How to Reset a Garbage Disposal

DeannaArticles

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California Leasing Property Management works every day to ensure that our tenant’s maintenance needs are taken of care. One of the biggest requests we receive has to do with garbage disposals.




Before you call a handyman, landlord, or property manager, take a moment to troubleshoot! If your garbage disposal won’t run you may need to reset the garbage disposal using the RED overload protector button on the bottom. 

If the disposal is clogged, if it is run for a very long period of time, if it overheats, or if there is something wrong with the disposal, it will shut down automatically and need to be reset.

If the overload protector has tripped, you will see that the red button has popped out about a quarter of an inch (5mm).

To reset garbage disposal follow these simple instructions:

  1. Make sure that the disposal switch is in the “OFF” position.
  2. Gently press the red button to reset the garbage disposal. If it does not stay in (retracted), wait ten minutes and try again.
  3. Turn on a cold stream of water and turn the disposal switch to the “ON” position, the disposal should now run again.
  4. If the garbage disposal reset button still will not stay in, or if you have to repeatedly reset the overload protector, the disposal may require service or replacement. 

We hope this troubleshooting tip helps get you on the road to getting your garbage disposal working!