Overheated Garbage Disposal
Garbage disposal systems are simple to use. They feature a basic operating system in which they use a motor to spin blades beneath your sink to remove the food debris and other garbage. Your garbage disposal may clog when you run your trash disposal without adding water or accidentally drop an item, such as metal or flat clothing. Other food products, such as potato and maize husks, may clog the disposal unit.
When the unit clogs, it might overheat, causing the red button on the bottom of your device to come up.
What Can Make a Garbage Disposal Overheat?
Garbage disposals may cause various issues, some of which are simple to solve and others that need more expertise. If you’re not qualified, avoid taking excessive risks and focus on what you can do well. The following are some of the reasons why your disposal is overheating.
1. Jamming
If your garbage disposal is humming but not operating, it will likely jam. Garbage disposals should not be used near drains. You don’t need to be reminded of this. Every year, homeowners lose fingers as a result of this mistake. The trash disposal should be turned off using the necessary circuit breakers. Disconnect the device beneath the sink and tighten the screw from the bottom with the hex Allen wrench if it doesn’t work.
Ensure that the hex-shaped hole is positioned underneath the disposer. Make sure your garbage disposal’s motor shaft is turned counterclockwise. If it doesn’t work, try turning it clockwise. Rep this procedure whenever an obstacle is removed. Your task is complete after the motor shaft is rotating freely.
2. Overfilling
Because your garbage disposal is overheated due to overfilling, the disposal most likely tripped itself off. The first step is to locate the red reset button underneath the device.
Whether nothing occurs after you press the button, check if a breaker in your circuit panel has been tripped. Even though this is a frequent issue, you should manage it yourself since the expense of hiring a professional is not justified in this case.
3. Other Issues
If none of these problems seems to be an issue, it may be preferable to purchase a new device. Check to see whether the manufacturer’s warranty covers your product. If not, you need to buy new garbage disposal, although this is not a cheap option. But if your disposal gets spoiled during the warranty period. You could return it to the manufacturer and get a replacement.
If you purchase a new garbage disposal, you’ll need to hire a professional to install it. Even though the instructions are included with the appliances, installation takes some time. If you don’t have any plumbing knowledge, you may be better off hiring a professional.
Overheated Garbage Disposal: Steps to Fix
- Use the Reset Button
Resetting the primary switch is often the simplest way to fix the garbage disposal. Here’s how to go about it.
- Disconnect the trash disposal by removing the plug from the socket. Working on the garbage disposal will be safer after the electrical connection is turned off.
- Locate the reset button under the garbage disposal. Crawl underneath it to get a better look and find the thermal overload button. For more comfort, the red button must be pulled out. Push it once, and if you’re fortunate, you could see beneficial results right away. Wait around 20 minutes to observe whether the red button returns to its original position. This is another symptom of overheating since the red button shoots out if pressing it once does not suffice.
- Allow the device to cool before repressing the button. Repeat this technique until the button remains in place. Turn on the faucet and run a minute or two of cold water through the sink, drain, and trash disposal.
- Plugging the disposal into an outlet is an excellent way to test it. Please turn it on and see whether the trash disposal begins spinning while the red button is still pulled back. Keep an eye out for the engine’s functioning and the buzzing sound.
Will Allen Wrench Work?
If the last action failed to fix your overheating garbage disposal, please read the following steps and give it a go.
- Begin by disconnecting the waste disposal component from the power source. Discover the hole under the sink by squirming beneath it.
- In the opening under the trash disposal, insert an Allen wrench. The hole must be hexagonal and positioned in the middle.
- As you insert the Allen wrench’s head into the hole, spin it counterclockwise as far as it will go. As a result, spin it in a clockwise direction for the following round and see how far you can go. Continue to turn the gadget until you can complete a full circle with it.
- Use cold water to run through the sink and disposal by turning on the faucet. Allow a minute for the cold water to unhinge any leftover material.
- Return the device to its original position and turn it on. If you could rotate the wrench without difficulty, the overheating is fixed even with a bit of effort.
Fix Garbage Disposal Overheating Manually
- Turn off the waste disposal’s power supply. Examine the sink for any obvious blockages. You may use a flashlight to peek into the sink and disposal at this point. It’s critical to assess the little teeth on trash disposal blades to see whether anything obstructs the operation.
- Using pliers or tongs, remove any apparent blockages. It is best not to place your hands into the garbage disposal for safety reasons. Using pliers or tongs, fish out and break away any trash or anything that may be preventing the disposal from working.
- If you discover that the waste disposal is still latched at this point, you may use the specific garbage disposal wrench to complete the process. The disposal wrench isn’t an Allen wrench, but it does include a claw-like prong that can swiftly loosen things.
- After completing the difficult phase, spin the blades clockwise and counterclockwise to allow them to revolve freely. This step may take some additional power, but it is required to liberate the previously stuck blades.
- It’s time to turn on the disposal while removing the clogs and setting the wrenches aside. To restore the disposal’s electrical power, re-plug it. Please turn on the trash disposal one last time to ensure it’s working correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What Do You Do When Your Garbage Disposal Overheats?
Allowing the engine and blades to cool down should be your priority if your garbage disposal is overheating. Your trash disposal should be ready to use again after a time. You might also use the trash disposal’s reset button on the bottom. This function is available on all disposal models.
2. How Do I Know If My Garbage Disposal Is Clogged?
If your waste disposal system hums, you may have a blocked garbage disposal system. Its shredder may vibrate inside the sink, but it does not revolve around it. Though this happens, switching off the device straight once since allowing it to “run” even if it’s stuck might cause the motor to burn out.
3. Why Is Water Coming Out Of The Bottom Of My Garbage Disposal?
Leaking garbage disposal from bottom holes can mean you have a faulty internal seal inside the unit. Interior seals in garbage disposals safeguard the motor and keep the machine from leaking. These gaskets wear out over time and can no longer serve their desired function. To fix this, all you need to do is replace the gasket.
4. How Do You Fix A Garbage Disposal That Just Hums?
The steps below will help fix your humming garbage disposal.
- Put off the disposal’s electricity
- Thoroughly inspect the disposal for food or strange things
- Manually press and spin the blades using a wooden spoon
- Rotate the flywheel manually using an Allen wrench
- Rotate the Allen wrench in a clockwise and counterclockwise direction
5. What Can Cause A Garbage Disposal To Stop Working?
Your trash disposal may have lost electricity if it won’t spin. It’s possible that your machine has blown a circuit or is disconnected. First, double-check that your waste disposal plug is secure. Next, find and press the reset button on the unit’s bottom. If it doesn’t turn on, you need a plumber.
6. Do Garbage Disposals Go Bad?
Nothing lasts indefinitely. Garbage disposals may last anywhere from eight to fifteen years before they need to be replaced. The disposal may develop cracks or perhaps spring a leak over time. You’ll almost certainly need to replace the device when this occurs since repairing it isn’t worth the money.
7. Why Is My Garbage Disposal Humming But Not Working?
The internal flywheel may be stuck. If the garbage disposal won’t turn on and the motor produces a buzzing sound when you flick the switch, you need a plumber’s help. If your garbage disposal continues humming, it might cause the reset button on the appliance to pop or the circuit breaker to trip extremely rapidly.
