How to Reset a Garbage Disposal That Won't Turn On

A garbage disposal that suddenly goes dead, hums without spinning, or clicks and stops almost never needs a plumber. Nearly every disposal has a built-in reset button and a manual way to free a jam — and the fix usually costs nothing and takes two minutes. Before you panic, run through these steps.

Why it matters

Disposals are simple machines: a motor spins a flywheel that flings food waste against a grinding ring. When something hard or fibrous jams the flywheel, the motor's overload protector trips to keep it from burning out — that's the dead or humming disposal you're hearing. Resetting and clearing the jam restores it. Forcing it, or repeatedly flipping the switch on a humming unit, is what actually kills the motor.

Safety first: never put your hand into a disposal. Always work with the wall switch off, and use tongs or pliers to remove anything inside.

Step 1 — Try the reset button

1. Turn the wall switch off.
2. Reach under the sink to the bottom of the disposal and find the small red or black reset button near the center.
3. If it has tripped, it will be popped out. Press it firmly until it clicks and stays in.
4. Turn on cold water, flip the switch, and test. Many "dead" disposals come straight back here.

Step 2 — Free a jam with the hex key

If the disposal hums but won't spin, the flywheel is jammed:

1. Switch it off at the wall.
2. Find the 1/4-inch hex (Allen) key that came with the unit — there's a hex socket in the center of the bottom of the disposal. (No key? A standard 1/4-inch Allen wrench fits.)
3. Insert it and turn back and forth to manually rotate the flywheel until it moves freely.
4. Shine a light into the chamber and remove the culprit — a pit, bone, or fork — with tongs or pliers, never your fingers.
5. Press the reset button again, restore power with cold water running, and test.

Step 3 — If it's still dead

• No hum, no click at all: check that the unit is plugged in under the sink and that the breaker for the kitchen hasn't tripped. Some disposals share a switch with a GFCI outlet — reset that too.
• Leaking from the bottom: a leak at the base usually means the internal seals have failed, and the unit is at the end of its life.
• Drains slowly after it spins fine: the clog is downstream in the P-trap, not the disposal. See how to unclog a slow drain.

Keep it healthy

Run cold water before, during, and for 15 seconds after every use to carry waste fully through the drain. Avoid grease, bones, pits, coffee grounds, and fibrous or starchy foods that jam the flywheel or coat the P-trap. A monthly grind of ice cubes knocks buildup off the impellers. For the full picture, see how to clean a dishwasher and the plumbing system overview.

Make it automatic

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