Garbage Disposal Reset Button: Where Is It?

On this page (8 sections)

1. Where is the garbage disposal reset button?
2. How do you reset a garbage disposal safely?
3. What does the sound tell you before a reset?
4. Which jam wrench should you buy?
5. What if your disposal has no bottom wrench socket?
6. How can you prevent another overload trip?
7. When should you stop resetting and call for repair?
8. Which reset or tool choice fits your situation?

The garbage disposal reset button is usually on the bottom of the motor housing, beneath the sink. Turn off the wall switch, disconnect power, let the motor cool, and clear any jam as the manual directs before pressing it.

The button resets the motor's overload protector after it trips from heat or excessive resistance. You don't need a tool just to press reset; buy a wrench only if your disposal has a jam and supports that tool's access method.

Where is the garbage disposal reset button?

Look on the underside of the motor housing, then check your model's manual if you can't identify the button. Its position and appearance vary, so don't rely on color alone.

Clear loose items from the cabinet and use a flashlight to see around the pipes. Don't remove an electrical cover to search.

Some disposals also have a hex socket underneath. The socket accepts a jam wrench; it isn't the reset button, and turning it doesn't reset the overload protector.

How do you reset a garbage disposal safely?

Disconnect power, allow cooling, and resolve any jam before restarting. For a plug-in unit, unplug it only if the plug and surrounding area are dry and safely accessible; isolate a hardwired unit at its circuit breaker.

1. Turn off the wall switch and disconnect power.
2. Wait for the cooling time specified in the manual.
3. Look through the sink opening with a flashlight for a visible obstruction.
4. Clear any jam using the method approved for your exact model.
5. Remove all tools, then press and release the reset button as directed.
6. With the wall switch still off, restore power.
7. Run cold water and switch the disposal on briefly, stopping immediately if it hums without turning.

Keep your hands out of the chamber, even with power disconnected. Use suitable long-handled tongs or pliers for a reachable loose object only as the manual permits.

Our garbage disposal power cord guide explains plug-in and hardwired connections. If you can't identify or safely isolate the supply, leave the repair to a qualified professional.

What if the garbage disposal reset button won't stay in?

Leave power disconnected and allow more cooling time. Don't hold the button down, tape it in place, or keep pressing it.

If it still won't latch after the manual's cooling period, arrange a repair assessment. The overload protector may still be responding to heat, or another fault may need attention.

What does the sound tell you before a reset?

Humming suggests a different next step from silence or slow drainage. Use the symptom to decide whether jam clearing makes sense before buying a tool.

• Humming without rotation: switch off promptly because the motor may be trying to turn a stuck mechanism.
• Complete silence: check the reset procedure and safely accessible power connection before assuming the motor has failed.
• Normal rotation with slow drainage: investigate a drain blockage rather than repeatedly resetting the motor.

Our guide to a garbage disposal that hums but won't spin explains the jam-related symptoms in more detail. A wrench can help free a stuck mechanism, but it won't restore a failed power supply or clear every drain clog.

Don't repeatedly reset a circuit breaker that trips. That needs a separate assessment rather than another attempt with the disposal's button.

Which jam wrench should you buy?

Choose by your disposal's approved access method and exact fit. Read the model label and manual before ordering; a familiar brand name in a tool's title doesn't establish compatibility with every model.

Check your existing tools first. If you already have the correct key and the manual allows it, another wrench adds no benefit.

InSinkErator WRN-00: for replacing a missing original wrench

The InSinkErator WRN-00 Jam-Buster Wrench suits an InSinkErator manufactured disposal whose instructions call for turning the center socket underneath. It's the straightforward choice when that dedicated wrench has gone missing.

The tool has heavy-duty metal construction and works by turning the mechanism back and forth through the bottom socket. Its purpose is freeing simple jams, so don't buy it to address an electrical fault or slow-draining pipe.

Skip it for another disposal brand or an access method that your manual doesn't support. This tool is intended only for InSinkErator manufactured disposals.

Before ordering, check whether pipes or shelving leave room beneath the unit. You need space to seat the tool and move it without forcing it against the cabinet.

Augwontior hex wrench: for a confirmed matching bottom socket

The Garbage Disposal Unjamming Wrench from Augwontior suits a disposal that accepts a 1/4-inch hex head and permits manual rotation from underneath. Choose it when you've confirmed both the socket size and the procedure.

