Our waste disposal has stopped working

Problem

The waste disposal unit in the kitchen sink does not work when you switch it on.

Likely cause

The unit has overheated or stuck because someone put in something too hard, or forgot to run water into the waste disposal while it was running. This has triggered the safety device.

What you can do

  1. Turn the electricity off.
  2. Check that the waste disposal unit is empty.
  3. Open the cupboard door under the sink. Look underneath the waste disposal unit. Press in the little red reset button shown in the photo below.
  4. Test the disposal unit. Make sure you run water into it each time you use it.
Waste disposal reset button

Extra tips

Never put hot cooking fat into the waste disposal or sink. It will solidify and block the outlet!

Smile! You have just saved a plumber’s call out charge!

If this doesn’t work

If this did not fix it, you will need to call a plumber.