting ring locks into place.

• Insert an Allen wrench into the center hole at the bottom of the unit and work it back and forth to loosen the blockage. 

Explore Further: Insinkerator Garbage Disposal Making Grinding Noise

6. Insinkerator Garbage Disposal Keeps Tripping The Reset Button

The reset button on InSinkErator Garbage Disposal keeps tripping if you overload the garbage disposal or the unit gets jammed. 

When you stuff the garbage disposal with food waste, the disposal unit fails to grind the food waste efficiently. Consequently, the unit needs to overwork and overheat the disposal. 

To prevent motor burnout due to overheating, the reset button automatically trips and shuts off the unit by cutting off the power supply.

The same things happen when your garbage disposal gets jammed. 

How To Fix: 

First, disconnect the garbage disposal from the electrical connection. Then, insert an Allen wrench into the center hole at the bottom of the unit and rock it back & forth until the wrench turns freely.  

Second, use a flashlight to detect the stuck objects in the garbage disposal. Next, use long-handled pliers to remove the loose particles. 

Third, press the reset button at the bottom of the unit and release it. 

Finally, plug the garbage disposal, run cold water, and turn on the unit. The disposal should come on.  

7. InSinkErator Garbage Disposal Releasing Odors

An odor from your garbage disposal indicates that food particles have accumulated in the grinding chamber and baffle.

To eliminate the unpleasant smell, clean the grind chamber and the baffle. Below, I will show you how to clean and remove the stingy smell from the garbage disposal.

How To Clean Garbage Disposal To Remove Odors:

• Shut off your InSinkErator Garbage Disposal and unplug it.
• Take a scouring pad and rub the underside of the baffle & inside the upper lip of the grinding chamber by reaching through the sink opening.
• Position the stopper in the sink opening and fill the sink halfway with warm water.
• Pour 1/4 cup of baking soda and mix it with warm water.
• Turn on your garbage disposal and remove the stopper from the sink opening to wash away the loose particles. 

How To Reset Insinkerator Garbage Disposal?

To reset your InSinkErator Garbage Disposal, follow these steps:

• Turn off the garbage disposal and unplug it from the electric outlet.
• Use a flashlight to identify the restrictions stuck in the grinding chamber.
• Remove the obstructions using long-handled pliers or tongs.
• Locate the reset button at the bottom of the unit.
• Press the reset button and release it.
• Plug the garbage disposal, run cold water, and turn on the unit.

Insinkerator Garbage Disposal Maintenance Tips

Learning how to operate a garbage disposal correctly will help you avoid operational problems like jams, clogs, and unusual noise.

The following garbage disposal maintenance tips will help you run the disposal like a champ for a long time.

• Run cold water and turn on your garbage disposal. Continue to run the cold water until the grinding is finished.
• Operate garbage disposal regularly even when there is no food waste to grind.
• Grind ice to dislodge accumulated debris.
• Grind peels from citrus like lemon or orange to freshen up the disposal.
• Don’t put fat, oil, and grease into the grinding chamber.
• Don’t overload the grinding chamber with food waste.
• Don’t use hot water to grind food waste.
• Clean the garbage disposal every week.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if my garbage disposal won't turn on?

Do the following if your garbage disposal won’t turn on:

• Verify that your garbage disposal is receiving electrical power and the circuit breaker doesn’t get tripped.
• Ensure that the switch for turning on and off the unit is working.
• Press the reset button at the bottom of the garbage disposal. 

Why is my garbage disposal humming but not spinning?

The garbage disposal only hums but does not turn due to a jam in the grinding chamber. To fix this issue, insert an Allen wrench into the center hole at the bottom of the garbage disposal. Then, rock the wrench back and forth to dislodge the blockage. Remove the restrictions and press the reset button. 

What causes water to back up into my sink when using garbage disposal? 

Clogs in the drain pipes and improper installation are the primary reasons that cause the water to back up in the sink when using the disposal. To resolve the backup issue, inspect all the drain pipes under the sink and remove the blockage. Finally, ensure the installation of your garbage disposal meets the requirements of the manufacturer’s guidelines. 

Why is my garbage disposal leaking?

The garbage disposal generally leaks due to worn-out gaskets, loose mounting screws, and damaged parts. For instance, if the gaskets on the discharge pipe or dishwasher line become cracked, water will leak from those leaking points.

How do you detect leaks that are hard to find on garbage disposal?

To detect hard-to-find leaks on the garbage disposal, empty the under-sink area. Lay down a piece of flat newspaper and secure it with tape. If water leaks, it will leave a wet spot on the paper. Then, place a stopper in the sink opening and fill the sink with water. Next, remove the stopper and let the sink drain. Finally, turn on the garbage disposal and look for leaks while running the garbage disposal. 

Explore: InSinkErator Garbage Disposal Air Switch Not Working

Conclusion

InSinkErator is a reliable name for homeowners for garbage disposal. Garbage disposals from InSinkErator grind food waste like a beast and last longer.

However, improper usage and maintenance can cause operational problems, including:

• Garbage disposal won’t grind
• Garbage disposal gets clogged
• Garbage disposal makes a popping noise
• And more

Fortunately, I broke down the troubleshooting steps to resolve those issues. Follow the troubleshooting procedure and fix the specific problem you experience with your InSinkErator Garbage Disposal.

To avoid those operational problems in the future, maintain your garbage disposal according to the user manual. You can explore articles in the Operation & Maintenance Tips category to learn how to clean and take care of garbage disposal like a pro.

Check the DIY Repair & Troubleshooting category to explore more topics like this. 

Article Source: 

https://support.insinkerator.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/14