Its 6.5-inch length gives you a measurement to compare with the space beneath your sink. Check the path of the handle as well as the gap directly below the disposal.

Skip it if the socket size is uncertain, the unit has no bottom socket, or you already have an approved matching key. A nearly matching head can slip and damage the socket.

Seat the head fully before applying controlled back-and-forth movement. Don't add a pipe or other handle extension to force a stubborn mechanism.

Haiouus above-sink wrench: for approved top access

The Unjamming Wrench for Moen, Waste King and InSinkErator suits compatible disposals that allow an impeller-engaging tool through the sink opening. It offers a different access route when working underneath is awkward.

Confirm that your exact disposal supports this method and that the tool can engage securely. The brand names in its name don't mean it fits every model from those brands.

Skip it when the manual calls for another method or when the tool won't engage as instructed. Passing through the drain opening is only the first fit check.

Haiouus advises disconnecting power, wearing suitable gloves, and avoiding hot water that could heat the wrench. Keep your hand outside the chamber throughout use.

What if your disposal has no bottom wrench socket?

Follow the model's approved jam-clearing method instead of forcing a hex key into another opening. An above-sink wrench is suitable only when both the disposal and tool instructions support it.

Don't improvise with a screwdriver or strike the mechanism. Stop if controlled movement with the correct tool won't free it.

If you need help identifying the parts and operating style, our complete garbage disposal guide provides broader background. Keep the model number handy when asking the manufacturer or a repair professional for help.

How can you prevent another overload trip?

Feed smaller amounts gradually with cold water running, within the limits in your disposal's manual. Once it starts working again, don't immediately add all the scraps left in the sink.

Keep utensils and other hard objects away from the opening. Put grease and unsuitable scraps in the trash or compost, and follow the manual's limits for bones and fibrous foods.

Don't use chemical drain cleaner as a reset remedy. It doesn't release the overload protector or remove a solid object wedged in the mechanism.

Follow how to clean a garbage disposal for residue and odor care. After using a jam wrench, wipe it dry and store it where you can find it without reaching behind the disposal.

When should you stop resetting and call for repair?

Stop if the protector trips again after cooling and approved jam clearing. Burning smells, sparks, leaks near electrical parts, or a mechanism that won't move also call for professional help.

Don't touch wet plugs, outlets, or wiring. Keep clear and get qualified help if you can't safely disconnect power.

Use our garbage disposal replacement guide to prepare for a repair assessment. A diagnosis helps you avoid buying more tools for a worn or faulty unit.

If replacement makes sense, compare options in our best garbage disposals guide. The 1/2 HP vs 3/4 HP comparison can help match motor size to your cooking habits.

Which reset or tool choice fits your situation?

Use the garbage disposal reset button after cooling and resolving the cause of the trip. If the unit then runs normally, return to small food batches and normal care.

Choose the InSinkErator wrench for its approved bottom-socket method, Augwontior for a confirmed matching hex socket, or Haiouus for compatible top access. Buy no wrench when the symptoms point to the power supply or drainpipe.

If the reset doesn't restore normal operation, leave power disconnected. Use the garbage disposal replacement guide to organize the details you'll need for a repair or replacement decision.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the reset button on a garbage disposal?

The reset button is usually on the bottom of the motor housing, but its position varies by model. Turn off the wall switch, disconnect power, and use a flashlight to look underneath; if you can't identify the button, check the manual rather than removing a cover.

How long should I wait before pressing the reset button?

Wait for the cooling time specified in your disposal's manual before pressing reset. If the button won't stay in, leave power disconnected and allow more cooling time; clear any jam by the approved method before restarting, since waiting alone won't free a stuck turntable.

Why does my garbage disposal reset button keep popping out?

Repeated trips can mean a jam, an overload, or a motor fault, so stop using the disposal and disconnect power. If the button trips again after the motor cools and the mechanism moves freely, arrange a professional repair assessment rather than continuing to press reset.

Should I use a wrench before pressing the reset button?

Use a compatible wrench first when a jam needs clearing and your disposal's manual permits that method. Disconnect power before inserting any tool, keep your hands out of the chamber, and remove the wrench before restoring power; stop if the mechanism won't move with controlled pressure.