InSinkErator Not Working? 7 Causes and How to Fix Them

Before you start

Write down the model and serial number from the spec label on the unit; InSinkErator asks for both on any warranty claim.⁠[3] Its support pages name the Badger, Power, Quiet and Advanced series.⁠[4] The EZ Connect manual's warranty table also lists Contractor, Evolution and PRO models.⁠[3] The steps below split the same way InSinkErator's do: EZ Connect units; Builder Series, Amana and ES units; and all other models.⁠[1]

What your InSinkErator is telling you

InSinkErator's support pages split problems by symptom.⁠[1]⁠[5]⁠[6] The table points to the right section.

1. 01

   Jammed grind plate

   Most commonDIYTime: 10 min

   An object wedges the plate, so the motor hums or stops.⁠[1]
   Fix it: Jammed grind plate →
2. 02

   Tripped overload protector

   Most commonDIYTime: 10–20 min

   The red button drops about a quarter inch and the unit goes dead.⁠[2]
   Fix it: Tripped overload protector →
3. 03

   No power from the circuit

   CommonDIY with careTime: 15 min

   A breaker, a fuse or the outlet under the sink cuts the power.⁠[5]
   Fix it: No power from the circuit →
4. 04

   Stuck impellers

   CommonDIYTime: 15 min

   The unit runs but food sits on the plate because the impellers can't swing.⁠[7]
   Fix it: Stuck impellers →
5. 05

   Loose object or unlocked mounting ring

   Less commonDIYTime: 10 min

   A metallic rattle, or a loud vibration from a ring that has come unlocked.⁠[6]
   Fix it: Loose object or unlocked mounting ring →
6. 06

   Leak at the mount, discharge or dishwasher inlet

   Less commonDIYTime: 20 min

   Water runs from a joint the installer made.⁠[9]
   Fix it: Leak at the mount, discharge or dishwasher inlet →
7. 07

   A fault that needs InSinkErator service

   Less commonPro only

   Nothing above helps; the warranty may cover the repair.⁠[3]
   What a pro does: A fault that needs InSinkErator service →

Jammed: use the Jam-Buster wrench

InSinkErator calls its wrench a self-service tool and says it is designed to bend before any damage is done to the disposal, so some force is fine.⁠[1]

1. 01

   Step 01 of 05

   Switch off the unit and the faucet

   • Time: 1 min

   InSinkErator's first step is to turn off the disposal and the water.⁠[1]

   You'll know it worked when: The disposal is off and no water runs.

2. 02

   Step 02 of 05

   Fit the wrench in the center hole underneath

   • Time: 2 min
   • 1/4-inch hex key
   • LED work flashlight

   The hole faces the floor. No Jam-Buster? InSinkErator says a standard 1/4-inch Allen wrench works.⁠[1]

   You'll know it worked when: The wrench sits in the hex socket at the bottom center.

3. 03

   Step 03 of 05

   Work it until it spins full circles

   • Time: 5 min

   Rock it back and forth in both directions until it turns full circles. On EZ Connect models, one full revolution is enough.⁠[1]⁠[3]

   You'll know it worked when: The wrench turns freely all the way around both ways.

4. 04

   Step 04 of 05

   Lift out the object with tongs

   • Time: 5 min
   • Long-handled kitchen tongs

   Look down the drain with the flashlight and pull the object out with tongs or pliers. InSinkErator says to check the area around the small teeth at the outer edge of the plate.⁠[1]

   You'll know it worked when: The plate and the teeth around its edge are clear.

5. 05

   Step 05 of 05

   Press the red button, then test

   • Time: 2 min

   Press the overload button if it has dropped (EZ Connect units reset on their own after the cool-down). Turn on the water, then the disposal. If it jams again, InSinkErator says to use the wrench again; you may need to repeat the process several times.⁠[1]

   You'll know it worked when: The disposal grinds with the water running.

