A garbage disposal can be a great device to have in your kitchen as long as it is working properly. If your garage disposal is having problems, there are several things that could be wrong with it. Before you call your plumber, below are three things that could help you get it back running again.

It Has a Power Problem

If you flip the switch to start up your garbage disposal and hear no noise at all, it could be a problem with the circuit breaker. If the breaker has tripped, you can easily turn it back on. Go to your breaker panel, which may be in your garage, a hall, or a closet, and open the door. Look for a breaker labeled garbage disposal. Look at the switch to see if it is in a different direction than the other breakers. If it is, then it is turned off. Flip it the opposite direction and try the garbage disposal.

If there is still no power, look for a reset button for the garbage disposal. This button is generally found under the sink on the disposal itself. Press the button and see if the garbage disposal has power. If it does not, try the additional steps below.

It Is Noisy

If you hear more noise than is normal when your garbage disposal is running, check the mounting screws on the garbage disposal and make sure they are tight. Because your garbage disposal makes vibrations, over time the mounting screws can become loose. If so, tighten them up and see if the noise goes away.

It Is Clogged Or Jammed

There could be something jammed or clogged up inside the disposal. If so, the blades will not turn properly. Turn the disposal off and unplug it—this is a safety precaution that you should never skip. Stick your hand down into the drain to see if there is anything in there. If so, try to pull it out. If you do not feel anything, spin the blade. If it will not turn, you may be able to fix the problem yourself. Get an Allen wrench (hex head wrench), put it into the hole that is on the bottom of the garbage disposal, turning the tool back and forth to see if you can free up the blade.

If you are still having problems, you need to contact a plumber to repair or replace the garbage disposal for you.