How to Troubleshoot a Garbage Disposal Flywheel

Garbage disposals are familiar appliances in many kitchen sinks and offer the convenience of grinding up items that may otherwise clog the drain, such as coffee grounds, fruit rinds, and food scraps. There's a flywheel inside the garbage disposal that spins rapidly to grind up the debris, and if problems occur with the flywheel, the garbage disposal may not operate correctly. Troubleshooting the flywheel can help you identify the possible issue and attempt to resolve it before contacting a service professional for help.

Flashlight
Tongs
Wooden utensil

Instructions

- 1
  Unplug and turn off the garbage disposal. Ensure that all power is disconnected before attempting any maintenance tasks.
- 2
  Unscrew the splash guard from the top of the disposal in a counterclockwise motion. The splash guard is the rubber flap around the top of the drain.
- 3
  Use a flashlight to examine inside the drain for objects that may be causing the problem.
- 4
  Reach into the drain with a pair of plastic tongs to pull out the foreign or blocked object.
- 5
  Manually rotate the flywheel with a wooden handle or the tongs to ensure it moves properly. If it doesn't turn, check for additional objects that may be causing obstruction.
- 6
  Return power to the unit and press the "Reset" button on the base of the garbage disposal.
- 7
  Turn the cold water faucet on and point the water into the drain. Run the garbage disposal to clear any residual debris from the flywheel.

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