Garbage Disposal Keeps Tripping? Reset and Overload Fix
If your garbage disposal shuts off seconds after you turn it on, or the reset button on the bottom keeps popping back out, a jammed flywheel is the most likely cause. The motor pulls too much current trying to spin past the obstruction, and the built-in overload protector trips to prevent damage.
The fix takes about 10 minutes with a single tool. But if the reset button will not stay pressed in at all, that is a different problem — and we will cover that too.
For a full overview of disposal problems, start with our garbage disposal troubleshooting guide.
What You Need
Gather these before crawling under the sink:
- 1/4-inch Allen wrench — Any standard hex key works. InSinkErator includes a silver “Jam-Buster” wrench with their units (crank-shaped, approximately 4 inches long). The 1/4-inch size is universal across all major disposal brands
- Flashlight — To see inside the grinding chamber
- Tongs or long-nose pliers — For removing debris (never your hands)
- Bucket (optional) — If there is standing water in the sink
Safety first
- Turn off the wall switch for the disposal
- Unplug the unit from the outlet under the sink. If the disposal is hardwired (no plug), flip the circuit breaker at the electrical panel
- If water is pooling in the sink, bail out as much as you can with a cup before working underneath
InSinkErator’s safety documentation states: “Make certain that the garbage disposal’s switch is in the off position” before any troubleshooting. We take it a step further — always disconnect power entirely.
Why the Disposal Keeps Tripping
Three things cause a disposal to trip repeatedly:
Jammed flywheel (most common). Food, a bone fragment, or a utensil wedges between the impellers and the grinding ring. The motor strains against the jam, draws excessive current, and the overload protector trips. Compiled community data suggests that reset button fixes resolve over 50% of all garbage disposal problems, and the jam-plus-reset combination handles the bulk of tripping issues.
Overloading. Too much food pushed in at once forces the motor to work harder than it is designed to. The motor overheats and the protector trips. This happens more with lower-HP units (1/3 HP models overload on things a 3/4 HP unit handles easily).
Failing motor. The motor windings are degrading, causing the unit to draw excess current even with no jam present. This is the cause you do not want — it means replacement. Compiled troubleshooting data from plumbing communities confirms: when the reset button will not stay pressed in and the flywheel spins freely, the motor windings have likely burned out.
If your disposal is humming along with tripping, the jam is the confirmed cause.
Step-by-step fix
Work through these steps in order:
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Wait 20 minutes. The overload protector inside the disposal needs time to cool down. InSinkErator specifies a 20-minute cooldown before restarting after the overload protector trips. Pressing the reset button before the cooldown is complete will not work — it will just pop back out
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Check for a jam. Find the hex hole on the bottom center of the disposal. Insert the 1/4-inch Allen wrench and work it back and forth. Use firm pressure. InSinkErator’s procedure states: “Insert wrench into center hole at bottom, work back-and-forth until one full revolution completes.” If the wrench meets resistance, you have found the jam
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Clear the debris. Once the wrench turns freely in both directions, remove it. Shine a flashlight into the disposal from above and use tongs or pliers to pull out whatever was causing the jam — bone fragment, fruit pit, broken glass, utensil piece
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Press the reset button. The red overload protector button is on the bottom of the disposal unit. Press it firmly until you feel it click in and stay in place
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Test. Turn on cold water at the faucet. Then flip the disposal switch. The unit should run smoothly. Run it for 30 seconds with water flowing to clear any remaining debris
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If it trips again immediately. Go back to Step 2 — there may be more debris wedged in. Sometimes the first wrench rotation dislodges one object but a second one is still stuck
If you need a jammed disposal walkthrough with more detail, we have a dedicated guide.
Video guide
Video: “How to Fix a Stuck, Humming or Broken Garbage Disposal” by The Fixer 2
When the Reset Button Won’t Stay In
This is the critical diagnostic moment. If the red button pops right back out after the 20-minute cooldown, here is what to check:
Test the flywheel. Insert the Allen wrench into the bottom hex hole. Does it spin freely in both directions with no resistance? If yes, the flywheel is not jammed — which means the motor itself is the problem.
The motor diagnosis: A disposal that trips immediately, with a freely spinning flywheel, has burned-out motor windings. The motor draws too much current the instant it engages, regardless of load. Community troubleshooting data is consistent on this point: when the reset button will not stay in and the wrench spins freely, the unit needs to be replaced.
Age matters. Disposals over 8-10 years old with persistent tripping are at the natural end of their service life. The average garbage disposal lasts 10-12 years. Spending $75-$175 on professional repair for an aging unit makes less financial sense than $200-$625 for a complete replacement with new warranty coverage. See what to expect from your disposal’s lifespan.
For a detailed cost breakdown, see our page on disposal repair costs.
Circuit breaker tripping vs. reset button tripping
These are two different problems, and readers often mix them up.
| Issue | Location | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reset button trips | Red button on disposal bottom | Overheating or overcurrent from jam/motor | Clear jam, wait 20 min, press reset |
| Circuit breaker trips | Electrical panel in house | Short circuit, ground fault, or wiring issue | Check for water damage, loose connections |
If the circuit breaker keeps tripping when you run the disposal, that is potentially an electrical safety issue. Water may have reached the wiring connections, or a wire has come loose and is shorting. This is not a disposal repair job — it is an electrical one.
Check for visible water damage at the disposal’s wire connections under the sink. If you see corroded wires, melted wire nuts, or scorching, stop using the disposal and call an electrician. Plumber rates run $50-$120 per hour for disposal work, per 2026 pricing data, and electricians typically charge a similar range. InSinkErator’s jammed disposal troubleshooting{:target=“_blank”} covers the mechanical side. For information on appliance energy use and electrical requirements, see the DOE kitchen appliance efficiency guide{:target=“_blank”}.
For basic reset instructions with more detail, see our step-by-step guide on how to reset your garbage disposal.
FAQ
Why does my garbage disposal keep tripping the reset button?
The most common cause of a garbage disposal that keeps tripping is a jammed flywheel. Food or a foreign object wedged between the impellers causes the motor to draw excessive current, triggering the overload protector. Clear the jam with a 1/4-inch Allen wrench in the bottom hex hole, wait 20 minutes for the protector to cool, then press the reset button. If the button still will not stay in, the motor windings are likely burned out.
How do I fix a garbage disposal that keeps shutting off?
Turn off the disposal and wait 20 minutes. Insert a 1/4-inch Allen wrench into the hex hole on the bottom center of the unit and work it back and forth until it spins freely. Remove loose debris with tongs, press the red reset button firmly, run cold water, and flip the switch. If the disposal shuts off again immediately, repeat the wrench procedure — there may be additional debris.
Is a tripping disposal dangerous?
A tripping disposal is not immediately dangerous — the overload protector is working as designed to prevent motor damage. However, repeatedly resetting and running a jammed disposal can burn out the motor windings. If the circuit breaker trips (not just the disposal’s reset button), there may be an electrical short that poses a fire risk. Stop using the unit and have it inspected.
How much does it cost to fix a garbage disposal that keeps tripping?
Clearing a jam yourself costs $0 — you only need a 1/4-inch Allen wrench. Professional jam clearing runs $75-$175. If the motor has burned out and the unit needs replacement, expect $200-$625 total for a new disposal with professional installation, or $75-$200 for the unit alone if you install it yourself, based on 2026 pricing data.