InSinkErator's Builder Series, Amana and ES models are freed differently: turn the turntable from above with a wooden spoon, then remove the object.⁠[1]

Still not fixed? Next likely cause: Tripped overload protector →

Dead and silent: reset the overload protector

The overload protector sits under the sink on the bottom of the unit, facing the floor. When it trips, the red button drops down about a quarter inch (5 mm).⁠[2] Need more help finding it? The reset button guide covers other brands too.

1. 01

   Step 01 of 03

   Put the switch in the off position

   • Time: 1 min

   InSinkErator makes this its first instruction before any reset.⁠[2]

   You'll know it worked when: The unit won't start the moment the button resets.

2. 02

   Step 02 of 03

   Let an EZ Connect unit cool

   • Time: 20 min

   With a wall switch, leave it off for up to 20 minutes. With an air switch, turn it off and unplug the unit for up to 20 minutes.⁠[2]

   You'll know it worked when: The motor has rested for the full cool-down.

3. 03

   Step 03 of 03

   On other models, press the red button gently

   • Time: 1 min
   • LED work flashlight

   If it won't stay up, InSinkErator says to wait 10 minutes and try again.⁠[2]

   You'll know it worked when: The button stays up, level with the housing.

Still not fixed? Next likely cause: No power from the circuit →

Dead with the button up: check the power

InSinkErator's own steps differ by how the unit gets power.⁠[5] It warns to be careful when you check outlets and connections.⁠[5]

1. 01

   Step 01 of 03

   Cycle the breaker or replace the fuse

   • Time: 5 min

   Switch the breaker off and on, or fit a new fuse. This is the first step for both plug-in and hardwired units.⁠[5]

   You'll know it worked when: The circuit for the sink is live.

2. 02

   Step 02 of 03

   Plug a working lamp into the disposal outlet

   • Time: 5 min

   Unplug the disposal and plug in a lamp, night light or hair dryer, turned on. Flip the disposal switch on and off several times.⁠[5]

   You'll know it worked when: You know whether the outlet follows the switch.

3. 03

   Step 03 of 03

   Read the result

   • Time: 1 min

   If the lamp follows the switch, InSinkErator says the disposal needs service. If not, the outlet needs an electrician.⁠[5]

   You'll know it worked when: You know whether to call InSinkErator or an electrician.

On a hardwired unit, a good breaker leaves two possibilities: the disposal or the house wiring.⁠[5] Both are past an owner check.

Still not fixed? Next likely cause: Stuck impellers →

Runs but won't grind: free the impellers

Two swiveling impellers on the plate push food against the grind ring. InSinkErator says they must turn freely for the unit to work well.⁠[7]

1. 01

   Step 01 of 03

   Look for the two impellers with the power off

   • Time: 2 min
   • LED work flashlight

   They sit across from each other, halfway between the wall and the center of the plate.⁠[7]

   You'll know it worked when: You can see both metal lugs on the plate.

2. 02

   Step 02 of 03

   Push each one with a spoon handle

   • Time: 2 min

   InSinkErator uses the handle of a large spoon. They should move very easily.⁠[7]

   You'll know it worked when: Both impellers swing easily.

3. 03

   Step 03 of 03

   Grind hard material to loosen them

   • Time: 5 min

   If they're stuck, InSinkErator suggests three or four fruit pits or round steak bones, with the water on. Leave it running until the loud grinding stops.⁠[7]

   You'll know it worked when: The loud grinding sound fades and the impellers move.

If three rounds of grinding don't free them, InSinkErator says the unit may need service.⁠[7]

Still not fixed? Next likely cause: Loose object or unlocked mounting ring →

Rattling or loud vibration

InSinkErator's first check for an unusual noise is a foreign object in the grind chamber. For a loud, vibrating noise, it checks that every plumbing connection is tight and that the lower mounting ring has not come unlocked.⁠[6]

1. 01

   Step 01 of 02

   Check the chamber for a loose object

   • Time: 5 min
   • LED work flashlight
   • Long-handled kitchen tongs

   With the switch off, look around the teeth of the plate and lift out any object with tongs.⁠[6]

   You'll know it worked when: Nothing is loose on the plate.

