Garbage Disposal Reset Button Get Your Unit Working Again Fast
You may be well aware that your kitchen sink has its very own garbage disposal unit (also known as a garbage disposer, waste disposal unit, or garburator). This garbage disposal unit is a handy device that has become a much-needed appliance in most kitchens. Every garbage disposal unit has two blunt metal blades called impellers. These impellers pulverize food into tiny bits of waste small enough to get washed by water and pass through plumbing.
However, once in a while, these garbage disposal units stop working. They may get jammed or clogged and leaking may occur, or the draining function stops working. In this case, the first thing a lot of people tend to do is call their local plumber to repair it. But why wait and spend money on a plumber when there is a secret solution that you could easily do by yourself?
What many don’t know is that each unit has a reset button. And more often than not, just pressing this button is all it takes to troubleshoot common garbage disposal issues and fix them yourself. Lucky for you, this article contains almost everything you need to know about your garbage disposal reset button. Including information on the garbage disposal reset button location, what to do when your garbage disposal is leaking from the reset button, and tips when the garbage disposal reset button keeps popping out.
Garbage Disposal Reset Button Location
Now that you understand what the garbage disposal unit’s reset button can do, you may be wondering where to find it. When trying to find the location of the garbage disposal reset button, check out the bottom part of your disposal unit and look for a little red button. It’s quite small but it shouldn’t be hard to spot.
Once you’re able to find the location of your garbage disposal reset button and you notice that the button has popped out, this means that the garbage disposal stopped working because it tripped off its built-in circuit breaker. This happens most likely due to overloading.
For a quick and easy fix, take the following steps to ensure a safe and effective reset process:
Make sure that the garbage disposal unit is turned OFF and plugged out of the socket.
Wait around two to five minutes for the overload control to cool down.
Once the disposal unit has cooled down, press the reset button. You should be able to hear a click.
Plug your garbage disposal back in and turn it ON.
If the garbage disposal unit still doesn’t start working, try checking the main fuse or circuit breaker and try again.
Garbage Disposal Leaking From Reset Button
Plumbing issues are never a fun thing to have, and a leaking garbage disposal unit can be a great nuisance to any household. A problem like this can easily go unnoticed until you are confronted by a foul-smelling puddle that turns your kitchen cabinet into a soggy, stinking mess. This occurrence happens quite often, and a lot of people have reported their garbage disposal leaking from the reset button. But before you call in a professional to do some repairs, a little investigating can help you determine how serious the problem is.
How do I Find Garbage Disposal Leaks?
The origin of a garbage disposal leak can determine the severity of the situation. Before anything else, keep in mind that water and electricity should not mix together. So before trying to locate the source of the leak, always make sure to take the following security precautions to prevent electrical shock:
Turn the unit’s power off and unplug it from the wall outlet.
Remove everything underneath the sink and place a bucket there to collect the leaking water.
Then, insert a watertight sink stopper into your drain and wipe the unit dry with a clean cloth.
Continue by filling the sink stopper with water so you can determine where the leak is coming from. One quick tip is to try mixing food coloring with the water. Doing so increases visibility and makes accurately identifying the source of the leakage easier for you.
Remove the sink stopper and examine all parts of the drain for the source of the leak.
If the leak still isn’t immediately apparent, remove the sink stopper and pour a bit more of your colored water down the sink drain. Check for leaks again.
What Causes Garbage Disposal Leaking From The Reset Button?
For cases where the garbage disposal is leaking from the reset button or other parts at the bottom of the unit, such as the screws or holes, this could mean that your garbage disposal has a damaged internal seal. An internal seal provides a layer of protection to the motor and prevents the unit from leaking. Internal seals wear out over time, meaning they are no longer able to provide the protection they were made to give. A deteriorated seal causes water from the sink to seep into the shell of the garbage disposal and leak out from the reset button.
If you have a garbage disposal unit leaking from the reset button, it is best not to fix it yourself. Any repairs made to a disposal unit with this type of damage will only last a short while. And repeatedly trying to create temporary fixes will only result in wasted effort and cash.
So instead of breaking your back and breaking the bank, visit your local hardware store and purchase a new garbage disposal unit. If your warranty period is still in check, you may opt to contact the manufacturer of your garbage disposal unit and inquire about discounted replacements. Installing a new one does not cost much and you should be able to get eight to fifteen years of use, depending on the frequency of use and the unit’s quality.
How do I Prevent Garbage Disposal Leaks?
Although leaky garbage disposal units are a common occurrence in most households, it is possible to take the necessary steps to prevent this from happening in the first place. There are several things you can do to provide regular maintenance for your disposal units, and none of them require much time or effort. Take advantage of these suggestions to save your home from such frequent leakages:
Always run a stream of cold water before, during, and after using your disposer. The cold water will keep the unit’s motor cool, extending the lifespan of your garbage disposal unit. Doing so will also prevent clogging caused by solid fats.
