My Garbage Disposal Won't Start

Go under the sink and find the reset button on the bottom or side of the garbage disposal. There is a small red button that acts as a breaker. When the motor begins to get too hot, the reset button pops up and cuts power to the unit to prevent damage to the motor.

Press the reset button into the garbage disposal with your finger, if it is extended. The top of the reset button should be flush against the body of the garbage disposal. Run water and try running the disposal again.

Check the breaker inside your home electrical panel box that powers the disposal, if the reset button was not extended. Sometimes a power surge will cause the main breaker to trip and cut power to the unit. Turn the breaker all the way to the "off" position and back to "on" again.

Unplug the garbage disposal power cord from the dedicated outlet under the sink, if your unit uses a power cord and the above methods do not resolve the issue. Plug a lamp into the outlet and try to turn on the lamp. If the lamp does not turn on, the outlet or switch is faulty. Call an electrician to repair them. If the lamp does turn on, the garbage disposal is bad and requires replacement.