2. 02

   Step 02 of 02

   Lock the lower mounting ring

   • Time: 5 min
   • 1/4-inch hex key

   Put the wrench in the left side of the metal loop on the ring and turn right until it clicks, as InSinkErator describes.⁠[6]

   You'll know it worked when: You feel or hear a click and the unit no longer shakes.

If the ring is locked and the noise stays, InSinkErator points to stuck impellers next.⁠[6]

Still not fixed? Next likely cause: Leak at the mount, discharge or dishwasher inlet →

Water in the cabinet

InSinkErator's leak tip is to tape newspaper flat on the cabinet floor, fill and drain both sinks, and run the disposal while you watch for wet spots.⁠[8] If the paper stays dry for days, the water may come from the faucet, a water filter or the dishwasher hose instead.⁠[9]

1. 01

   Step 01 of 03

   Check the mounting assembly at the sink

   • Time: 10 min
   • Screwdriver set

   InSinkErator also checks a new install for too much plumber's putty under the sink flange.⁠[9]

   You'll know it worked when: The ring is turned fully right and the three screws are tight.

2. 02

   Step 02 of 03

   Check the discharge joint

   • Time: 10 min
   • Screwdriver set

   Look for a cracked gasket or elbow and a loose elbow-to-trap joint, and fit new parts for any that are cracked.⁠[8]

   You'll know it worked when: The nut or bolts are tight and the gasket is whole.

3. 03

   Step 03 of 03

   Check the dishwasher inlet

   • Time: 10 min
   • Screwdriver set

   InSinkErator checks that the knockout plug was removed when the hose went on, and that the clamps and any adapter are tight.⁠[10]

   You'll know it worked when: The hose clamp is tight and the knockout plug is out.

Still not fixed? Next likely cause: A fault that needs InSinkErator service →

Under warranty: let InSinkErator fix it

The warranty table in InSinkErator's EZ Connect manual runs from 6 years on Power models up to 12 years on the PRO 1250.⁠[3] The same manual says only an authorized InSinkErator service representative may do warranty service. InSinkErator is not responsible for warranty claims that arise from work done by anyone else, and the warranty excludes damage from alteration or misuse.⁠[3]

1. 01

   Step 01 of 03

   Switch it off and stop using it

   • Time: 2 min

   Turn the switch off and unplug it, or switch off the breaker for a hardwired unit.⁠[3]

   You'll know it worked when: The unit is off and unplugged until service.

2. 02

   Step 02 of 03

   Find the model, serial number and receipt

   • Time: 10 min

   The manual asks for your name, address, phone, the model and serial numbers and, on request, the install or purchase date.⁠[3]

   You'll know it worked when: You have the details InSinkErator asks for.

3. 03

   Step 03 of 03

   Call or text InSinkErator support

   • Time: 10 min

   The manual lists the AnswerLine at 1-800-558-5700, and the support pages offer text help at 262-233-2231.⁠[3]⁠[5]

   You'll know it worked when: You have a service center or a next step.

InSinkErator says that when a quality issue causes the problem, it may pay an authorized service center to service the disposal at no charge.⁠[5]

Still not fixed? See when to call a pro →

Parts and tools for this fix

The Jam-Buster wrench, or a 1/4-inch Allen wrench, does most of the work.⁠[1] Add a flashlight, tongs and gloves for the tight cabinet.

When to call a pro

Call InSinkErator first while the unit is under warranty. Out of warranty, call a plumber for leaks and replacements and an electrician for the outlet or wiring.

For a sink that still won't drain once the disposal runs, see the clogged sink drain guide. Non-InSinkErator units follow the general steps in fix any garbage disposal.

Frequently asked questions