Only run soft food through your garbage disposal unit. Grinding hard pieces of food, such as bones, raw potatoes, corn husks, and apple cores can dislodge and damage the impellers.
You never want to pour bleach into your sink. Doing that can damage the piping seals.
Pay attention to how much food you are loading into the garbage disposal. Make sure not to put too much food into it all at once.
You should also check for leakages now and then, or at least twice a year. Catching minor leaks will prevent you from the hassle of water-damaged sink cabinets and smelly puddles forming on your kitchen floors.
Keeping a kitchen clean can be quite a time-consuming and tiring thing to do, but because of garbage disposal units, the task of maintaining the cleanliness of your kitchen is now an easier thing to do. Save yourself and your home from bothersome leaks and costly repairs and by taking proper precautions to prevent frequent damages.
Garbage Disposal Reset Button Keeps Popping Out
If you noticed that your garbage disposal reset button keeps popping out or won’t go back in, this could mean that your disposer’s motor is jammed. A jammed motor is caused by running your garbage disposal unit without water or dropping items such as jewelry or hard food. Throwing in starchy and sticky food such as potato skins and pasta can also be the cause of a jammed disposal unit.
When a garbage disposal’s motor jams, the unit can overheat and cause the reset button to keep popping out. This happens because the garbage disposal is automatically turning off to protect the motor from any further damages.
How Do I Dislodge Garbage Disposal Jams?
To properly dislodge a jam from your garbage disposal, you have to turn the flywheel. The flywheel is close to the location of the garbage disposal reset button. Most disposal units come with an offset wrench specifically made for this purpose. If you don’t have one, a good alternative is a simple Allen wrench that you can pick up at any hardware supply store. Once you have a wrench on hand, follow the simple guide below to dislodge disposal jams:
Take your offset or Allen wrench and insert it into the flywheel turning hole.
Then, turn your wrench in a clockwise direction to dislodge the impeller. Once it has been dislodged, you’ll be able to turn your flywheel freely.
When you can feel that your flywheel is turning freely, turn your disposal unit’s power back on at the electrical panel.
Push the red reset button. You should be able to hear a click. Take note that you should only reset your unit. Don’t turn it on just yet.
Once it has been reset, run cold water through your sink and quickly flip the switch ON and OFF in order to spin the flywheel, dislodge anything that caused the obstruction, and rinse it down the drain.
If you’ve done all the steps and you don’t see any obstruction, your disposal unit may require a fix from a professional plumbing service, or it may need to be replaced.
How Can I Prevent Garbage Disposal Jams?
Most of us know that all our unfinished meals, cooking scraps, and spoiled leftovers get thrown into the garbage disposal where we won’t have to worry about them filling up our trash cans. That being said, our dependence on this extremely convenient appliance often gets us into some inconvenient situations.
Clogs and jams are some of the most common issues that homeowners encounter when dealing with their kitchen’s mighty disposal unit. This is because they usually don’t give a second thought to how to properly use and maintain their units. By practicing these tips below, you will be able to make sure that you keep your disposer running smoothly for as long as possible:
Toss out hard food items
Contrary to popular belief, the blades in your garbage disposal units are not sharp enough to grind bones. They’re actually quite blunt and are not very effective when it comes to hard pieces of food. One way to think of it is if you’re unable to chew it down with your teeth, don’t throw it in the garbage disposal!
Break up large pieces beforehand
If you have large chunks of food that you want to throw down your disposal unit, be sure to chop them up into smaller pieces and grind them separately.
Consider items that are bad for your plumbing
Not all soft and small food scraps are safe to throw in the garbage disposal. Things like pasta, coffee grounds, potato peels, and grease could lead to clogging as they tend to clump together in drains. Onion skins, celery, and asparagus are also some food items you should avoid throwing into your disposers.
Keep your disposal clean
After using your garbage disposal, pour some dish soap and cold water down the drain. This will help keep the unit clean and free of bad odor. Alternatively, you can grind citrusy fruit scraps such as orange or lemon peels to prevent a foul-smelling unit.
Grind ice cubes once a month
Doing this helps with keeping your unit’s blades from turning even blunter than they already are. The ice cubes also help with clearing away any waste that is stuck on the walls of your garbage disposal unit.
Don’t forget about the reset button
If you’ve done your best to maintain your garbage disposal units and they stop working, check and see if the reset button has tripped. If you see that it has popped out, press it back down and try running your unit again.
Conclusion:
Knowing where your unit’s garbage disposal reset button is located and how to use it is critical in troubleshooting your garbage disposal unit. We know that repairs can be costly and most of the time, even when repairs are not basically necessary, technicians may charge us for simple jobs that can be corrected by simply resetting our units.
However, if you have tried our troubleshooting tips and nothing worked, as we mentioned, better search for a replacement. In case your garbage disposal unit also begins to emit foul odor, we also have some tips for you on how to get rid of smell in garbage disposal.
