

Once the blades turn, look for a button near the opening for the hex key, press this.
#How to replace garbage disposal model 581 manual
If it won’t turn, it’s time to call the manufacturer or look up the specific unit’s manual online for further advice. Learn the signs and find out if and when you should replace your garbage disposal. At the base of most disposal units is an opening for a hex key, thatlets you manually turn the blades. Sometimes it’s hard to know whether to replace or repair a faulty appliance.

Grab a flashlight and open up the cabinet under the sink. If the blades don’t turn with gentle pressure, it’s time to find an allan wrench or hex key. If a blade becomes blocked, the unit shuts down and needs to be reset. With the tailpipe removed you can then detach. Loosen the drain connection to the tailpipe and then remove the clamp that secures the tailpipe to the flexible coupling. If the coupling is damaged or defective it will need to be replaced. Garbage disposals are designed with a breaker that trips when the motor is at risk of overheating. Some models of food waste disposers use a flexible coupling to connect the drain tailpipe to the disposer.

Remove any food or debris and then gently try to feel around the blades (they are dull, used for grinding not slicing) sometimes a piece of bone or other debris gets wedged under a blade.Įach blade should move with slight pressure, but only in one direction. It’s best to wear gloves during the next step, as there is a chance of coming in contact with a sharp bone fragment or an errant piece of glass. While a garbage disposal won’t grab your hand and pull you down the drain a la that horrid Freddy Kreuger or Jason movie, broken fingers wouldn’t be a treat. It was working fine the other day, could it be broken?Įven though it seems like it won’t come on, the first thing to do is turn off power to the garbage disposal, at the breaker. When I flip on the switch for my garbage disposal, nothing happens.
