How to Troubleshoot a Whirlaway Garbage Disposal

Turn off and unplug the Whirlaway disposer prior to performing any cleaning, troubleshooting, or maintenance tasks. Unscrew the splash guard, which is the rubber flap around the edge of the garbage disposer, in a counterclockwise motion to remove it.

Use a pair of wooden or plastic tongs or pliers with a long handle to remove foreign objects from the disposer if a loud grinding sound is heard during use. Common objects that may fall into the disposer and cause problems include silverware, plastic utensils, or large bones.

Run water into the disposer and use the handle of a wooden utensil to push a visible jam through the disposer. Don't use your hands or fingers.

Use a wooden utensil handle to rotate the turntable if the unit doesn't start or work. If the turntable moves freely, push the red "Reset" button on the bottom of the unit and reconnect power. If the turntable doesn't move freely, look for obstructions and remove before pressing the "Reset" button and restoring power.

Check for loose connections if there's leaking. Tighten the elbow flange screws at the waste elbow with a wrench. The waste elbow is the U-shaped pipe below the sink, which is connected to the garbage disposer unit with several screws.